Is it worth starting court action to recover the bank charges? My newspaper said the courts are entitled to suspend cases now to await the decision from the test case.

I've seen the Whistleblower program, it's dynamite stuff. However, there was just a one liner in the Metro saying that Financial Ombudsman decides not to place cap on charges after their investigation.

I read in the paper that the financial ombudsman decided not to place a cap on bank charges, and instead have given the banks the all clear to charge whatever they liked, is this true?

No they did tell me it was a rolling contract, I had no problem with that part, just trying to cancel the damn thing has been a real pain, and now these late payment fees, which I would think is considered unfair at best and probably illegal as they are just like the bank charges thing. I think I will write to them as suggested by Pat, but I am going to also complain to the OFT because many people must be paying them these ridiculous fees out of fear, and they must be stopped. Also, they only give you 5 days to get in touch with them, otherwise wham! another £40.00. Disgusting.

LA Fitness didn't call me back, can anyone help?

I was a member of LA Fitness for two years, I tried to cancel my membership last december only to be told that they are putting in a new system and I should wait. In January I was told their system was up and I contacted them by email to cancel, they said I had one month's subscription outstanding. I told them I was owed a free month at the end because the manager started my subscription too early (I contacted them a week after they started, to tell them so they offered me a free month at the end instead of cancelling and starting up again.) So with my free month I told them my account should be up to date in payments and should be cancelled. In early February I received a letter saying I owe them a month's membership fee plus £40.00 for late payment. I contacted LA Fitness and after a long conversation insisted they mark my account as closed and satisfied, then after a few email exchanges and phone calls, where they admitted they'd lost my earlier coorespondance (thank god I kept the emails!), the customer support person said she was going to refer the matter to her senior manager. I heard nothing until today when another letter came through the post as a final reminder I now owe them £214.00 which includes 4 late payment charges, and they've given me 5 days to contact them or they will put another £40.00 on it. I contacted LA Fitness again today and they said they would get someone to call me back today... it's 16:30 almost and I don't think anyone will do that. Of course I have never had one apology for this mess, in an email or verbally. They're totally useless! What do you think I should do?