Hackettstown Gym Violated Consumer Protection Laws: Attorney General

Who likes being locked into an expensive gym membership? Nobody.

But some gyms across the state locked their members into long-term contracts without first securing proper financial backup, which is required by law, the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs (DCA) announced Thursday.

The DCA filed administrative actions against 20 health clubs, and has assessed a total of $158,500 in civil penalties against those clubs, for their alleged failure to comply with consumer protection laws. The DCA falls under the office of the state Attorney General.

Nine of the 20 clubs cited by the state sold long‐term contracts to consumers without maintaining a required bond, letter of credit or other form of security, the DCA says. New Jersey law requires that all health clubs that offer contracts longer than three months post a security bond. This bond assures that, should the gym go out of business, the health club would be able to provide refunds to consumers.

Additionally, 14 of the 20 clubs were cited for allegedly failing to conspicuously post a notification of consumers’ rights, as required by law.

All 20 of the clubs failed to register their businesses with the state. State law requires that all health clubs which devote at least 40 percent of their floor space to physical fitness services must register with the Division of Consumer Affairs and provide information about their ownership and operations.

All the gyms were fined $5,000 for failing to register. The nine clubs that allegedly offered contracts longer than three months without posting the required bond were each fined an additional $5,000 penalty.

The 14 clubs that failed to conspicuously post the consumer rights notice have each been assessed an additional $250 penalty. An additional $5,000 penalty is being assessed against Bolero Spa in Wildwood and World Gym in Dunellen because both clubs had previous registration violations, the state said.

The 20 gyms cited by the DCA are: (Each specific violation per gym can be found here)

Achieve 24 Fitness, Hackettstown

Atilis Fitness, Wildwood

Bolero Spa, Wildwood

Curves, Galloway

Curves, Haddonfield

East Coast Muscle, West New York

Fitness Fit Female, Fairfield

Fitness 19, South Plainfield

Fitness Nation, Newton

Gold Medal Fitness, Garwood

Gold’s Gym, Whippany

Healthtrax, Sewell

Snap Fitness, West Windsor

Strength & Fitness Club, Cranford

The Spa at Crystal Springs, Vernon

The Spa at Short Hills, Short Hills

The Studio @ 808, Highland Park

Vineland World Gym, Vineland

World Gym, Dunellen

World Gym of Fairview, Fairview

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