Virgin active - do I have a leg to stand on?

[Cobblers]

I have been a member of the Virgin active fitness club for around 10 years but when ds arrived I decided to cancel my membership as I just didn't have the time or money to go anymore. So I just cancelled my direct debit. This was about 4 months ago.

I got a call from a company called ARC (I think) who told me I was in breach of contract as I cancelled my membership in the wrong way and owed them around £143 in missed payments.

I'm livid. I told them I couldn't pay it and why has it taken them almost 5 months to contact me?

Any advice or should I just pay up and be done with the whole affair?

The guy told me it would affect my credit rating in future and they're prepared to take me to court.

check your contract - I suspect there is a minimum notice period BUT as you have been a loyal member for 10 years I suggest you ring, apologise for not getting round to ringing them - say gosh, have just had a new baby and my brain has gone! I cancelled the direct debit and meant to phone you... ANyway, can we accept the first missed payment as notice? (will maybe mean you need to pay one more?). Am sure they'd rather say yes than take you to court.

Explain you have been a member for 10 years and hope to again, once ds is a bit bigger!

I think VA have just passed this on to a third party who recover the money for them. The guy i spoke to was horrible.

I'll try and give their head office a ring as I don't have a copy of the contract I signed as it was 10 years ago. I'm sure they're bullet proof when it comes to legal matters.

Ahhhh, I see. Yes, take it back to Virgin and do the 'gosh I'm SO sorry. Having been with you for 10 years I can't find the paperwork. Completely forgot bla bla'. Virgin customer service good IME. Good luck.

Ignore ARC I think for now. Don't take any phone calls - deal in writing only. Don't admit to anything. tbh if it went to court, I think they would only make you pay one or two months anyway so I think they are bluffing.

Thanks Adair. I hope I can resolve this quickly.

if you just cancelled the DD, then you probably do still owe the money. If you didn't inform them you were cancelling then it's just the same as not paying.

Yes, but if you can prove you didn't use the service I think you might be able to claim 'baby brain' on it with a nice customer service person (hopefully).