Ashbourne Managment

[Guest]

Good Morning.

I signed up to my local gym back at the beginning of the year, however, i found that due to my poor mental health, the gym was actually having a negative effect. So, I spoke to Ashbourne Management to discuss cancelling my membership and they said I could as long as I had a doctors letter confirming this. So, I paid £25 for a doctors letter, emailed it to Ashbroune who emailed me back on the same day (28th February) to say my membership had been cancelled and no further payments will be taken. Job done, sorted!

Then, yesterday out of nowhere I received a default notice saying my payments are overdue and I owe them £41.24! Needless to to say I was gobsmacked and furious, so I tried to call them and there was an automated message saying that I had to email or text their helpline number and someone would text me back. So I did both, attaching the screenshot of the email I received from them on 28th February saying my membership was cancelled and no further payments are required. No response as yet.

So now I don't know what to do. Ive worked really hard to build my credit rating, we have a mortgage and we will hopefully be looking to move house again next year. I clearly don't owe Ashbourne Management a penny as I provided them with a doctors letter and they confirmed my membership was cancelled and no further payments will be taken. So there's clearly been a cock up at their end. What do I do for the best to make sure my credit rating isn't bad affected? Do I wait for a repsonse from them, which could take ages, or do I pay the supposed overdue money that I dont actually owe them to protect my credit rating and claim this back.

Some advice would be greatly appreciated. I've looked online and it seems this company have pulled similar tricks in the past.

[Amethyst]

Does it actually show on your credit file?

Usually its a subscription agreement rather than consumer credit so shouldn't affect your credit file unless they somehow got a CCJ against you for the £41.24. Be interesting to see the default notice though if you fancy posting an anonymised copy up though.

Yes it sounds like a cock up - you have an email confirming the membership was cancelled and no further payments due - so if they did issue a claim you would have a defence. I'd wait to hear back from them, although personally, I would send a letter, as well as the email you've already sent, including a print out of the emails and ask them to confirm in writing that the account balance is £0.

[MissingLink]

Thanks for your response. I've had a look on my credit file and it doesn't seem to be showing on there which is a relief. I have attached a copy of the default letter they have sent. Still no response to my email, i will take your advice and also send them a letter this week. After how long will a default letter escalate in to something more serious and potentially affect my credit rating? Or is the fact that its a subscription agreement mean that it never till affect my credit?

[MissingLink]

Here is the letter i received from them in February to say my membership has now been cancelled.

[Amethyst]

That looks fine - I expect it's a cock up and not to worry about but keep an eye on it until you get a confirmation back in writing from them xx