Hi BankFodder, I've had a look on my browsers and I can't find a link to the bit that made me think I had to pay then make a claim back. Anyone else reading this - my statement is likely wrong.
Hi slick132, dx100uk, thx for the detail of what to say to the CC company - they're not open yet.
I tried googling about the "certainly no-one can charge any 'late fees' they are unfair and unlawful under FCA Rules and i notice debitfinance are regulated by the FCA tooo...so are breaking their rules and need reporting."
Do you have links to specifics of the lawfulness of late fees?
Do you have advice about how to report this to the FCA?
And thx for you time and advice - having read several of the David Lloyd stories you mention similar points repeatedly. I haven't seen an FAQ which might help newbies like me get up to speed quickly - is that something you've considered? (though clearly it's an effort to do initially and subsequently maintain).
-- Scruffy
Gotta go and try the phone to the CC...
I felt I'd signed up to a 12 month term and was happy to honour that - I was not happy with the term being extended. I feel angry at the lack of correspondence, the threats, the additional fees.
dx100uk - when you say "the 12mts is not a valid term, you don't have to stay that long, you can cancel giving 1 months notice , i'e ideally your cancel and allow one more payment, you most certainly do not have to pay all 12" - are you saying that the terms and conditions are not valid or that it is unpractical for a gym to enforce them?
What you say seems to imply that anyone can start a membership and is entitled to cancel at any point. Is that the gist? (i.e effectively Ts&Cs are not worth the paper they're printed on and inherently against the rights of a consumer).
Spoke to the CC company - they can't cancel, but they are raising a dispute which MasterCard will preside over. I feel more supported and less alone in dealing with this than facing off Debit Finance or any appointed DCA alone.
Will let you know the outcome.
Update on the small claim misunderstanding - on the which website
How to cancel your gym membership
WWW.WHICH.CO.UK
If you want to end your gym membership, it's likely you’ll be held to the terms in your gym contract. Read our guides to find out what to do.
I misread "the fees... in advance" to mean the gym fees in advance rather than the court fees in advance. Dyslexia rules! Hopefully no-one else will make that mistake.
From https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/450440/Unfair_Terms_Main_Guidance.pdf
Under that, to use a Theresa Mayism, "12 months" means "12 months" and not some convoluted extension.