Text messages from CRS but no letters

[dean25]

I received this text today:

Please call CRS on.... Between 9 and 5 pm we sent. Letter a week ago and need to discuss this with you. Thank you.

 

At first I thought it was a spam text until I put the text into Google and found out it is exercise for less/harlands.

 

 

I cancelled my gym membership in April.

 

 

I asked a staff member in the gym how to cancel and was told to 'just cancel the direct debit' so that is what I did.

 

 

I have not received any letters from Harlands

 

 

this is the first I have heard from any sort of debt collection agency.

 

 

I was also told when I joined the gym that there was no cancellation penalty.

What shall I do?

 

 

I'm worried that this is going to go further and effect my credit rating.

 

 

I was going to contact the gym I signed up in

 

 

but saw that other people getting advice on here were told not to.

 

 

Any advice would be appreciated!

[dx100uk]

cant effect your credit file

[renegadeimp]

Ignore it until they mail something

[slick132]

Hi Dean,

 

Ignore any text from Harlands/CRS.

 

1. Do Harlands/CRS have your current address.

 

2. Approx when did you join the gym.

 

3. Was it a 12 month, or a rolling monthly agreement.

 

As DX says, this will not affect your CRA files.

 

[dean25]

Hi Dean,

 

Ignore any text from Harlands/CRS.

 

1. Do Harlands/CRS have your current address.

 

2. Approx when did you join the gym.

 

3. Was it a 12 month, or a rolling monthly agreement.

 

As DX says, this will not affect your CRA files.

 

 

Hi I don't think they do have my current address I joined when I was a student and have moved since then. On my contract it says a 'minimum of 11 months' I joined February 2014 and made my last payment to them in April 2015. I'm just annoyed as I have done what their staff told me do but obviously can't prove it!

[slick132]

Hi Dean,

 

We would always suggest you give Harlands your current address.

 

This avoids the chance of them using an old address to start a court claim and you'd end up with a CCJ against you because you didn't defend.

 

You could write to Harlands saying :-

 

Dear Harlands/CRS,

 

I refer to recent text messages from CRS asking that I contact them. Do not contact me by phone or text message - anything you have to say must be in writing only.

 

Please note my current address as above.

 

I have no desire or need to contact Harlands/CRS. I was outside the initial membership period when I contacted the gym about cancelling. I cancelled in accordance with their clear instructions.

 

Accordingly I owe, and will pay you, nothing.

 

Yours faithfully,

 

[dean25]

Thank you for your guidance! I will send the letter tomorrow. Yes the CCJ is what I was worried about. I hate how they can get away with threatening people like this!

[renegadeimp]

You won't get a ccj. Don't worry about that.

[dean25]

Do I send this letter to their head office address? I believe it is West Sussex? Having no correspondence from them; other than I text I don't know who I should write to haha!

[slick132]

Hi Dean,

 

41-43 Perrymount Rd, Haywards Heath, West Sussex RH16 3BN

 

Get a free Certificate of Posting from the PO when you send the letter.

 

[dean25]

Thank you again for your advice,

 

 

I have had phone calls off them today from an odd phone number.

 

 

A google search showed it was them.

 

 

I have noticed a few people are in my situation and we all seem to have been told the same thing

that there is no cancellation fee, no 'membership' and you can cancel when you want.

 

 

I'm appalled by the way this 'gym' run their business.

 

 

Could they be reported to the Ombudsmen for this?

 

 

I have checked my emails and was also never sent a copy of my 'contract' including terms and conditions just an email stating my direct debit details for a minimum of 11 months.

[slick132]

Hi Dean,

 

Other threads here mention that complaints should be made to Trading Standards and to The CMA.

 

We'll tell you when the time is right to do this.

 

[dean25]

Well I sent the letter and have proof that is has been delivered.

 

 

However I still been reviewing texts from CRS yesterday and today saying it is 'urgent' that they speak with me today.

 

 

Should I call them and tell them to refer to my letter or just ignore?

