To cut a long story short we’re being bombarded with ‘this is overdue, legal proceedings will commence if this is not paid within 7 days’ type letters and emails from a sports centre centre that we’re bang up to date with (and who have been incomptetent at distributing invoices in the past). Is there an ombudsman etc that we can complain to as it’s getting beyond reasonable, we’ve done the emails, phone calls etc etc but still no difference.

Any suggestions, and I don’t know where there shoes are …..

You just have to write a letter, date and sign it.

Also, are they on Facebook or Twitter? This worked recently for me.

Visit them?

Visit them?

Y’know what? This is not a bad idea at all 🙂

this wouldn’t be a nationwide chain of gyms/sport centres that are famous for specialising in tennis would it?

**** it…name’n’shame them!

write to them telling them ‘you owe them nothing’ and if they continue to write to you, you will sue them for demanding money with menaces / blackmail

Theft Act 1978

“21. Blackmail”. —

(1) A person is guilty of blackmail if, with a view to gain for himself or another or with intent to cause loss to another, he makes any unwarranted demand with menaces; and for this purpose a demand with menaces is unwarranted unless the person making it does so in the belief—
(a)that he has reasonable grounds for making the demand; and
(b)that the use of the menaces is a proper means of reinforcing the demand.
(2) The nature of the act or omission demanded is immaterial, and it is also immaterial whether the menaces relate to action to be taken by the person making the demand.
(3) A person guilty of blackmail shall on conviction on indictment be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding fourteen years.

(b)that the use of the menaces is a proper means of reinforcing the demand.

So not Blackmail then rather a mistake.

Is this membership fees of similar ?
Do you want to still be a member of the club?
If no and no just ignore it.

Don’t ignore it – that’s crap advice. Write the letter as someone stated and explain clearly that you dispute the matter and that you have made several attempts to get it sorted to no avail. Then ask them to contact you or leave you alone.

Don’t ignore it – that’s crap advice. Write the letter as someone stated and explain clearly that you dispute the matter and that you have made several attempts to get it sorted to no avail. Then ask them to contact you or leave you alone.

Ditto.

Any mileage in sending it by recorded delivery so that you can demonstrate that they have received it?

can you prove you paid?
if you can send a copy of the proof tell them you are not responding to anymore letters and say they can take you to court for it if they wish.

Why are you even worried about this? If you have proof you paid, then ignore everything EXCEPT a Court summons – in which case you can rock up, show your proof of payment to the Judge and ask for your expenses for day while the leisure centre will get one hell of a bollocking.

Option i) Bin them

Option ii) “Dear Sirs, I respectfully refer you to the reply given in the case of Arkell v Pressdram (1971)”

Cease and desist!

FFS! Go and see them. Any chump can sit in an office sending out threatening letters. They may not even get to see your replies. Next correspondance you receive, take it to the office with proof of payment and demand to see the manager. Make a scene in reception – no-one like this, it is your best weapon. Even better, take a witness who can vouch for you should the need arise.

Emails and letters are easy. Face to face is where it’s at for the 2011 season.

I found that when a major energy company (and their collection agents) kept chasing me for payment when I had already sent them proof of payment, worked:

Letter sent recorded delivery and addressed to the directors of the company pointing out that the company and its agents were causing me undue distress and alarm (they were threatening court action and to send their “representative round”) and therefore if they didn’t stop immediately they would be in breach of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 and be liable to Civil or Criminal Prosecution. Only further correspondence was a statement which showed my “account” as fully up-to-date!

It was for this very reason that I declined a years free membership and terminated my membership at David Lloyd Leisure.