Poor customer service

I recently signed up for a membership with virgin active and paid the required joining fee. I have recently received a call from the club and I'm told that I owe an outstanding amount from my initial membership which I had over 10 years ago. My recollection is that I was on a month to month contract through my vitality points. I remember vividly that I did indicate my intention to cancel that contract and even gave virgin active a 30 days notice because I was no longer eligible to continue with vitality benefits as I was changing my medical aid. The person whom I joined from even confirmed that my membership will be terminated without an extra cost. I'm really perplexed by this development because unfortunately the staff member concerned is no longer working for virgin active and thus making this issue my problem whereas due deligence was done from my side. I am now left a debt which I knew nothing of because I was not even contacted regarding the arrears. Do we as clients don't have any recourse and are we punished for the incompetence and misreprestation of the virgin active staff members who would do or say anything inorder to get a sale. The very same joining fee which I have just paid cannot be refunded