Hello,

I recently experienced a severe change in circumstances which meant I was removed from my residence in London and had to move over 55 miles away.

In London, I'm tied into a 12 month contract with Parkwood Leisure.

I emailed them, explaining my change in circumstances an that I was under severe financial strain and therefor couldn't afford to pay my membership - I provided them with proof of change of address etc.

I also took the following steps:

- tried to find someone to transfer it to

- asked if they had a gym near my new address, so I could transfer it to someone here (they don't)

- Offered to pay them a smaller amount (2 months fee) to effectively cut the contract early, which would be beneficial to both sides and is all I can afford.

So far all I have received is strong arm emails just reciting the same contractual terms,

with no compassion showed by what appears to be a pretty awful organisation based on other posts

I've read about people who've been admitted to hospital etc (Parkwood Leisure).

I suppose my question is - is there anything I can do?

I'm tempted to just tell them to do one and take a chance,

if they file a CCJ

then I'll just pay up

but as you can imagine a gym membership is definitely not high on the list of debt priority (unless it has to be, with a CCJ).

I'm not too familiar with CCJs, but from what I understand:

- If you pay in 14 days then it wont impact your credit rating

- You will be charged a CCJ administration fee on top of what you owe

Does anyone know if the above are correct in this case, if so, what is the administration fee?

I'm tempted to offer the gym a payment of say £10 a month for the foreseeable future to make the payment easier - would they likely accept this?

The whole experience has been awful to effectively just speak uncompassionate gym staff

(I even had a phone call with the head of the centre).

What an awful way to treat customers.

Thanks for any advice!

you have moved out of the area - perfect excuse to cancel.

all you need to do is offer ONE months membership following your moved/cancelled DD

gyms don't do CCJ's nor mark credit files

and DCA'sare totally powerless and are NOT BAILIFFS

use the slick132 letter in 1000's of threads here

Hi Cmoz and welcome to CAG

Have a read around of other threads here and you'll not find a SINGLE case where court action is taken, let alone results in a CCJ.

The gym doesn't have to be compassionate about the change in circumstances. You've moved and they cannot hold you to the 12 month agreement - it's your RIGHT to cancel with just one month's notice.

1. Are you dealing direct with the gym or is an admin Co involved.

2. Please confirm exactly what the gym said in response to your request for release from the agreement due to relocation.

Do not contact them further for now, until we have a fuller picture.

Hello,

Thank you both for your responses.

To answer your questions in order:

1. Currently, I’ve been dealing with gym direct (Sidcup Leisure Centre) and have escalated the claim and received a resp Once from the centre manager. This response however was exactly the same as all others (explained below).

2. I contacted the gym, explained my circumstances and the response I received was robotic and simply recited the t&cs of my contract, which states I MUST fulfil the 12 month contract. I offered them 2 months membership as that’s all I can afford but they also declined this.

Other steps taken:

- tried to sell it to a friend

- tried to transfer it to my new address as I found a family member willing to take it, but they don’t have a gym within 30 miles of my new address

Generally their attitude has been “we don’t care, read the T&Cs”

I’ve actually contacted the competition and markets authority, who responded to me today after 10 days stating essentially that they were interested in the case and would investigate it. However, they said their investigation would take months due to limited resources so in the meantime I should contact the citizens advice.

Hopefully this provides the information you need!

Thanks very much for the help

It must be added that the gym is managed by park wood leisure, who own many gyms

The CMA are a body you can complain to but they're generally unable to help out individuals. They work on a far larger scale.

Citizens advice will not really help you at all - we are FAR more experienced dealing with gym cases than they are.

The other body to complain to (when the time is right, is Trading Standards.

I would like you to follow the following specific advice and write to the gym by posted letter :-

The gym manager

Sidcup Leisure Centre

Dear sir or madam,

I refer to my membership which I had to cancel due to relocating over 50 miles away.

I've been told by you that I remain committed to a 12 month membership agreement despite relocating - is this correct ?

I remain willing to pay one month's fee for the notice period that I think I need to give you, if you're willing to accept this.

