'Xercise 4 less' issue

[Smiffy15]

the gym is actually 'Xercise 4 less'..

. i keep getting them confused....

 

 

I accidentally cancelled my DD with Harlands as it was not set up correctly within my banking,

amongst dud DD I have from eBay etc. After only hearing their name once I thought it was a dud one

 

.. after investigating my emails I realised who it was a tried numerous times to contact them through phone to sort it out

and as no one picked up

 

 

I have received a letter saying I owe £25 administration fee and on top of that the £10 monthly fee due by today (20th oct).

I panicked and tried ringing them again and again and no answer...

 

 

i tried emailing the email they give on their waiting tone and the emails bounced back..

. amongst this frustration

 

 

I rang the gym to explain the hassle and asked to leave the gym for that reason

and also because I sustained a knee injury from one of their employed PTs,

which caused me to take days off work, seek medical advice and have to pay for strong anti inflammatorys as I was unable to mobile with that leg.

 

 

I was told I could not cancel due to my DD problem and that I had to provide medical evidence that I can't use the gym for the whole yearly contrac

t otherwise it's not happening..

 

 

. the receptionist then said she will terminate the phone call and put the phone down.

.. what do i do?!

 

 

I refuse to pay a 25 administration fee when it did not cost them a penny to try grab my money!

Edited October 20, 2015 by Smiffy15
Spelling mistakes

[dx100uk]

own thread created

[slick132]

Hi Smiffy and welcome to CAG

 

Please see the PM I've sent you and respond.

 

About the knee injury, is it documented by your GP and has the GP told you not to use the gym again for the foreseeable future ?

 

Many people complain that it's very hard to get through to Harlands. However, we suggest that you NEVER speak to them by phone. Keep everything in writing only. Speaking to them will get you absolutely nowhere.

 

I doubt speaking to the gym will help you either, so don't bother.

 

1. When did you join the gym.

 

2. When was the DD mandate cancelled by you or the bank.

 

If Harlands try calling you, just hang up.

 

Edited October 22, 2015 by slick132

[Smiffy15]

Hi.

 

1. I joined the gym on the 7th September and paid my first months 10 pounds and then 30 pound extra for discount PTS sessions.

 

2. I am not sure the exact date I cancelled the DD... it was about 2 ish weeks ago, I'd have to check with the bank.

 

 

When I went to the Dr's they explained to obviously rest the leg ect but did not say not to go back for a certain amount of time but I have personally lost the confidence within the gym to go back and haven't returned since and plan not to.

 

No I tried contacting the gym and I was just told I'm breaching my contract and I cannot leave under all costs, until I renew my DD with Harlands in which I don't want them to take these stupid fees out with my October's gym fee.

Edited October 22, 2015 by slick132
Numbered answers and added spacing - easier to read

[slick132]

Hi Smiffy,

 

Unless you have a GP letter about the knee, I'd ignore that for now.

 

You caused the original problem by cancelling the DD (because you didn't recognise the payee). But Harlands are at fault for being impossible to contact and for adding admin fees.

 

I think you should offer to pay Harlands the missed fee plus a further fee for a month's notice. So you'd offer to pay £29.98 but no admin fees.

 

Because they're greedy, I suspect they'll refuse your offer and continue to demand higher amounts. You would then tell Harlands you have no wish to continue in a contract with them when they demand unlawful penalties and pursue aggressive collection activity.

 

If you want to follow this suggestion, let us know and we'll help with a suitable letter.

 

[Smiffy15]

Hi Slick.

 

Thanks for the reply. Its such a simple mistake that is becoming so complicated by this company. That is a good idea. How did you calculate the £29.98? As i pay £!0 a month for the memebership. I just want to get away from this company I only ever see these problems on the likes of Watchdog, I never thought id be in a similar situation!

 

Many thanks

Smiffy

Edited October 22, 2015 by Smiffy15
Protect personal identity

[slick132]

Hi Smiffy,

 

Sorry, I was confusing your case with another where the fee was £14.99 per month. Your offer to Harlands will be £20.

 

I've reconsidered the knee injury and think it IS worth bringing into the equation. Were you diagnosed the "strong anti inflammatory" drugs, or did you just get them "over the counter".

Dear sir or madam,

 

Xercise4Less gym in [town or city]

 

My gym membership DD mandate was cancelled in error when I had to review DD's due to possible fraud. I didn't realise the Harlands DD was for the gym at the time.

