thanks for the advice slick. It disgusts me that companies like FF get away with what they do - they aren't worth my time or energy. I'll just have to take satisfaction that they will never have a penny of mine again and will lose far more revenue in the long run through my bad mouthing than they gained from me through their petty money grabbing

well I decided to pay them the final month of membership, it was at the original rate and not the increased rate. Unfortunately now isn't a good time for me to take risks with my credit rating plus as an obsessive it was preying on my mind a bit much - which is annoyingly part of their tactic! I would still like to take action against them; does anyone know if the OFT has any teeth if I make a complaint? Or is there any mileage in trying to claim off FF?

Hi Slick, the legal advisor was from DAS through my home insurance. What do I need to be careful of regarding my credit files? I haven't looked at them for a couple years; once something is on there will I be able to get it removed? That's what bothers me most about a DCA chasing me. Whether I'm in the right or wrong, I could get lumbered with something on my history which I can't really afford to have on there. thanks, though, that's an interesting set of regs. I may change tack on my argument and see if this can be acted on by the OFT. cheers

so i spoke to a legal advisor, they reckoned that my argument using the Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999 wasn't going to be much good. In fact, she said that whatever the fault of FF in their failure to give notice, they still are within their rights to expect the notice period in the contract. Not what I wanted to hear. She thought the best I could argue for was not to pay the fee increase. FF still haven't responded to any of my letters. Last I heard they were giving me 7 days notice before sending me on to the debt collectors. I suspect I will hear from CARS any day now. I will give them a ring tomorrow to see if they will acknowledge anything, but to be honest in the face of the advice I've had I can't see much point in carrying this game on.

Hi Loz, I'm in the same boat as you and agree in thinking it is unfair - they did not give adequate notice of the increase. The fact is that I didn't give them the notice of termination until December so according to the T&C's they expect January to be paid for as well, and that's all they're interested in I have sent them a letter stating this and quoted the Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999 but not sure where it will go - I am a step away from them calling in the debt collection agency. Have you managed to progress things in any way?

Hi Slick, thanks for that link, that thread deals with my problem exactly - I'll shift over to there cheers

Hi, I'm after some advice about how to proceed with FF. Background I cancelled my membership in December after the fee increase notice they sent out coming in to effect in January(which I gather most members of FF received); I did this in the gym and was told I wouldn't have to pay for January so cancelled my direct debit. I recently received a letter from head office saying that I owed for January. I phoned up proceeded to have a 'discussion' with one of their credit people that I considered it unfair that I should follow the T&Cs regarding membership cancellation dates when they, in my opinion, haven't followed the T&Cs and given me a month's notice of the fee increase. So I refused payment. I then wrote them a letter and told this to them, citing up the The Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999 and that I think they are in breach due to the fact that they sent out their letters on 30th November and thus there was no way I was notified with 1 month, as it was impossible for the letter to reach me in time. I have since received a final demand for payment prior to forwarding on to a debt collection agency. Question Have FF gone against trading standards or regulations by sending out these letters on the last day of the month with the intent of giving a month's notice? And if so, can I use this as reason not to pay the 'extra' month that resulted? I don't really want the debt collectors after me, so can I keep things in play without that happening? It's not a case of a large amount of money, but on principle I believe they should be called to explain their actions. Thanks