USA.gov reports one of the most common New Years' resolutions is to get fit.
Gyms and fitness centers offer countless promotions and deals to entice people to sign a contract.
The Better Business Bureau advises consumers to consider the terms of any contract carefully before joining a gym. In 2012, BBB processed more than 650 complaints against gyms and fitness centers nationwide.??
Most complaints revolved around contract disputes and billing issues. Consumers reported gym salespeople made big promises that never materialized. Often, the consumer would find the promises were not included in the written contract, and the fitness center refused to honor verbal agreements.??
Another common issue involved gym cancellation policies or gyms that did not cancel contracts as requested. Many contracts require a 30- or 60-day written notice of cancellation and automatically renew after the contract expiration date.
BBB offers the following advice to help consumers select a fitness facility that best meets their needs:
Fact Box
The Better Business Bureau is an unbiased non-profit organization that sets standards for fair and honest business behavior. For reliable tips, go to bbb.org. To contact BBB serving Southwest Florida e-mail jzajac@bbbwestflorida.org.
Research the gym. Before signing a contract, research the gym at bbb.org to see its BBB Business Review, which will show complaint history and BBB rating.?
Consider your budget. Most facilities charge an up-front membership fee to join and a monthly fee and an additional fee for classes or amenities. Decide beforehand what amount you can comfortably devote to physical fitness.?
Talk to friends. Ask friends and family to recommend facilities, and pick those that appear to align with your fitness goals and budget. Visit each club on a day and time you plan to use it to see if you like the equipment, clientele, classes, amenities and cleanliness. This will also give you a sense of how crowded each club will be at the times you want to access the equipment.?
Do not give in to sales pressure. Walk away from clubs that pressure you to sign a contract on the spot. BBB recommends taking a sample contract home to review before making a decision.
Review the contract before signing. Make sure the contract lists all services and fees, and verifies any promises made by the salesperson. Find out what is included in the monthly fee and what will cost extra.
Get membership details. It is vital to understand how long the membership term is, whether it automatically renews and what steps you have to take in order to cancel. Some facilities give customers several days to reconsider after signing the contract.
The Better Business Bureau is an unbiased non-profit organization that sets standards for fair and honest business behavior. For reliable tips, go to bbb.org. To contact BBB serving Southwest Florida e-mail jzajac@bbbwestflorida.org.
