PLANET ROB YOU BLIND AND THEN SOME MORE

I joined planet fitness around 25 October 2017 as I was living and working in Krugersdorp at the time. I only attended the gym for approximately 3 or 4 months at the most. I initially signed a 12-month contract at R199.00 per month and was later roped into a 24-month contract at R499.00 per month. This was around mid-December 2017. I cannot recall the details exactly, but I believe it had something to do with my medical aid contributing. However, I also recall that for some reason, I think it was because I was awaiting vitality application that they did not contribute. R199.00 was in fact all I could afford which I explained to the salesman and it was on the premise that Discovery would be contributing that I changed contracts, prematurely, as the salesman was also aware that I was waiting on vitality. Acting prematurely was a very stupid move on my part and a very expensive one which is still costing me today. By 23 February 2018 it is already apparent on my statement that I am running into financial difficulty with failed debit orders and as I recall, I had basically stopped making use of the gym by this stage. Failed debit orders and penalties continue on the statement right up until 03 October 2018 and all the while I was not using the service. SAYA debt recoveries is reflected on my statement on 03 October 2018. Upon my first correspondence with SAYA I did explain to them that I had not been using the gym and I expressed my dissatisfaction that I was manipulated into a contract prematurely which I could not afford. My complaints fell on deaf ears. In July 2018 I relocated to Centurion. I certainly had no intention of rejoining the gym and I had a payment arrangement in place with the collection company SAYA. Notwithstanding there is no Planet Fitness gym anywhere close to where I live anyway. I called Planet Fitness around 30 September 2019 to make sure that they would be cancelling and not automatically renewing my contract. By 15 December 2019 I was sitting with a negative balance of R9740.00. Lovely, paying for nothing. I used the gym for 2 or 3 months out of 24 – seriously. By 28 January 2020 I increased my monthly payments to R500 per month to try and get the debt cleared. First installment paid on 28 January 2020. On 2 February 2020 my statement shows arrears or R8666.19. Todays date is 7 November 2020. So, 10 months I have been paying R500, total installments R5000. I emailed *** yesterday asking for a current balance owing and received the following response: Good day, Your latest balance is R 7 031.00 Do the math!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Basically, this will take me 442000 years to pay then right?! Nice one. YOU ARE A BUNCH OF *******. YOU ****** HONEST HARDWORKING PEOPLE WITH YOUR MANIPULATION AND BS CONTRACTS. I am a single father with 2 financial dependents and I am the only breadwinner. I hope that covid-19 leaves you bankrupt and indebted, both you, Planet Fitness and your collection company SAYA recoveries. How do you people sleep at night?!!!!!!!!!!!!! I AM ABSOLETELY DISGUSTED AND WILL ALWAYS MAKE ITY MY MISSION TO MAKE SURE THAT I ADVISE EVERY PERSON I COME ACCROSS TO NEVER JOIN PLANET FITNESS! CURSE YOU.