Don't Get Ripped Off By A Gym In 2018

Every year Americans flock to gyms on Jan. 1 and Jan. 2. They're eager to fulfill New Year's Resolutions to lose weight or gain muscle or improve their cardio. They sign up for gym memberships.

That's where the trouble starts, trouble so widespread that even the Ohio Attorney General is having to comment on it.

“This is a time when many people are thinking about joining a gym, and that can be a great way to get in shape. We just want consumers to understand what they’re signing up for,” Attorney General Mike DeWine said in a statement. “A little bit of prevention can go a long way.”

Throughout 2017, there were more than 140 complaints made to DeWine's office about gym memberships. Mostly, they were complaints from people who were struggling to cancel memberships or were upset about billing.

Ohio law says that consumers have three business days, generally, to cancel a contract for gym memberships. That law extends to other workout services like martial arts training, dance studios, or whatever workout trend catches the fancy.

DeWine offered some commonsense tips for consumers to follow, including: researching a gym before signing up for a membership, reading a contract carefully, watching for extra fees and checking the cancellation policy on memberships.

The Internet is a good place to find reviews and complaints of different gyms. Consumers can also check with DeWine's office or the Better Business Bureau.

Contracts are trickier. Consumers should just take their time with reading anything in writing. Just because someone makes a verbal agreement doesn't mean it made its way into writing, make sure that whatever promises were made verbally end up in the final contract.

Extra fees can also be hidden in contracts. Make sure there aren't additional fees for things like fitness classes or personal training (unless you want to join a fitness class or get some personal training). Check to see how payments for membership are taken, pay specific attention to see if payments are automatically withdrawn from a checking or savings account.

Finally, know the gym's cancellation policy inside and out. Have it in writing. Know exactly what is needed to get out of a contract, including how far in advance cancellations must be made. Many gyms have automatically renewing contracts, so check the length of any written agreement. Contracts should not last longer than three years, according to Ohio law, DeWine said.

While getting in shape is a worthy New Year's Resolution, so is not getting ripped off and losing a pile of money. Be cautious in 2018.

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