Personal Trainer - Fitness First ignored complaint sent me to debt agency

[dankat]

I am a self employed Personal Trainer.

Last year I signed with Fitness First to work as a self emplyed trainer there, however I was not given what was promised in the contract and resigned.

 

I paid them 300£ in order to receive: business cards, uniforms, advertising materials, be in their system etc - after 2-3 weeks I still did not receive them and after repeteadly reminding them I wrote the gym manager I would like to quit my contract and that I am unstaisfied. He never got back to me and I assumed it was handeld as I only worked there for 2 weeks, which were suppose to be rent free.

 

However, they continued and try to take money of my account, but never mananged to. I called the headoffice and explained the situation, at first they did not even want to cancel my contract. However, after 30min on the phone they did but told me 1 would have to pay for the previous weeks and for the next month. Now they want over 600£ from me!!! I was shocked and wrote them a formal complaint, signed letter, explaining the situation that I have never received what was promised to me and I will not pay 600£ as the manager should have cancelled my contract or he should have told me I will need to do it another way than I did.

 

Yesterday I received a letter from CARS -1st time - telling me they have contacted me several times regarding the debt and now they want to me pay in full or they will take it to court or even worse bailiffs!!!

I have never received any letters from them before! And FF never replied to my complain where I asked for a fair solution and where I explained I did not receive what I have paid for.

 

What shall I do now?

I want to write an email to FF and ask them what this is all about.

But I also want to secure myself and complain somewhere else. Is there an organistation that can handle this complain?

 

Please help me...I just managed to set up my life again and now I have again problems with debts that I dont even believer are my fault.

I would agree to pay them a max of 150£ just so they leave me alon but not more as they absolutely did not keep their promise and now ignore me!

Thanks for the help

[dankat]

Also should I contact cars?

[unclebulgaria67]

This is a business dispute between you and FF. I would not think that this would be something that would appear on a personal credit record.

 

Recommend that you send copies of any dispute letters previously sent to FF to CARS, with a covering letter that you still totally dispute the matter they raise. Advise them that you would welcome FF to take this to court, where you would fully defend, as FF were the first to break the contract terms agreed.

 

This thread would be better in the CAG legal folder. You are really seeking legal advice here, rather than how to deal with CARS. If you want it moved, click on the triangle and ask for the site team to move the thread for you.

[Jam_Buttie]

The letter from CARS will be full of words like if, might, could. They wont go near courts, they just like to shout and scare you.

[i hate bailiffs]

 

Yesterday I received a letter from CARS -1st time - telling me they have contacted me several times regarding the debt and now they want to me pay in full or they will take it to court or even worse bailiffs!!!

 

Sounds a long way off for bailiffs they would have to do court first and win

If it got as far as bailiffs they will be acting with little powers to a residential address

[BRIGADIER2JCS]

FAO CARS

Ref: use theire

 

 

Sir/ Madam ,

 

 

I refer to your letter dated xx.xx.xx the contents of which have been noted.

 

 

I do not acknowledge any debt to CARS or its client.

 

 

Pease be aware this matter is the subject of a major dispute and any court action will be rigorously defended.

 

 

For clarification and the avoidance of misunderstanding please take not of the following points.,

 

 

1. I have never been contacted by CARS before I received the letter referenced above.

 

 

2. I have paid Fitness First the sum of £300.00 for business materials to be used within their system, these have never been provided.

 

 

3. This payment has never been refunded.

 

 

4. I consider that Fitness First has failed to keep its part of the agreement and it is therefore null and void.

 

 

5. I do not therefore owe any debt to Fitness First.

 

 

6. I suggest CARS returns the file on this matter to its client forthwith as I will not make any payment.

 

 

Get that of to them recorded signed for post check receipt.

 

 

Then a Formal Complaint to FF head office demanding your back immediately.

[dankat]

Thank you very much for this!

I will send the letters out tomorrow !

Much appreciatet!!!

[dankat]

Does anybody know if there is some chance of complaining to some organisation about Fitness First if they do not communicate or come to a fair solution?

Somebody overlooking matter like this?

Something like an ombudsman?

 

Thanks

[BRIGADIER2JCS]

Hi dankar,

Please give them time to reply 5 days is insufficient, the reply will decide the next course of action.

[Bazooka Boo]

I did wonder if this was another thread opened about the same issue, best to stick to the same thread.

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?417336-FitnessFirst-PT-insitution-where-I-could-complaint-to