2 posts tagged “fitness first”
I forgot to blog about this... A couple of weeks ago I received a text from Fitness First saying "Fitness First miss you!", sadly it wasn't from a number, so I couldn't reply back with "I don't miss you, fuck off!". Oh well.
Not quite a horror story, but sensationalism seems to be de riguer in the blogging world, or maybe I'm just writing the headline in the style of a Sun editor.
In mid/late November of 2006 I cancelled my membership of Fitness First (Godalming). Note, I'd went into the gym roughly a month before hand and changed my address (having moved in July 2006) - on one of their NCR duplicate/triplicate forms - which incidentally required more effort than a simple change of address should've done.
When I went to cancel my membership I was told by the member of stafff on reception that I couldn't cancel unless it was in writing, so, off I went back to work, typed up the appropriate letter (with my correct address clearly in the top-right corner) and trundled back on down to the gym. Handed letter in, was advised by the member of staff that he'd noted cancellation on the system, would pass the letter to the "membership manager" and he recommended that I cancel the direct debit as Fitness First aren't brilliant with stopping payment collection. Given experiences I've had with other companies (yes, AOL - you!) and direct debits, this was on my list anyway. The basic gist of the letter was:
To whom it concerns:
Please consider my membership (and corresponding direct debit) cancelled with immediate effect. If you believe there are any outstanding monies, please invoice to the address above.
I'm not sure how the letter could have been any more clear!
Move on to the beginning of March 2007, so roughly three or four months since I'd cancelled my membership, and I get a text message (!!!) on my mobile phone from a company that's usually referred to with the euphemism "debt recovery specialist" as apparently I still owed money to Fitness First. I ring them up, ask what the money is and then tell them I'm going to ring Fitness First to ask them before doing anything. Fitness First explain that as I cancelled part way through a month I'm liable for the next months payment, fair enough say I, but why didn't you attempt to contact me until passing to a debt recovery company? Oh, between the "Change of Address" form and the membership termination letter they couldn't manage to update my address on their systems. Anyway, shortly thereafter (a few days later as I didn't have my wallet to hand) I pay the bill, assuming all's settled.
Sadly not. Today I receive a "COURT ACTION" letter - that'd be me not happy at all. This letter also went to a previous address and I only got it today more by luck than judgment, so Fitness First are going to be getting a long, very unhappy, letter from me.
Has anyone else had this kind of truly awful experience with Fitness First?
