He is paying for a service, he is not getting said service. So why is he still paying? Why has the direct debit not been cancelled? Sod the people in the queue - if his card does not work then their records will show no entry into the gym. Stop paying the money, simples. Write to the bank, recorded delivery, cancelling the D/D. Write to the gym, recorded delivery, explaining why you have cancelled. If his card has genuinly not worked for a number of months and there is NO record of him entering the gym despite the attempts, then go straight to the Small Claims Court to get his money back. It will cost peanuts to lodge the claim. https://www.gov.uk/make-court-claim-for-money/court-fees This is not hard...