 

 

Getting worried about this especially since I'm trying to buy my first home!

[dx100uk]

so you've not read the other threads that slick132 advised...

 

 

you ignore them.

there nothing they can do to hurt your credit file

and thus a mortgage

and they've not done court in years.

 

 

just remember...

THEY ARE NOT BAILIFFS AND HAVE NOT SUCH LEGAL POWERS

 

 

dx

[dean25]

Yes I have read the other threads, it's because I have no idea what these letters are saying that they have supposedly sent to me. I also have no idea how much or what they are claiming for since the letters have possibly gone to my old address. I will try to chill out about it for now haha.

[slick132]

Hi Dean,

 

No need to call CRS at all. It may be "urgent" in their minds but you have no need to call them.

 

It really doesn't matter what Harlands/CRS letters have demanded or threatened - they can't do anything significant.

 

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

 

[dean25]

Hi everyone

I have still heard nothing back from Harlands after notifying them of my change of address. It's been 2 weeks and I'm still waiting for a reply which is unnerving!

Am I best just waiting for them to contact or should I send another notification of my change of address? I'm just conscious of the fact that they've probably still been sending correspondence to my old address they don't seem the brightest bunch!

[renegadeimp]

Just wait for them to contact. They cant do anything anyway, so dont worry about it.

[slick132]

Hi Dean,

 

Harlands are slow to reply to letters but don't let that worry you at all.

 

When they DO reply, it'll be a load of waffle normally but we'll help you deal with them.

 

[dean25]

Hi everyone,

I finally received a reply from Harlands which reads:

 

Further to our previous correspondence, we have contacted the club regarding your request for cancellation we have been advised that:

'We have no record of a cancellation for this membership"

For the above reasons we must advise that the balance of £171.47 is correct and due. As a goodwill gesture we are willing to accept £96.47 as final settlement of this debt if paid in full within 7 days. Payment can be made by....

A payment plan can be set up if you are unable to settle in full, although we do charge extra for this.

If your are expecting financial difficulty, there are organizations who offer free advice....

Yours Sincerely

For Credit Resolution Services

 

 

How can I reply to this? This is the first written correspondence I have receievd from them. They also have not provided where this £171.47 total has come from.

 

Any help would be appreciated!

[renegadeimp]

Dont reply. They know they dont have a leg to stand on which is why they are offering a discount already. A goodwill gesture means " We know we are completely wrong, but we wont admit it because we are greedy. SO we are going to lie, offer a small discount and hope you pay us money you dont need to".

[slick132]

Hi Dean,

 

The total will be made up of gym fee plus Harlands/CRS admin fees added.

 

Reply to Harlands :-

 

I refer to your letter of xxdate.

 

As I said before, I cancelled following the clear instruction from the gym staff member by simply cancelling the DD mandate.

 

I will pay you nothing more for gym fees or for admin charges and further demands from you will be reported the the relevant authorities.

 

After this, I'd be inclined to ignore Harlands, CRS and Zinc for a while.

 

 

[dean25]

Thanks for your replays. I have sent the recommended reply. I have also continued to get text messages after specifically requesting that they do not contact me by those means!

Will keep you updated.

[slick132]

Hi Dean,

 

Keep a log of all calls, emails and text msgs, in case a complaint of harassment is needed.

 

[dean25]

Hi everyone

So I have received another letter from crs that reads:

 

We refer to our previous correspondence and our position remains the same, you continue to have an outstanding account balance. Please contact CRS directly on 01444449165 to discuss your account within the next 7 days. A suitable resolution can be organised.

We have spoken to cerise for less and they have not received the relevant notice from you to cancel your membership correctly.

 

If you continue to remain unsure of your obligations we would recommend you seek legal advice.

 

Yours CRS

 

I have also continued to receive calls and messages I have been keeping screenshots of these in case of a harassment complaint.

Shall I ignore this letter or reply...again!

 

Thank you again