Yours faithfully,

Please also give some more info for us :-

1. Approx date you joined.

2. Approx date the DD was paid each month.

3. Date you first told the gym you were cancelling due to the relocation.

4. Was this by letter, email, in person or by phone.

5. Date you actually moved away.

6. Date the Last DD was paid before (I assume) you cancelled the DD mandate.

Do not discuss this with the gym by phone at all.

Thanks again for your help with this. Citizens advice recommended that I contact trading standards, but I will hold fire on this for now.

I'll send that letter off to the gym today via recorded delivery.

Here's the answers to your questions:

1. Joined May 29th 2017

2. DD Paid on the 1st every month (was due January 1st, but has been cancelled)

3. I told the gym via email (no phone contact, everything in writing) around Wednesday 20th December. I also offered to pay the January membership fee at this point as well, as I understand 1 months notice is probably fair.

4. Everything has been done by email so far.

5. I left my previous address on Tuesday 19th December.

6. Last paid 1st December 2017 (haven't actually used the gym since around December 12th).

Please let me know if you need anything else.

Hi Cmoz,

Will you be informed if any gym post goes to the old address ? If not, you should give the gym your current address so you ALWAYS know what they're up to.

No further action required until the gym replies specifically to your letter.

In the meantime, you have done all you ever needed by informing the gym in writing (email) of the relocation and offering to pay the fee due on 1/1/18.

Hello,

Yes the gym has been informed of my new address

- they have sent me an invoice of £270 for the remainder of the membership.

I haven’t received any further email correspondence from them.

Should I just ignore it?

Thanks!

Hi Cmoz,

Have the gym replied specifically to your letter that I drafted above.

If so, did they give an answer to, "I've been told by you that I remain committed to a 12 month membership agreement despite relocating - is this correct ?" .

If so, what exactly did they say.

Or was this simply a further demand that didn't refer to the letter.

Hello,

This was another letter. I’ve not had a response from the other one yet, I sent it 4 days ago now so should expect one shortly.

Will update then.

thanks

OK, so ignore the latest letter and let us know if/when they reply to the letter you just sent.

Hi Slick132,

They’ve just sent another letter as a “final demand”. Also been calling me around once a week but I’ve ignored every call.

Do you think they are just trying to call my bluff?

The gym has actually just been taken over by “Lex Leusire”, who are now perusing me.

Any advice appreciated.

Cheers

no reply ignore

Hi Cmoz,

Do you know when Lex Leisure took over from Parkwood.

Is it just Lex Leisure that continue to demand payment from you.

Make no response for now.

Hello,

Unsure on the exact date - it was around late Jan after this dispute had begun.

This is the letter I have just had - slightly concerned as it’s threatening court action.

Any advice?

What would the best step be if a CCJ is filed - I presume to pay immediately to risk the CCJ getting on my credit file.

However, I do feel like I would have a genuine case against them.

Any help greatly appreciated.

Court action - Ha ha .......... in their dreams !!

There will be no court case and no CCJ.

Read all the other 100's of threads here and you'll find no court action taken in the last few years. Lots threatened but NEVER taken.

Keep us posted.

Just received the following email:

Dear Mr,

Overdue Amount: £270,00,

Invoice Membership arrears for fixed expressions contract

The above invoice is now very overdue and due to be passed to our legal department which may result in court action. If court action is taken you will be liable for court fees and administration costs, in addition to the outstanding debt, which would need to be settled in full by yourself.

Please pay this invoice immediately to prevent this action being taken.

Payment can be made by BACS to:

Account Name: xxxxxx Limited

Sort Code: xx-xx-xx

Account Number: xxxxxxxx

Reference: xxxxx

By cheque made payable to xxxxx Limited and sent to:

xxxxx Limited

Address xxxxxx

xxxxxx

Alternatively by debit/credit card over the telephone: xxxxxx

If you should have any queries please contact us on xxxxxx during office hours which are Monday - Friday 8.30am - 5.30pm.

Kind regards

CREDIT CONTROL

do you really want them knowing its you seeking help here why post up all the ref numbers!!

Hi Cmoz,

I've removed some info from the post above - it's good to remain anonymous online.

As far as their email, simply ignore it completely.

Ah - I posted that off my phone, I did actually delete the reference number but must've copied the original email instead of my note. Thanks very much for removing the details - and the advice! Will do.