Consumer complaint received 2025-08-07 00:00:00
Product: Debt collection — Other debt
Issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed — Debt is not yours
Company: Aldous & Associates, PLLC
State: VA

Complaint narrative:
I had a 1-year membership with XXXX XXXX XXXX starting XX/XX/XXXX. The membership should end at the end of XX/XX/XXXX, but XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX renewed my membership without my permission. I visited XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX in person in XX/XX/XXXX to make sure my membership does not renew. I clearly stated that I do not wish to renew and continue my membership. I was not ending a membership that was to be continued. The membership I signed up for was for 1-year term and therefore should not renew without my permission. When I clearly expressed my desire to not renew the membership, I have no obligation to pay them anymore after the membership expired. I had clearly communicated this with the employee at XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX who ended my membership. During our conversation, I asked him if there are any fees and charges I have to pay to end my membership. He stated that I will not be charged anymore after the end of XXXX. He stated I had no fees to pay and that I will no longer be charged. I had clarified this with him at least three times that day. Nevertheless, XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX charged me for the month of XXXX. When I asked about it, they argued that I have to give a month heads up to end my membership. However, I was not discontinuing a membership that would have continued otherwise. The membership had a 1-year term and therefore was to expire after that 1-year term ended. They were attempting to renew my membership without my consent, and even after I clarified I did not want to renew my membership, they treated it as if I was ending a continuing membership. My situation is distinctly different from what they are arguing. They forcefully continued my membership without my consent after my contracted term ended, and after I specifically stated I did not want to renew it. Furthermore, the employee at XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX clearly stated that I will not be charged after XXXX. The reason I took his word for it was because when I initiated the 1-year term contract, I witnessed another employee changing the fee based on his own decision. Because I knew that XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX employees had the liberty to make adjustments on fees, I simply took his word for it. Because the employee said I had no fees to pay and that I have no upcoming charges, I believed him. I was also told that my access to XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX will end at the end of XXXX. But XXXX 's XXXX continued to charge me and even refused to dispute this amount. They were unwilling to dispute this issue and I had to take this with my bank and had them dispute this issue. XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX then turned me over to Aldous & Associates and charged me {$150.00}. XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX originally asked for {$42.00} and in the letter I received from Aldous & Associates threatened to report me to federal bureau and damage my credit score. When I called Aldous & Associates to explain why the amount does not match what XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX demanded from me, the woman on the other line refused to provide that information. When I told her that the amount does not match and that I need an explanation as to why the amount is {$150.00}, she continued to refuse to release that information, cut me off at every sentence, screamed at me and hung up on me. I was threatened to be reported, and when I asked about the discrepancy, I was denied of that information. It is unlawful and unethical to intentionally conceal such substantial information. I have legal right to receive that information that breaks down why the amount is as it is. Furthermore, I have no reason to pay XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX for XXXX 's membership fee. As the employee stated, I no longer had access to XXXX XXXX XXXX after XX/XX/XXXX, and therefore it makes no sense that I had to pay a membership fee for the month during which I have no access to the gym. Furthermore, their policy may be applicable to membership that should continue, but not in my case, when I only decided not to renew my membership after the contracted term expired. Both XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX and Aldous & Associates claim that they are open to dispute charges, but as I have attempted both, neither of them were willing to make adjustments or even listen to such disputes. I have been harassed by both for charges I have no reason to pay.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation