Hello all,

I was a university student who signed up to my local gym. My last payment to the gym was in February of this year. I believe the payment was set up at £19.99 pcm.

I ran into some financial troubles in February and the direct debit for this membership was revoked by my bank (HSBC). I viewed the email sent to me by the gym group and assumed that next month when they came to debit my account, they would take the amount owed + the next membership instalment.

I recently started receiving phone calls from CRS, of which I have not picked up. I then checked my emails and found one from them stating I owed them in excess of £300 due to late payments.

What has gone from a (relatively small) 'admin' fee from the gym of £50 has now shot up over six fold.

I will admit that I probably should have kept on top of this (phoning the gym/bank to discuss how payments should be made) but other reasons and a lack of checking my email account associated with the gym lead me to do otherwise.

I suppose I am creating this thread for advice on how I should proceed with CRS with regards to this issue.

I have already read that CRS have no legal power with respect to collecting debt owed.

I also have read that it is not advised to answer their phone calls.

However, I fear as time passes and the debt racks up, it may get to a point where I 'owe' them much more than the current £350 as they keep on adding 'admin' charges to my name.

As a student who does not necessarily have those kind of funds, what would be the advised next step for me? I am hesitant to contact CRS to work out a payment plan without fully understanding my rights.

If anyone could assist me, it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

admin charges are unlawful anyway

so doesn't matter how many any org or dca add to any debt.

are intending to return there?

Hello Dx100uk,

thanks for taking the time to reply to my thread.

I am not intending on returning to the gym, no.

I am more concerned as to how this will affect my credit rating (if at all) for the future.

I am not a pushover, so am not worried with regards to dealing with CRS if I know my rights.

Thank you.

gym debts don't show.....

dx

How would you advice my next course of action?

Thank you kindly.

Sure. Ignore.

Have you relocated or this was local to you home and uni?

Have you relocated or this was local to you home and uni?

I have since relocated.

Sure. Ignore.

I can really do this?

Hi Km and welcome to CAG

Please take time to read other threads here. You'll see Harlands/CRS are chancers who prey on the weak and rely on ignorance of gym users to pay their increasing admin fees.

On the whole, you can ignore Harlands/CRS demands. They're full of hot air and they'll do nothing.

Gym m/ships are NOT reported by CRA's so this will not affect your credit rating, despite their threats that it may.

Read other threads and you'll see we often advise you to send a letter offering 1 month's fee owed before cancelling the DD due to relocation. It's a bit late for this in your case so just continue to ignore them for now.

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