Hi all,

I have been reading a few threads regarding similar cases but nothing exactly the same so I thought I would ask before proceeding further.

In October 2013 I joined Xercise4Less Leeds while at University,

I went the gym for a couple of months,

everything paid fine

but after some personal issues,

I had to move back home in Stafford, a good 100+ miles away.

I spoke to a staff member and they told me to email the manager of the Leeds branch, which I did, explaining my situation and offered to pay any necessary cancellation fees, to which l heard nothing back (no shocks there!) despite sending three emails, because of this, I duly cancelled my DD and thought nothing of it.

Last Friday (24th February 2017) at my home address I received a letter stating they had tried contacting me previously and I owe £253! Along with the usual court threats others have had.

As this was so long ago, I have no proof of my emails as my old email address is now not in use and I do not have any utility bills from that far back proving I had to move.

Any advice on how I should proceed?

Cheers, James

ignore totally

just remember DCA's are NOT BAILIFFS

dx

More than happy to ignore if that is the best course of action in this instance.

Shall I keep everyone updated if/when I receive further correspondence? Or shall I continue to ignore totally regardess?

only if you get a claimform from the court

which no gym have done in 5yrs.

Whilst ignoring their puerile rantings to pay money you don't owe, get onto X4Less social media sites, and embarrass them on there to there ''customers'' and any potential customers.

The treatment of it's customers is truly questionable, so use their own complaints process, and when they ignore you you can escalate it to the CMA and TS, TS are already looking into X4L and their treatment of customers, so the more complaints the better.

Hi JS and welcome to CAG

Ignoring Harlands/CRS may well be the best idea in a while but I think you should challenge X4Less first. I'm also anxious that you confirm your current address the gym and Harlands/CRS to avoid them using an old address for litigation.

I suggest you write to X4Less Head Office saying :-

Xercise4Less Head Office

Unit 1

Kirkstall Industrial Estate

Leeds

West Yorks

LS4 2AZ

Dear sir or madam,

Membership at Leeds gym in 2013

Please note my current address is - xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.

I joined the gym in October 2013 while at University but, due to personal circumstances, I had to move over 100 miles away. I told gym staff about this and they told me to email the gym manager who would tell me if I had to pay any cancellation fees.

In total I sent 3 emails but had no reply so I cancelled the DD mandate and heard no more.

Now I am getting demands from Harlands/CRS seeking payment of over £250. I have seen online just how many of your customers are being harassed by Harlands and will not allow them to harass me in this way well over 3 years after your own gym manager failed to respond to me at all.

I require that you tell Harlands/CRS to stop demands immediately, failing which I will make formal complaints about their actions which I assume are sanctioned by Xercise4Less.

I will also use your Social Media to make sure people know how you allow Harlands/CRS to harass your customers.

Yours faithfully,

Send this to X4Less using RM Signed For delivery and see how they reply. Ignore all contact from Harlands/CRS in the meantime.

Hi Slick and Bazooka,

Thank you to all three of you for being so helpful.

I will definitely send the letter as instructed as well as using my Facebook and Twitter to really show them up.

I honestly couldn't believe what I was reading when I opened the letter, the fact that they have written to my home address rather than my previous Leeds address, obviously indicates to me that they must know of a change of address somewhere.

I can't believe they think they can get away with treating customers like this, I wonder how many thousands they've gained from preying on people who are a bit weaker minded and pay immediately!

Will keep you updated with their reply.

sadly tis what the DCA industry do.

a DCA is NOT A BAILIFF

You'll know when you've hit a nerve, they'll block you from their accounts......use social media to it's fullest, when they block you, escalate the complaint to their head office and CEO.

Hi all,

Not sure if you remember me and my enquiry as there are so many!

I did exactly as instructed above, gave them a verbal battering on social media and received a half-hearted apology and to contact Xercise4Less directly. I've heard nothing since...up until this morning via email! Please see below;

"Hello James

Your file has recently been returned to us by our external agents.

According to our records, you still have an outstanding balance of £252.4, in connection with Xercise4Less Leeds.

Please call us today on 01444 449165 between 08:30am and 6:00pm to discuss repayment of your balance. A payment plan can be set up if you're unable to pay the balance in one go.

Your reference number is ******.

If you would prefer us to call you, please confirm a suitable telephone number to reach you on.

Many thanks,

Rob Avery

CRS Collections Manager"

I have not yet replied to them and will be more than willing to ignore this, just thought I'd ask on here just in case there is something further I can do?

Thanks guys.

ignore

Ha ha CRS, gotta love them, mark it as junk, and ignore.

Get back onto X4L head office and demand they explain why they are allowing you to be harassed by their third party DCA.

Hi JS,

Definately go back to X4L Head Office and use social media to complain that they're allowing Harlands/CRS to continue to harass you.

Also, when they made their "half-hearted apology", did they say they'd tell Harlands/CRS to stop contacting you ?