 

I've also told the gym I cannot continue membership because I suffered a knee injury during a Personal Training Sesion and can't continue. Their attitude was rude and unhelpful.

 

I called Harlands repeatedly to discuss the matter but you failed to answer any of my calls. In the circumstances I am not willing to stay a member of a gym that's not supportive, or deal with Harlands who cannot even answer phone calls.

 

I'll pay you £20.00 to cover October's fee and one months notice notice to cancel but I won't pay £25 you want for admin fees.

 

I will only deal with this matter in writing and will not discuss it by phone.

 

Yours faithfully,

 

Send this to Harlands and get a free Certificate of Posating from the PO counter.

 

Edited October 25, 2015 by slick132
added ref to PTSession

[Smiffy15]

Hi Slick.

 

Thank you so much for the help! Yes they were prescribed, a month or twos worth!

 

Smiffy

[slick132]

Hi Smiffy,

 

Make a note of the drug's details and maybe take a photo of the bottle/packet showing the drug's name and your name on the Pharmacy label.

 

It'll all help !!

 

[Smiffy15]

Okay I will do that. Im going to send the letter to Harlands tomorrow. What can i do if this does not work? or if it does work do I inform the gym?

 

Smiffy15

[slick132]

Hi Smiffy,

 

If you haven't printed the letter yet, I've amended it slightly to mention that the injury was sustained during a PT Session.

 

You'll have seen from other cases that Harlands/CRS do not give up easily but there will come a time to ignore them. If Zinc get called in, they back off easily when challenged.

 

No need to contact the gym at all.

 

[Smiffy15]

Hi slick

 

That is fabulous. No I have not sent the letter yet, the newer draft would be better please!. Was going to do it tomorrow, been super busy with uni work!

I have heard of this Zinc company, hopefully it will not go that far but if so would you just approach them the same way as Harlands? Are their debt collecting procedures lawful?

 

Many thanks

Smiffy

[slick132]

Hi Smiffy,

 

I amended the letter above two days back, so it's ready for you to print and send.

 

You may hear from Zinc - that's quite possible, But they're easy to get off your back.

 

I saw another case earlier today where Harlands/CRS passed the account straight on to their pet solicitor Spratt Endicott, missing out Zinc. However, the response is just the same - tell the solicitor to clear off or get reported. Nothing to worry about as it's all threats and hot air.

 

[Smiffy15]

Hi slick.

 

Thank you so much for the help, will send the letter today at the post office. Hopefully this does not get to stressful a situation! But will you be able to help also if it gets taken further to either zinc or their dud solicitor?

 

Many thanks

Smiffy15

[slick132]

Hi Smiffy,

 

We'll be here to support you, no matter what happens.

 

[Smiffy15]

Hi Slick.

 

Thank you so much. I feel so grateful that i have come across this website and you have helped me out a lot. will be posting the letter in the next hour, what was the thing i needed to request from the postoffice as proof of sending?

 

Many Thanks

Smiffy15

Edited October 28, 2015 by Smiffy15

[slick132]

Take the envelope to any PO and ask for a free Certificate of Posting.

 

Keep it as proof of postage.

 

[Smiffy15]

The letter has been sent, first class royal mail signed for with proof of postage and tracking. So we shall have to see how this pans out! I will keep you posted when I receive the next correspondence!

 

Thanks

Smiffy15

[Smiffy15]

Hello again Slick.

 

They ignored my letter and just passed my debt onto another company and then zinc and now I'm being chased by Sprat Endicot. It says they're lawyers? and I have 7 days to inform them to set up payment but I opened the letter today and its the end of the seven days... what do you advise to do?

 

many thanks

Smiffy15

[slick132]

Hi Smiffy,

 

You say there was another company involved before Zinc. Was this CRS ?

 

Spratt Endicott are full of hot air and nothing to worry about, just the same as Zinc.

 

You should be reading other threads here. Then you'd already know exactly how to deal with, or ignore, Zinc and Spratts.

 

Reply to Spratts saying :-

 

I refer to your letter of xxdate.

 

Harlands are fully aware of why gym membership fees are in dispute and they had no right to involve yourselves.

 

Yet you have chosen to threaten me without ensuring Harlands have the right to make their demands.

 

Accordingly, if you threaten me again, you will be reported to the SRA, as well as Trading Standards and The CMA.

 

Get a free Cert of Posting again.