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Gym administration fees
Winston1973
Posts: 4 Newbie
Hi,
I recently cancelled a gym membership by just cancelling the direct debit as I was about to go overdrawn. I was supposed to give a month's notice which I didn't do so I am prepared to pay them two month's membership. However, they are charging me £50 for missing the two month payments and I am wondering if I can contest these administration charges? They are already threatening me with debt recover companies because I haven't paid yet.
In addition to the fact I was about to go overdrawn, the gym was also frequently never open on time, something that many people have complained about and I was wondering if I could mention this in my correspondence if I contest the administration charges?
Thanks in advance for any advice.
I recently cancelled a gym membership by just cancelling the direct debit as I was about to go overdrawn. I was supposed to give a month's notice which I didn't do so I am prepared to pay them two month's membership. However, they are charging me £50 for missing the two month payments and I am wondering if I can contest these administration charges? They are already threatening me with debt recover companies because I haven't paid yet.
In addition to the fact I was about to go overdrawn, the gym was also frequently never open on time, something that many people have complained about and I was wondering if I could mention this in my correspondence if I contest the administration charges?
Thanks in advance for any advice.
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Comments
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Does it mention this charge in the contract you signed?
The fact that they may or may not have opened on time is a separate issue - did you take it up with them at the time?0 -
I'm not sure, I have been a member for over a year and I've misplaced the contract. I will ask them for a copy. Is there no contest if such a charge is included in the contract?
I did mention to one of the staff about the gym opening late and they apologised but from what I have been reading on their facebook page this is still an issue that has not been resolved.0 -
I've been told by someone that multiple £25 'admin charges' are rarely ever enforceable but have no idea how true that is!0
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Winston1973 wrote: »I've been told by someone that multiple £25 'admin charges' are rarely ever enforceable but have no idea how true that is!
My personal hate is "admin charges" this country nowadays just oozes admin charges, and it stinks, in English contract law it is illegal to charge a penalty for non payment, or late payment or whatever, they try and get around the law by listing these "charges" in there T`s & C`c, basically they cant force you to pay, they may send it to a DCA but for £50 they aint gonna shout very loud, you have 3 choices,
(1) pay up
(2) complain in writing including what you said above
(3) ignore completely and get on with your life, although they may trash your credit file.I’m a Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on the Debt free wannabe, Credit file and ratings, and Bankruptcy and living with it boards. If you need any help on these boards, do let me know. Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any posts you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button, or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com. All views are my own and not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.For free non-judgemental debt advice, contact either Stepchange, National Debtline, or CitizensAdviceBureaux.Link to SOA Calculator- https://www.stoozing.com/soa.php The "provit letter" is here-https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2607247/letter-when-you-know-nothing-about-about-the-debt-aka-prove-it-letter0 -
I was thinking what I will do is send them a letter and offer to pay the outstanding membership fees but inform them that I am not willing to pay the extortionate administration charges. Although I have never been in this situation before I seriously can't imagine them taking me to court for £50 worth of admin fees. I am a bit concerned that they might pass this over to a DCA as I have never dealt with one before and am unsure what steps they might take!0
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Winston1973 wrote: »I was thinking what I will do is send them a letter and offer to pay the outstanding membership fees but inform them that I am not willing to pay the extortionate administration charges. Although I have never been in this situation before I seriously can't imagine them taking me to court for £50 worth of admin fees. I am a bit concerned that they might pass this over to a DCA as I have never dealt with one before and am unsure what steps they might take!
Apart from phone calls and letters nothing much else really !!I’m a Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on the Debt free wannabe, Credit file and ratings, and Bankruptcy and living with it boards. If you need any help on these boards, do let me know. Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any posts you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button, or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com. All views are my own and not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.For free non-judgemental debt advice, contact either Stepchange, National Debtline, or CitizensAdviceBureaux.Link to SOA Calculator- https://www.stoozing.com/soa.php The "provit letter" is here-https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2607247/letter-when-you-know-nothing-about-about-the-debt-aka-prove-it-letter0 -
pay the gym what you owe for membership, but tell them you have no intention of paying the ridiculous admin charges.0
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You could offer to pay a sum towards the administration charges, because you will have actually caused them administration costs. All well and good calling them extortionate, but as someone who collects direct debits, sees the money come in, has to process them, sees the rejected one go back out, has to identify it, amend the accounts, reconcile and chase the payment again, all instead of just ticking a box, I can confirm that you have cost them time. You admitted that you didn't cancel under the correct terms but just cancelled the debit, so paying at least the first of the charges (£20-25) would be a reasonable solution.
If they had received the cancellation notice after that point, more fool them for trying to collect it, so I wouldn't pay a second.Some days, it's just not worth chewing through the leather straps....
LB moment - March 2006. DFD - 1 June 2012!!! DEBT FREE!
May grocery challenge £45.61/£1200
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