Hi my son has similar problems with CRS and cancelled his direct debit payments after 14 monthly payments had been taken .

Does anyone know if by leaving it a little bit late and not cancelling after 12 months is he now liable for another 12 months like a sort of rolling contract ?

He doesn't have a copy of his membership to check the small print .

At present they want approx £200 + with CRS' additional fees .

Hi everyone I'm new here ,

my son is being targeted like many others for a sum of £207.47 which includes £102 .50 of CRS' fees .

My son joined E4L in Swansea and paid by direct debit .

He knew that he had to pay for 12 months before he could cancel membership and actually didn't stop making direct debit payments until 14 monthly payments had been taken .

His last payment was in Dec 2016 but now out of the blue we have received CRS' stock letter demanding​ the aforementioned money .

They are now ringing us and leaving messages .

What actions do we take and does anyone know if their contract small print has a clause that says that if you continue over 12 months it becomes a rolling contract and he is liable for another 12 months .

We do not have a copy of his original contract .

Thanks in advance to anyone that can reply .

Hello and Welcome,

I've moved your post to start a new thread in the appropriate forum, hopefully you will get some help shortly.

Regards,

Scott.

so has he cancelled now?

Hi The Man and welcome to CAG

Have a look here about the proper way to cancel - http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?452671-Cancelling-your-Gym-Agreement-Get-it-right-!(1-Viewing)-nbsp

There is no way YS is tied into a further 12 month agreement. At worst he had to give a month's notice before cancelling the DD mandate. Cancelling the DD mandate was adequate notice of intent to cancel so, after that, he had to pay just one final payment.

Did YS just cancel the DD mandate, or did he tell the gym staff in person, by letter or email of his wish to cancel.

Read other threads and you'll find a letter to offer Harlands a final month's fee and no admin fees.

Ignore any contact at all from Harlands/CRS until you send such a letter. There's nothing they can do.

Hi slick, thanks for your help.

We took your advice and sent a recorded delivery letter stating that we were only willing to pay a further one months membership to cover the month following cancellation of my son's direct debit .

We refused to pay their additional charges quoting the precious judgement in previous threads on this site .

We have had a letter from them still insisting on payment within 7 days .

They also refute our point that their charges are unenforceable and state that each case has different costs ,which to me seems a veiled threat that if we don't settle costs will increase .

Any advice on how to proceed ?

you now ignore them

Hi Man,

It's not a veiled threat - if you don't pay what's currently demanded, they WILL continue to add extra admin fees.

However, that does not make the admin fees any more enforceable and we recommend you pay nothing at all.

As DX says, now is time to ignore Harlands/CRS.

Keep us updated but do NOT pay them anything and don't respond to any attempts to contact you for now.

If is any help to people regarding the issues with this company and the advice we are being given .

I grew up with my solicitor and had short telephone conversation with him relating to my son's problems with CRS .

His opinion was that we were being given good advice although he did have the caveat that to be absolutely sure he would have to see all the details and that would cost my student son £400 lol .

So once again thanks guys for the help against injustice and let's all stay strong .

Hi TM,

If you choose to pay £400 for legal advice, that's your prerogative.

However, we've been dealing with these chancers (Harlands/CRS) for many years and we know they work. We know what they do and, just as important, we know what they don't do !

You've done all you need to do so now you just ignore their threats and get on with life. If their contact attempts turn into harassment, you can take action to stop it.

Keep us posted.

Thought I'd update you on things as they are now .

We had further letters from CRS saying they would either take my son to court or transfer things to another company called Zinc .

It was no surprise when we were advised that Zinc would be taking over

Since then we have have several phone calls which we do not answer and yet more letters

today's one demanding £243 ( an increase from the original £207 ) .

We apparently have 10 days to settle before further action is taken ,

this letter incidentally has come from CRS not Zinc so I'm not sure which company is pursuing my son now !

they are all the same, just a different bloke at the next desk

in a diff coloured skirt using the same printer as the rest with a different letterhead.

none of which have any legal powers to do stuff all..

only the owner of a debt can do court

and as gym debts are never sold on

and no gym company has done court since 2012.

safe to totally ignore

a dca is not a BAILIFF

dx

If CRS are back on the case, Zinc have already given up. CRS use Zinc if their own demands fail to get them results.

You may hear from Spratt Endicott. They've been Harlands/CRS's pet solicitors over the last year or two. They're as toothless as Zinc !!

Keep us posted ..............

Just an update for you all . Since your last reply we have had several phone calls which we have not answered . When they do bother to leave a message it has been from a guy with a strong Scottish accent so it is probably still Zinc trying to extort money from my son . So far we haven't heard from the solicitors you mentioned previously . Thanks for your ongoing support .

Hi TM and thanks for the update.

Experience suggests it will not be Zinc calling you - far more likely to be CRS trying again.

I can also report that we've not heard recently of cases being referred to Spratt Endicott sol'rs. Maybe either Harlands realise it was a waste of money - OR maybe Spratts remembered, When you lie down with dogs, you catch fleas !!

In any event, ignore all calls and texts and keep us updated.