Joining a gym? Don't get ripped off

This is why I strongly recommend against paying a health club membership with a debit card or via electronic withdrawal from your checking account. If there is a dispute, the company can keep taking money while you argue the validity of the charges. The safest way to pay is with a credit card or by check each month.

Something else you need to find out: Will your contract be sold? Some health clubs sell their contracts to finance companies. In the contract, that is called assignment. If that happens and you have a contractual problem, you will need to deal with the finance company, not the gym.

What do you mean you want to cancel?
For its February issue, Consumer Reports surveyed more than 10,000 subscribers who are health club members. Thirty-eight percent of the people who changed gyms in the last three years had at least one problem, such as receiving bills after they canceled.

“We found that canceling a membership at a big chain gym is sometimes not that easy,” associate editor Jamie Hirsh said. “It can take an excessive amount of time and effort to cancel.”

Another common problem is the inability to cancel or suspend the contract as promised in certain situations. Can you break the deal if you move? If so, how far away from the facility must you be? Can you cancel if your doctor says you must stop? Read the contract to be clear on what it takes to cancel/suspend your membership.

So you are going to join a health club?
There are some good ones around; they are clean, they keep their equipment in good shape, and they have a staff that is friendly and knowledgeable. You just have to take the time to find them.

The big chains do most of the advertising. But based on the Consumer Reports survey, you might be happier at a small, independent health club. Gyms at work, community centers, the YMCA/YWCA, and Jewish Community Centers have the highest scores for overall satisfaction.

A great way to compare clubs is to ask for a free trial. You should be able to get a pass for a few days. Go when you would normally be at the gym. Is the place overcrowded? Is the staff friendly? What do current members say about the place?

My two cents
Health clubs have been notorious for using high-pressure sales tactics. Don't let a salesperson pressure you into signing on the spot. Take the contract home and study it. That is the only way you will know what you're getting for your money.

Luckily, in most states, you have three business days to cancel a health club contract. So if you are pressured into something that does not seem right, cancel right away. Do it in writing and send your letter certified mail with a return receipt.

If you have a problem with a health club, file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau and your state Attorney General or Consumer Affairs office.

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