Absolute Fitness And Manager Dawn Gregerson Forced to Pay nearly $1000 WITHOUT service provided, because I had no proof I wasn't a member Rainbow City Alabama

About 1 year ago, I asked Absolute Fitness, previously World Gym, to cancel my membership. The manager on duty said she would take care of it. I never heard anything from them again. March 7, 2009, I received a letter from a local attorney saying I had until March 11, 2009 to pay $954.67 for a debt owed to Absolute Fitness. This included a fee to them of $238.67. My husband and I were immediately attempting to settle this. It was a Saturday, so of course we couldn't talk to the lawyer's office until Monday, with the deadline being Wednesday. The manager on duty at Absolute Fitness informed us that Dawn Gregerson was who we needed to talk to and she would not be in town until Tuesday evening. Monday, my husband talked to the lawyer's office and they provided a copy of our 2 year contract starting 4/14/07. At the time I asked for cancellation, I did not remember my contract being 2 years. My complaint is not over a contract; I asked for cancellation, the manager said she would handle it. I NEVER received a bill, letter, phone call, any indication I was still a member, so of course I did not even have use of this gym for about 1 year. This company found it more simple of a process to wait a year and pay a lawyer to collect a debt, instead of let me know they couldn't let me out of a contract or give me a bill. If I knew I was still a member and couldn't get out of a contract, at least I could have used the gym for another year!
We finally got in touch with Dawn Gregerson, the manager. She kept implying that we were billed monthly. We have no way to prove that we were not. The only documentation to prove anything is that we signed a contract 2 years ago. They said they didn't have anything documented about a request of cancellation and informed me I had to have it in writing. Yet, no one found it necessary to tell me that at the time of my request. I had automatic withdrawals from my checking account to pay $49/month and they did not come out during this past year.
I'm really not sure why they couldn't pull my member file and bill me, call me, or write me informing me that I was still a member and owed money. But, I want to inform everyone I can about this incident so maybe it won't happen to you. There are several other gyms in Gadsden, I suggest you just use them.
I wrote a check yesterday morning to the lawyers. I had no dispute without any documentation. Just my word against theirs and a signature on a contract.
Today I got a request for membership from Absolute Fitness in the mail. I suppose they still have my address.

Laura
Gadsden, Alabama
U.S.A.