I don't think it's sneaky I get an email every year notifying me that my membership will renew on a specific date and what the first instalment will be.
I'm sure the system isn't 100% perfect and some members may not get this email or it go through to junk mail.
Just call the club and say what's happened I'm sure they can fix it, they've always been really helpful when I've contacted them.
Maybe I was unlucky but I got nothing before it, no email, sms or anything. Even now it's been paid I didn't get any sort of notification email or sms.
I agree, they have always been great when I've phoned them.