I've just received two letters from ARC, both dated yesterday. It starts with: "Dear Mr **** We refer to your recent offer to pay and confirm we are willing to accept £550.00 to short settle this debt..." This must be some kind of joke? I haven't made any offers! I have also had two phone calls from them this morning that I have logged, despite me telling them yesterday that I would only deal with them in writing. Tossers!

Thanks for that mate. Much appreciated. I actually didn't give any notice because they didn't respond to my questions about what I needed to do to cancel my membership.

In August 2008 I joined the Next Generation gym but shortly afterwards I found out that I would have to move out of the area due to work. I phoned the gym to ask what I should do as obviously I couldn't use the gym and couldn't get a proper answer. I then rang again and was told to write to them stating I was leaving the area. I did this and received no response. I then received a letter stating that David Lloyd Leisure had taken over Next Generation and that my subscription was going to go up. As I had still had no contact from after my letter I rang the gym again only to be told that their head office dealt with subscription issues and I would probably hear something in due course. I then started receiving letters from a company called ARC demanding £572 on behalf of David Lloyd Leisure. When I rang them back I explained the situation and that I had been trying to sort this out for months but nobody had got back to me but the guy on the phone wasn't interested and kept asking how I proposed to pay off this sum of money. When I told him I had no intention of paying it there and then he said they would take me to court. I then told him that was fine and that I would defend myself in court. Just now I received a phone call from a very rude man who didn't identify himself or his company, but the number was 08452 707365, and he started asking for payment or an out of court settlement of £517. When I told him I had no intention of paying any money over the phone he said they would prepare a court case to be heard in Northampton and that "it's up to you to get there or you'll get a judgement against you anyway so you may as well pay now". I then told him I intended to take legal advice and that any further contact should be via mail only. He then said he had a legal obligation to ring me regularly until this debt was settled. I then informed him that if I received anymore calls I would look into a case for harassment. He continued to say they would continue calling and I hung up. Did I do the right thing? I must confess I lost my temper. Any tips on my next move please guys? I know I am being bullied by this company but they've picked on the wrong person.

Hi everyone. I'm a newbie who has also had trouble with Ruthbridge. I've been reading these threads for a while now but have decided it is the right time to get your valuable advice. They are hassling me for a debt of almost £2000. I have sent them the letter asking for a copy of the credit agreement, along with £1 PO on January 19th. Tonight when I got in from work there was a card saying a special delivery item was being held at my local sorting office which also had a £4.27 excess charge as the sender did not pay enough postage on it. I have just been to the sorting office where it became clear that this package was from Ruthbridge (it said on the back of the envelope). I refused to collect the item and asked the lady at the sorting office to return it to sender. Have I done the right thing? Should I now send the letter saying they have failed to reply within 14 days? Any advice would be great. Thanks