NSW consumers cautioned over fitness club memberships

With the New Year a period when people look to improve their fitness, NSW Fair Trading is urging potential gym members to be aware of their consumer rights and to “always read the fine print before joining a gym”.

Citing that NSW Fair Trading (the former NSW Department of Fair Trading) had received about 550 complaints a year for the past three years about gym memberships, NSW Minister for Better Regulation Matt Kean advised “it’s great to start the year off with a healthy outlook - but unfortunately a great deal of the complaints we’ve received are from consumers who weren’t fully aware of what they’d signed up for in their new gym membership.

Minister Kean said newly motivated gym-goers should need to be aware of their rights, adding “it’s important to know your consumer rights but at the same time don’t forget you’re signing a legally binding agreement, which means contractual obligations for you, and the gym.”

Minister Kean said the most complaints to Fair Trading regarding gym memberships related to membership cancellations, cooling-off periods, and refunds.

Last year, more than half of complainants were offered some sort of financial redress from the gym after making a complaint to Fair Trading.

He added “when looking for a new gym, remember to shop around and make sure the gym is a member of Fitness Australia, and is therefore bound to the Fitness Industry code of practice.

“Check out the facilities, opening hours and training options before signing up. If they’re offering a free trial, make sure you use it within the timeframes set out in the conditions. Most importantly, read the contract.”

“All businesses are required to clearly outline terms and conditions of their direct debit arrangements both at the time of joining and at the end of the agreement, and this is no different for fitness centres or gyms.”

For more information go to www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au

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