Hi people from the forum,
I am in a situation where I would appreciate assistance.
I am not a native speaker so apologies in advance for any mistake that might be in there!
I got into a one-year contract with a gym in July, consisting of monthly payments of 60 pounds;
in October I was accepted in a masters degree (which I had not applied for at the time I registered at the gym) in a foreign country.
I enrolled and left the UK,
but I left my bank account open and there was some money on it,
I did not hear from the gym until January,
when it turns out the money had been depleted and they had been unable to collect payment.
I immediately contacted the gym and asked if I could cancel on the grounds that I now didn't have a job anymore
(I had one prior to my enrollment but obviously had to quit) and wasn't even in the UK.
I assumed this would be valid as an unforeseen change of circumstances.
The person asked me for proof that I did not work anymore, so I directed her to my former HR.
I did not hear back so I assumed everything was well, and I stopped the debit from my account.
Two months later, another representative from the gym contacted me, notifying me that I owed two months.
I referred him to my prior emails, and he showed me an email the first person had sent me, which I had not seen, where she stated that since I had quit and had not been fired, I still owed the money.
I re-explained my situation, that I had no income now and was living in a different country, and the guy told me he understood, that he would put a note on my account and that I should notify him of when I would be able to make payment again.
I told him next October (as my masters will be finished and I will have a job -hopefully), and thanked him for his understanding.
I assumed everything was fine.
Then last week my former roommate told me I had received a letter from ARC Europe
(I asked her to open it in case it might be something administrative I had overlooked).
Though I am two months late (120 pounds) and have gotten an email from the guy at the Gym that I would be able to resume payment later, a "J. Turner" requests I pay 299 pounds within ten days or he may go to court.
Now I know this is more or less typical behavior from solicitors, but I don't really understand why they would come after me after the guy at the Gym emailed that I was fine, and why they'd ask for 299 pounds.
What do you think of this situation? What is my best course of action, considering I will probably not be coming back to the UK in the near future, even after my masters?
Thank you!