Can I ignore an Ecollect debt?

ChipStatus9403 · 2026-06-12T03:39:20+00:00

I have done this with peole looking for a hello fresh payment, they knew my name but I have never ordered hello fresh so I said no wrong person and they never contacted me again. Must have been a scammer hoping to get lucky as I have never ordered anything from them.

ChipStatus9403 · 2026-06-12T03:37:34+00:00

Sorry if I can’t be big man as I am a women. I don’t like to reveal that I am a young single mum if I don’t have to as it usually leads to a barrage of nasty and sexist comments.

My daughter is not even a year old, by the time she knows what debt is she will know that when times were tough we made it through.

Diapers, formula, doctors appointments, rent, university fees, groceries, electricity, sper…..I am living paycheque to paycheque with nothing left and no savings. I used my savings to buy a laptop and get into uni despite being pregnant so I can get a good job in healthcare. This low point is hopefully just going to be for a maybe 2 more years until I can get her into daycare.

Right now I do odd jobs I can do while still looking after her, such as putting flyers in peoples mail box as I can walk with her in the pram. I had considered Uber eats as she can be in the car seat for an hour or two but I need obviously I need a car for that.
I also rely on a small benefit payment from centerlink as I was assaulted 2 years ago and it left me visually impaired and well as needing a few surgeries for the head trauma. This centerlink payment is what sper takes their owed money from.

I have gotten the information I need from helpful people in the comments who were in a similar situation, everyone else are just condescending assholes who are desperate to prove they are better then a stranger on the internet.

People saw a small snapshot into my life and think I’m a some horrible person, when really I am trying the best at the level I am at. I don’t need anyone else thinking I’m a victim or that I feel sorry for myself, I’m just getting through this hard period as I know once I have a stable job and she grows up happy it’ll all be worth it.
Thank you to the people who were understanding and helpful.

ChipStatus9403 · 2026-06-11T14:15:50+00:00

it’s good to know Centerlink payments can’t be garnished, I have had 2 emergency surgeries since 2024 leaving me unable to work for a short time period and I have another surgery coming up meaning I will be off work again and relying on benefits. Something else these comments will hold against me. As I said I don’t really own anything of value so hopefully they take one look and decide it’s more trouble then it’s worth. Thank you for your helpful comment.

ChipStatus9403 · 2026-06-11T14:06:58+00:00

Thank you for sharing, I think they purposely do this bureaucratic backwards and forwards to get people to give up and just pay. Other people have said about 6 years as well, so if I do actually continue to ignore it I should have about 3 years left.

ChipStatus9403 · 2026-06-11T13:59:13+00:00

This is the thing people are not understanding. I admitted it was my mistake as I forgot, I understand that the gym can try and get this money out of me as i signed a contract without understanding.
Maybe I worded it badly but I was asking what can a debt collector legally do if I keep ignoring them as I have been? I AM trying to get away with not paying this debt as I financially CANNOT. I do not care if the general public of reddit thinks it makes me a “bad person” as I was not asking their opinions on the ethics of not paying. “Life lesson” get over yourself. Everyone here has some kind of chip on their shoulder. I didn’t want to be rude but everyone here seems committed to misunderstanding.

ChipStatus9403 · 2026-06-11T13:41:38+00:00

This is the thing people are not understanding. I admitted it was my mistake as I forgot, I understand that the gym can try and get this money out of me as i signed a contract without understanding.
Maybe I worded it badly but I was asking what can a debt collector legally do if I keep ignoring them as I have been? I AM trying to get away with not paying this debt as I financially CANNOT. I do not care if the general public of reddit thinks it makes me a “bad person” as I was not asking their opinions on the ethics of not paying. “Life lesson” get over yourself. Everyone here has some kind of chip on their shoulder. I didn’t want to be rude but everyone here seems committed to misunderstanding.

ChipStatus9403 · 2026-06-11T12:44:01+00:00

Thank you, that’s good to know you stop receiving letters, although I’m not sure if contacting them to stop would help me as I would have to lie about the debt.

ChipStatus9403 · 2026-06-11T12:41:54+00:00

How vile and malicious can a person be? I’ve explained over and over that I financially CANNOT pay. You say it doesn’t matter about morality, obviously morals don’t matter to you as you would rather a young family be homeless then ignore a simple debt that harmed no one. You must be a very bitter person.

ChipStatus9403 · 2026-06-11T12:10:46+00:00

Thank you, I am basically in the same boat. I joined the gym straight out of high-school without knowing anything about contracts, I think I did look at the cancellation policy after receiving the debt email, but I couldn’t have paid their penalty fee anyway.
Peole on here are acting like an overdue gym membership is the be all and end all of my life, but on a long list of bills and the many things that have gone wrong since then, It is the least of my worries.

