Cancelling a contract direct debit?

Cyclone · 5 Dec 2011 at 04:59

Esporta are a nightmare. My mate moved from Harlow to Coventry and they made him pay each month when he couldnt use it.

They dont do a 30 day trial, once you sign you are commited to a 12 month contract.

mame · 5 Dec 2011 at 06:39

Unless Esporta has changed its policy in the past 2 years, they ask for 3 months notice to cancel. You will would have to let them know in April.

Nitrojan · 5 Dec 2011 at 07:04

mame said:
Unless Esporta has changed its policy in the past 2 years, they ask for 3 months notice to cancel. You will would have to let them know in April.

Yeah, this is ridiculous also.. I have already given my notice.. 9 months prior to my contract ending lol.

Esporta is usually around £70 a month for non-students - a total rip off!

tlrBeta · 5 Dec 2011 at 08:40

I would just cancel the DD if the gym don't want to help. They will no doubt say 'we will chase you for it etc'. If the bank asked whether you have cancelled at the gym say yes of course.

If it comes out of your bank again, contact your bank and say I would like to use direct debit indemnity cover...Why sir? "I am paying for a service I am not receiving" ...job done.

Usually, once you do this once, they won't be able to get at your money again.

Bare in mind, I don't think they will let you rejoin if you do this trick

Haggisman · 5 Dec 2011 at 10:16

What is it with gyms and always being conmen?

beachBOYken · 5 Dec 2011 at 10:21

your not using there services , so cancel direct debit via you bank!

screw the contract , I doubt they will do anything anyway , i would ring them again first to say your cancelling then ring your bank or do it online if you have online banking.

axer · 5 Dec 2011 at 10:35

Regarding those whining about how crap the facilities belonging to the gym in question are, am I the only one thinking this could have been easily avoided by trailing the gym before signing up for a lengthy contract? I've never heard of a gym that doesn't offer some sort of introductory trial?

Ahleckz · 5 Dec 2011 at 10:46

Get fired and then cancel?
Or explain to a friendly manager at your work and get them to write a fake letter of termination and use that.

Volitous · 5 Dec 2011 at 11:21

I cancelled my DD with them, I wrote them a nice letter first (I had changed jobs so it was no longer convenient).

Some debt collector knocked on my door 6 months later - but as far as I can tell from Experion I have not suffered any ill consequence on my credit rating from this.

I don't have a CCJ either unless this is still to come (Cancelled DD 7 months ago)

Edit: I didn't pay the debt collector and didn't respond to correspondence to any party other than a single letter stating further contact would be considered harrasment.

PMKeates · 5 Dec 2011 at 12:04

Your best bet is to try and find an instance where they have broken the contract. Go there and find absolutely any issue you can with the quality of things.

stoofa · 5 Dec 2011 at 12:48

darael said:
Cancel the DD - I doubt the debt is enforcable, without a CCJ. Then wait until a DCA contacts you and offer £1/month.

Seriously....this is your honest and real suggestion to the OP?
He has signed a contract and as nobody is in breech of this contract then he cannot simply stop paying it.
So you first suggestion is basically one that will see debt collectors chasing him.
Then your £1/month statement. They don't just accept any random and nominal payment scheme you suggest.
So back into court to judge OP monthly income before a figure is decided upon which will include further court costs and possibly bailiff charges.

Seen plenty of bad advice on these forums - this one ranks up there with the best of them.

Freefaller · 5 Dec 2011 at 13:04

Most gyms I've been a member of (and I've been a member of a few

) tend to have a termination notice, 1-3 months. I'd be dumbfounded if this didn't apply in your case. £55 a month is a lot for some people. I pay a lot more for my gym, but I get a lot for my money too.

I'd seriously look as to what termination clauses. All contracts tend to have one for that sort of thing usually.

-Ad- · 5 Dec 2011 at 13:18

Pure Gym @ £16.99 and to cancel you just cancel your DD = Win!

Nuffield wanted £59 rising to £64 after 9months and the freeweights area was smaller than one of FF's quads!

Good luck OP, I would either suck it up or just cancel and fight them!

Freefaller · 5 Dec 2011 at 13:33

One of the things I did check before signing on to a £86/m contract is the get out clause! Can't believe a gym would expect you to do a full 12 month contract with no get out clause :/

Haggisman · 5 Dec 2011 at 13:38

Freefaller said:
Can't believe a gym would expect you to do a full 12 month contract with no get out clause :/

It's a gym, they're money grabbing conmen! :mad:

Freefaller · 5 Dec 2011 at 13:49

Never seen it before - so quite shocked! Having been to a fair few gyms! <3 gyms though

arknor · 5 Dec 2011 at 13:54

Then your £1/month statement. They don't just accept any random and nominal payment scheme you suggest.

i know loads of people who do this with catalogues and credit cards...

they cant afford to pay , just ignore all contact eventually you get a debt collection agency chasing you and they are stupidly reasonable with payments and freeze any intrest unlike the actual company

mame · 5 Dec 2011 at 14:55

-Ad- said:
Pure Gym @ £16.99 and to cancel you just cancel your DD = Win!

That's who I'm with now. I also got the fist 12 months for £9.99/month! I think (might be wrong) that they also say that the £16.99 will never increase for existing members!, it's for life. It will only increase for new members. Not quite sure how they afford to do it because there are plenty of staff there. It must take almost 100 members to pay for 1 member of staff. That's without leasing the equipment/building/bills etc. Well done to them if they can because I can't think why I would ever cancel.

stoofa · 5 Dec 2011 at 16:55

arknor said:
i know loads of people who do this with catalogues and credit cards...

they cant afford to pay , just ignore all contact eventually you get a debt collection agency chasing you and they are stupidly reasonable with payments and freeze any intrest unlike the actual company

Loads of people you say?
Of course.....everyone does it don't they?
Getting interest frozen is not difficult, getting £1 a month accepted is very difficult.
Courts will be involved and that then requires statements of incomings and outgoings.
At this stage an amount will be agreed.

Moot point anyway, the OP doesn't sound like he's short of cash and £1 a month to break a contract is not going to be accepted.

Nitrojan · 6 Dec 2011 at 01:03

A lot of mixed advice in this thread.. Still not sure what to do lol. It seems that 50% of people would stick it out and the other 50% would just cancel the DD.