Gym membership - credit rating?

Soldato
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Quick question, hopefully a simple one

Signed up to a local gym paying monthly a few months ago but ended up cancelling in the 14 day cooling off period. (They never returned calls to arrange an induction). Spoke to the manager on the phone who said he'd cancel it and that I didn't need to put it in writing. I did put it in writing though, despite him saying I didn't need to.

Anyhoo, a few weeks later I get a notification from my bank that a new standing order had been set up, so I quickly called and cancelled that before they took any money.

A few months later the inevitable is happening and I'm getting letters saying my account is in arrears (about 90 odd quid so not much). The latest says they'll be appointing a recovery agency and adding admin fees blah blah blah.

Ignored the first couple and checked my credit report to make sure it's not showing as a credit account - it's not.

Have emailed the gym and the credit company saying I won't be paying anything

Given that it's not showing as an active credit account and I've got written proof that I cancelled it - should I be worried about implications on my credit rating? It's currently nearly perfect so don't want it being harmed! I know the agencies always say that it will affect your credit rating if you don't pay, but that's only if they take it to court and you end up with a judgement against you, right?

Ta!
 
I've got written proof that I cancelled it - should I be worried about implications on my credit rating?
Providing the cancellation is part of the original agreement, and you have written confirmation, there is nothing they can do.
Send the credit company a copy of the cancellation and they have to let it go.
If it's Ashbourne Management you might be in for a bumpy ride, they are real ******* to deal with.
 
if it isn't shwoing up on your credit rating then that isn't a worry

the only faff is that it seemingly isn't show as cancelled on their end - you might want to get that sorted - perhaps by writing to head office clarifying that you've phoned to cancel and had written within 14 days... else you could be faffing about with some debt collector types
 
we need an OcUK tast force to take care of matters like this,
we turn up as a group and let it be known that poo will be arriving via letterbox
i cant front this group myself though as i get the hump very easily and will start knocking people out whilst attaining my boxing stance
 
A copy of a letter that you sent is not the same thing as written proof that you cancelled it. I think some of the replies are confused on this matter.
 
A copy of a letter that you sent is not the same thing as written proof that you cancelled it. I think some of the replies are confused on this matter.

I thought that if you send a letter, and have proof you did, that means that the recipient received it 2-3 days later. Even if something happened and he didn't in court it will be accepted that he did.

So, if the OP sent a letter saying something along the lines of "14 day cooling period bla bla bla, cancel bla bla" he should be fine.
 
Did they get a certificate of posting? Otherwise what stops you just printing a letter with the date from a year ago on it and claiming that you sent notice well within the cancellation period?

I know what you mean about a letter having been assumed to have arrived, but I'm not sure if there are limitations on what situations that applies in.

Regardless, you aren't paying the gym for a membership and you haven't been going either. It would be very hard for them to claim that they've incurred any expenses from what they deem to be you breaking your contract terms - it's not like they reserve machines for you to use that they haven't been able to let anyone else use.
 
Sounds like a dodgy outfit and needs naming and shaming, even if it is local.

As mentioned above will depend on whether there was sufficient proof of cancellation.
 
I'm going to guess Fitness First.

Bunch of **** ***** ****** ******* ***** ****. And that's me being polite about it.

I was with them years ago (probably around 2000 and was with them for a few years - about 7 years I think).

I never had a problem with them even when I stopped my membership and direct debit. However not sure if things have changes since.
 
Sounds like a dodgy outfit and needs naming and shaming, even if it is local.

As mentioned above will depend on whether there was sufficient proof of cancellation.

I'm going to guess Fitness First.

Bunch of **** ***** ****** ******* ***** ****. And that's me being polite about it.

I'm awaiting a response before I assume it's dodgy - there's every chance that it's just a mistake somewhere along the line. It's not fitness first no
 
Lawl, oh dear

Dear Mr D

The agreement you took out for your membership to the club does not have a fourteen day cooling off period and clearly states that it is for a minimum of 12 monthly payments of £29.99.

Therefore I am afraid that arrears letters will continue to be issued and then the account will be forwarded to a debt collection agency if the agreement is not paid in full.

Yours sincerely
 
They obviously haven't heard of the consumer credit act which mandates a 14 day cooling off period for all credit agreements!
 
Proof of posting != proof of recpt.

I think legally that's not true.

If you posted a letter, there is a reasonable expectation that the party received it within 3 days.

That's what I was told a while ago from a legal friend. Basically the 'we didn't receive your letter' is almost always not a valid position.
 
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