NSW Fair Trading Commissioner warns against dealings with gym operator FIT 'n' GO

The NSW Fair Trading Commissioner has issued a public warning not to deal with fitness operator, FIT 'n' GO which operates from a facility at the Hills Sports High School in the Western Sydney Suburb of Seven Hills.

The warning relates Maverick Design Tribe Pty Ltd, currently trading as FIT ‘n’ GO, Seven Hills and follows 24 complaints relating to misleading and deceptive conduct, unfair contract terms and unapproved membership charges since 2013.

Citing that FIT ‘n’ GO is not a member of Fitness Australia, NSW Fair Trading Commissioner Rod Stowe explains “the complaints mostly relate to misleading and deceptive conduct, not refunding membership fees and unfair contract terms.

"We have had numerous reports of FIT 'n' GO deducting membership fees by direct debit even after the consumer has terminated their membership.

“Consumers experiencing this problem have had difficulties contacting FIT ‘n’ GO to raise this complaint.” 

FIT ‘n’ GO actively promotes a ‘No Contract’ offer, but has then required members to enter into a binding Membership Agreement complete with terms and conditions.

Members who then wish to terminate their memberships are then advised to send a written request to the operator to cease direct debit deductions.

Failing that, they are encouraged to contact their financial institutions to have the payments stopped, and make a complaint to Fair Trading, which is conducting an ongoing investigation.

Unhappy members have taken to Facebook to vent theire anger with one stating “the two individuals that run this gym are no better than common thieves ... please do not make the mistake like others before you and be tricked by their promises of low fees and no contracts.”

Another wrote "finally happy something is being done about such a disgraceful business."

A NSW Department of Education spokesman said the Hills Sports High School had "no direct arrangement" with FIT 'n' GO, but only a "community-use-of-facilities agreement with the Seven Hills–Toongabbie RSL Club", which originally assisted in fitting out the building where the gym operates.

The spokesperson added "the school has no other connection with the operator. NSW public schools expect any users of their facilities to comply with any relevant laws and regulations.”

When the high school first built the gym, the RSL Club assisted by finding a gym operator to lease and fit out the space. Since then the space has been on-sold to FIT 'n' GO.

It is a condition of the space that any gym operator must allow for student use during school hours.

A listed phone number for Maverick Design Tribe has been disconnected while the official FIT 'n' GO Facebook page is currently inactive. 

Click here for more information.

Images show FIT 'n' GO promotions.

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