Consumer complaint received 2024-08-07
Product: Debt collection — Other debt
Issue: Took or threatened to take negative or legal action — Threatened or suggested your credit would be damaged
Company: Aldous & Associates, PLLC (OH)

Subject : Urgent Complaint Against XXXX XXXX XXXX and XXXX XXXX - Unlawful Billing Practices and Account Handling Consumer Name : XXXX XXXX Address : XXXX XXXX Way, XXXX, OH XXXX Phone Number : XXXX Email : XXXX Complaints Against : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX, TX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, AR XXXX Background and Complaint Details : In XXXX, I relocated to XXXX, Ohio, which is far outside of Club Fitness service area. Since moving, I have been residing and working in this location. I attempted to cancel my XXXX XXXX membership in XX/XX/XXXX during the COVID-19 pandemic. My request was refused over the phone, with the explanation that cancellations could only be processed in person ( at a gym that was closed due to the pandemic ) or via mail ( during a period of known delivery issues ).

Despite these challenges, I followed the contracts outlined cancellation process and mailed a written cancellation letter. However, from XX/XX/XXXX through XX/XX/XXXX, I noticed that charges from XXXX XXXX continued. To mitigate these charges, I placed freezes on my account whenever possible, given their refusal to acknowledge my cancellation requests. 

In XX/XX/XXXX, I attempted another cancellation. I emailed XXXX, but my request was ignored. I then mailed another cancellation letter via XXXX. XXXX XXXX XXXX again refused to accept this letter, demanding it be sent to a different address not specified in the contract. They also insisted on certified mail, which was not required by the contract and imposed additional costs and difficulties on me. 

Despite my multiple attempts to cancel via telephone, email, and mail, XXXX XXXX XXXX continued to accrue charges on my account. When I could no longer afford these charges and canceled the payment method on file, my account was forwarded to collections. 

Currently, my account remains active as evidenced by the continued accrual of charges and my ability to log into the " myiclubonline.com '' portal. When I attempt to address or make payments on the account, I receive a message stating, " Unable to Make a Payment. Your agreement is inactive. Please contact the club if you have any questions. '' The club would indicate XXXX XXXX. 

In a final attempt to resolve this issue, I tried to " freeze '' my membership via the clubfitness.us website, which is their only offered method for temporary relief from these charges. The website blocked this attempt and sent an automated email stating, " XXXX XXXX is no longer handling your account as it has been returned for collections. For further assistance, please contact : ALDOUS & ASSOC @ XXXX. Customer Care Offline Processor XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX. Customer Care : XXXX. Email : XXXX. '' Now I'm receiving mismatched yet ever-increasing statement emails under the threat of credit reporting and damaging my credit score, from Aldous and associates collection agency stating that I owe money for fraudulent charges, from an agreement that isn't active and is showing as non-auto-renewing on the billing, but is still auto-renewing and ever-accruing charges regardless. At this point, I don't even know who to talk to about getting rid of this undue hardship, but funnily enough it seems none of these other XXXX entities do either...