Consumer complaint received 2024-08-12 00:00:00
Product: Debt collection — Other debt
Issue: Took or threatened to take negative or legal action — Threatened or suggested your credit would be damaged
Company: Jim Bottin Enterprises, Inc
State: OH

Complaint narrative:
Urgent Complaint Against ABC Fitness Solutions and XXXX XXXX - Unlawful Billing Practices and Account Handling Complaint Against : ABC Fitness Solutions XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX, TX XXXX Background and Complaint Details : In XXXX, I relocated to XXXX, Ohio, which is far outside of XXXX XXXX XXXX  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 USPS. ABC Fitness Solutions again refused to accept this letter, demanding it be sent to a different address, against what is written and agreed to in the signed agreement/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, ABC Fitness Solutions 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 after multiple fraudulent fees and further months of accrued charges. 
Currently, my account remains active as evidenced by the continued accrual of charges and my ability to log into the " XXXX '' 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 XXXX  if you have any questions. '' The XXXX  would indicate XXXX XXXX. In a final attempt to resolve this issue, I tried to " freeze '' my membership via the XXXX  website, which is their only offered method for temporary relief from these charges. The website blocked this attempt and sent an automated email stating, " ABC Fitness is no longer handling your account as it has been returned for collections. For further assistance, please contact : XXXX XXXX XXXX @ XXXX. Customer Care Offline Processor ABC Fitness Solutions , LLC. 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 XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX collection agency stating that I owe money for fraudulent charges, from an agreement that isn't active ( per my multiple cancellations, which they have acknowledged as received ) and is even showing as non-auto-renewing on the billing website, yet is still auto-renewing and ever-accruing charges regardless. 

ABC Fitness ' vehement refusal to close this account alongside their blatantly bad-faith, fraudulent business practices has directly caused this excessive " debt '' to be forwarded to an agency who is now threatening to damage my personal credit, when contacted they say they aren't handling the account, yet they still continue to accrue charges and fees on the account and forward those new balances to the collections agency. If a company is charging you then I believe they are liable to perform their obligations in return. If a company is able to charge you, after cancelling your agreement with them, while providing no goods or services in return, then they are indeed fraudulent and need immediate intervention by the authorities.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation