2008
Take a breather to read the small print before joining a gym this New Year – or risk becoming financially unfit, warns Consumer Direct West Midlands.
3rd January 2008
After the excess of Christmas eating and drinking, the New Year often seems like a good time to have a new start – with the promise of being healthier and doing more exercise. Consumer Direct is warning consumers to read the small print before joining the gym to avoid loosing ££'s.
Credit agreements buried in the small print could trip up thousands of people who rush to join a gym as part of their New Year’s resolutions. Whilst free trials, no joining fee and other offers can often make joining gyms attractive, it is important to consider a number of things for before signing anything.
People joining gyms are often oblivious to the fact that a lot of contracts include credit agreements covering membership fees. In many cases the agreements are based on a fixed period of time – typically one to two years. Cancelling a gym membership will not cancel the credit agreement, but don’t sweat, Consumer Direct has some top tips on what to look out for before signing up…
- Read the contract carefully – especially the small print
- Check how much the monthly/annual membership fee is
- Is there a joining fee?
- How long are you tied into the membership/contract for?
- What happens if you want to leave the gym/stop your membership before the contract period is finished (e.g. You want to leave after 3 months and you have joined for a year?)
- Are there any penalty fees?
Consumer Direct West Midlands Centre Manager David Hurst advises:
'If you’re joining a gym it’s always worth checking the small print.
The law relating to gym membership is the same as that for any goods and services. A contract cannot always be cancelled simply because the member has a change of heart. Even life changing events like moving home, changing job or starting a family may not affect your contract and you may still have to pay the fees until the end of the agreed time period.
'Gyms are legally obliged to give copies of contracts to customers who ask for them, so it is always possible to double-check your terms and conditions.
'If you do find yourself tied into a gym membership and want to cancel make sure you read the terms and conditions of the contract before stopping your direct debit to avoid paying any penalty charges.
'If you’re not sure where you stand Consumer Direct is on hand to offer people clear, practical advice over the phone on 08454 04 05 06 or visit www.consumerdirect.gov.uk for further information.'
Consumer Direct West Midlands offers the following advice:
- Read the terms and conditions of the membership contract carefully
- Don’t be pressured into signing the contract immediately – take it away and read it at your leisure
- If you are unsure about your membership terms, you are entitled to see a copy of your contract and the gym is legally obliged to provide it
- If you join your gym over the telephone or online you are entitled to a seven working day ‘cooling off’ period
- Check the terms for rights to suspend or terminate the membership
- If you want to terminate your membership put it in writing, send the notice recorded delivery and keep a copy of all correspondence
- You may be able to stop your gym membership within the contract period if the gym fails to provide a satisfactory quality service
- If you have a dispute and you are still tied into the contract it is best to keep paying, but do inform the bank and gym that you are paying under protest. Don’t stop paying monthly direct debit payments until your membership has concluded. If you do the gym could claim outstanding arrears
- Even if your contract is coming to an end, you should still give your gym notice if you do not want to renew your membership. It may be worth keeping a note of key dates in your diary
-ends-
Notes to editors:
1. Consumer Direct West Midlands is working in partnership with 14 Local Authority Trading Standards teams across the West Midlands offering clear, practical consumer advice:
This covers:
Birmingham, Staffordshire, Coventry, Stoke -on -Trent, Dudley, Telford and Wrekin, Herefordshire, Walsall, Sandwell, Warwickshire, Shropshire, Wolverhampton, Solihull, Worcestershire.
2. Consumer Direct is a telephone and online consumer advice service, supported by the Office of Fair Trading and delivered working in partnership with Local Authority Trading Standards. It provides clear, practical, impartial advice to help resolve problems and disagreements with suppliers of goods or services.
3. Consumer Direct has around 350 trained advisers in 11 centres based in London, the South East, the South West, the East of England, the West Midlands, the East Midlands, Wales, Yorkshire and the Humber, the North West, the North East and Scotland.
4. The information and advice helpline is available on 08454 04 05 06 from 0800-1830 Monday to Friday, and 0900-1300 Saturday, excluding bank holidays and public holidays.
Minicom users only should call 08451 28 13 84.
5. Calls cost a maximum of 4 pence per minute from a BT landline. Calls from mobiles or other networks may vary. Your service provider may charge a minimum cost per call. The advice and information given is free.
Media contacts:
Samantha Scott – Media and Communications Officer 024 76834848
samantha.scott@consumerdirect-westmidlands.gov.uk
David Hurst – Contact Centre Manager 024 76 832374
david.hurst@consumerdirect-westmidlands.gov.uk