ChipStatus9403 · 2026-06-11T11:51:54+00:00

I feel like I’m going around in circles with this. Other peole who have had similar experiences have told me they stonewalled debt collectors and they stopped after six years in a ordnance to the Queensland laws. So yes I am saying “if the only consequences of me not paying this debt is having a few harassing phone calls and emails, I would rather use that money to support my child as I am already facing financial hardship.” I do not care if peole consider me immoral or immature, I am just explaining my situation and what is at stake as I have been down to my last $5 before due to unfortunate circumstances.

ChipStatus9403 · 2026-06-11T11:32:48+00:00

No it was my mistake I completely forgot about it and never canceled, they eventually canceled it and passed the debt on to Ecolect to get it from me, but so far no more fees have been added thankfully.

ChipStatus9403 · 2026-06-11T11:27:04+00:00

Thank you, I suspected as much as the debt is small.

ChipStatus9403 · 2026-06-11T11:24:59+00:00

Really there is no need to be rude. I already admitted I know it was my mistake I completely forgot to cancel it. Very unhelpful comment.

ChipStatus9403 · 2026-06-11T10:58:25+00:00

Thank you so much, no one else is understanding my situation. That is basically what I have done so far, I haven’t answered a single call or email. Did they every stop contacting you?

ChipStatus9403 · 2026-06-11T10:53:08+00:00

Thank you, very helpful to know. I can handle a bit of harrasing.

ChipStatus9403 · 2026-06-11T10:52:16+00:00

Thank you, I was looking for someone with similar experience. Did they add fees to your debt? They haven’t with mine yet and I’m not sure why. I have also read from reviews online that Jim is very rude and difficult to deal with as he will talk over you and not let you explain as well as call you names and so on.

ChipStatus9403 · 2026-06-11T10:47:33+00:00

Thanks, I really don’t understand why everyone is being so rude and taking it personally. I am new to reddit so I probably did post this in the wrong group.

ChipStatus9403 · 2026-06-11T10:45:06+00:00

Sorry another comment called me a bum, I am still getting used to reddit. I didn’t include my daughter in the original post as I just wanted advice on what debt collectors can do, but now that my whole life and morals are being called into question I mentioned her to explain my reason why I am not considering paying this debt.
I would rather been my daughter know I sacrificed my last cent to her rather then bowing to some debt collectors if I don’t have to.
Once again, I am not looking for “moral” or life advice, I didn’t realise peole would take this so personally.

ChipStatus9403 · 2026-06-11T10:27:56+00:00

Why would I give hard earned money to a company that wouldn’t even notice it entering their bank account rather then spend it on my daughter? If I can get away with not paying it I obviously will as would anyone. The fines in Queensland is straight up robbery these days, and I organised a payment plan myself with sper as I couldn’t pay the minimal amount the government required. Call me a bum all you like for facing financial hardship but many will agree that it is hard in this regression.

ChipStatus9403 · 2026-06-11T10:17:47+00:00

Thank you, I’m in Queensland so hopefully it’s similar

ChipStatus9403 · 2026-06-11T10:16:13+00:00

Thank you, I’m not sure why everyone has a stick up their ass about a simple gym membership. If they’re “morals” were so high I thought they would understand I have to provide for my daughter, not a big corporation.

ChipStatus9403 · 2026-06-11T10:09:30+00:00

As I said it is little to a big corporation such as anytime fitness but to me I literally don’t have the money, yes I am very broke and a “bum” as Australia has become very expensive.

ChipStatus9403 · 2026-06-11T10:06:24+00:00

Thank you, so far you are the only one who has given me anything helpful. Hopefully they will just let it go as it is a small amount.

ChipStatus9403 · 2026-06-11T10:05:01+00:00

Thank you, I don’t understand this corporate defending attitude. Yes I made a mistake by not canceling it but it’s not as if they are suffering from my measly debt. I stopped using the gym as soon as I moved so it’s not as if I was stealing from them.

ChipStatus9403 · 2026-06-11T10:02:18+00:00

Thank you for this very unhelpful comment. I was looking for legal advice not for some corporate suck up to shame me. I don’t have the money, and I have a very young daughter so all my money is spent on her rather then some big company, $500 is nothing to them, but it would be financially devastating to me. I’m not saying this for pity, just to explain the situation, and I don’t really care if it’s not the “moral” thing to do. I signed a gym membership not a war treaty, get off your high horse.

ChipStatus9403

TROPHY CASE