Planet Fitness Dishonesty regarding membership fees

I joined Planet Fitness in 2015 and would like to share the problems I have experienced with them since I strongly feel that everyone should be aware of the unprofessional and dishonest way in which they handle their clients, especially in regards to cancelling your membership.

As I said, I joined Planet Fitness in 2015 and I took out a year contract. In October in the same year I went to my gym to cancel my membership since I was about to immigrate. The lady who helped me told me that since I only have 2 months left on my contract it would be smarter to just let the contract expire by itself at the end of the year since it will work out cheaper. This is exactly what I did and at the start of 2016 I immigrated. I moved back to SA in 2017 and soon received an email from Planet Fitness stating that I have outstanding fees and if I do not pay within 4 months they will hand over my details to the credit collectors. I responded and informed them that I have no outstanding fees since I did not renew my contract with them and that I did pay my gym membership until December of 2015 when my contract expired and that I have the proof of payment. I received no response, BUT in July 2018 I received a message from my bank stating that money has been debited from account from Planet Fitness. I reversed the transaction and blocked them from my account.

Yesterday I received an email from SAYA Recoveries saying that Planet Fitness handed over my information to them and that I have outstanding fees exceeding R16000. Payment is due within the year and that I should send proof of payment.

I am beyond repulsed and shocked with how this company handled this situation. I feel it is utterly unacceptable and downright sly. It seems that no matter how you handle the situation or try to communicate with them, they are not willing to assist you in the matter but rather to fain ignorance and report you even when you do not have a standing contract with them. It is shocking to know that I am not the first client to complain about this matter and that contacting them and explaining the situation does not help.

I will NOT allow this company to black list me on false charges and simply because they have a dishonest and indecent way of dealing with their clients.