Why is gym group billing me?

R.B. writes: My Nationwide statement showed a direct debit for about £160 to the gym firm David Lloyd Clubs. I am not, and never have been, a member. I rang Nationwide, who were extremely sympathetic, cancelled the direct debit and refunded the money. Then I tried to contact David Lloyd Clubs. Easier said than done. There seems to be no central number, and my nearest club, in Lichfield, could not help.

YOU thought you had sorted this out, but after Nationwide refunded your money, you received a letter from David Lloyd Clubs. It was sent to an address which does not exist, but which is close enough to your home for the postman to pop it through your door. The letter complained that Mr Trevor McDonald (not your name) owed fees to the David Lloyd gym in Dartford, which is 175 miles away from you. You rang and were told you would be called back, but never were, and next you received a threatening letter from the gym company’s lawyers, claiming you owed £1,869.

I asked David Lloyd Clubs to look into this, and staff told me that, ‘It does appear there has been some sort of identity theft’ – as if this was not exactly what you had been telling them all along. They wanted you to report it to the police, so I explained that this would be pointless as you had lost no money. The real victim was the company itself. I pressed it to contact the police and eventually I was told: ‘Yes, we will be looking to do this.’ I hope they meant it.