Knowing what to look for before signing a gym membership contract can help you understand how much you will be spending and what your membership guidelines are.

Know the cost

Ask questions and read your contract before signing to know the full cost of your membership.

Make sure you know:

• What fees are associated with signing up (registration, maintenance, etc.).
• The total amount payable over the life of the contract.
• If there are extra fees for classes, trainers or additional services.

Read your contract and know your rights

Being familiar with the gym contract before signing will allow you to better understand your rights as a consumer.

Some rights to know before signing your contract:

• The term of a gym contract cannot exceed two years.
• You can cancel your gym contract:
  • within seven business days of receiving the written copy of the contract;
  • if you move more than 30 kms away from the gym and your new location is more than 30 kms away from one of its comparable facilities;
  • if there are material physical, medical or mental changes supported by your medical practitioner that would make gym participation unreasonable;
  • if there are material changes in the services being provided, or if the facility moves more than 10 kms from its former location; or
  • within a year if the contract does not include all required information.

Remember to ask questions

Before signing a contract, make sure you ask the following:

• Are there any penalties or cancellation fees for ending the contract before the term ends?
• What is the cancellation process?
• Are there any fees or restrictions for attending classes or using equipment and other services?