to think this company's policy is unfair

[ButterflySally]

This is the first thread I have ever started in AIBU and am a little nervous at the response I'll get...but here goes.

DP and I joined a gym awhile ago. We cancelled our membership in Jan 2010.

I have just found out today that, since then, we have been paying around £80 a month since in standing orders (totally just over £1000 over 13 months).

My partner set up the membership and cancelled it and it was his account that the money was coming out of. I can't believe he didn't cancel the standing order and am absolutely furious with him for not noticing!!

I called the gym and enquired whether we would get a refund for over-payment. They said no. They also said that all their documentation states that it is the consumer's responsibility to cancel standing orders.

I accept that it was my DP's fault for not cancelling the standing order and not noticing the payments and can see their point of view that it is in all their documentation. However, I can't help thinking that this policy is unfair. We have, in effect, paid just over £1000 for services we have not received (they told me the 'paid to' date on our account was up until Jan 2010 so this money hasn't been credited to our account at all).

AIBU to think this policy is unfair?

Hope you manage to get your money back, it's a pita when you find something like that has happened.

Thanks, Fabby. I hope so too!!

Just wanted to point out Standing Orders and Direct Debits are not the same. Although with some accounts you might be able to stop direct debits, generally direct debits are set up by the company you are paying and standing orders are set up by the customer, so more easy to cancel.

Generally speaking the customer cancels a SO and the company cancels the DD. However it does not affect the OP's entitlement to a refund in this case.

Hope you get your money back!