Twelve fitness chains to revise their conditions and websites

Twelve major Dutch chains of fitness centers with a combined total of 330 locations throughout the Netherlands will revise their conditions and websites. These chains will inform consumers better about the tariffs and consumers’ rights when they sign up for a gym membership or when cancelling such memberships, after the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) had talked to them about these issues. More than 500,000 consumers will benefit from the revised conditions. Anita Vegter, Member of the Board of ACM, explains: “In the weeks right before summer, many consumers decide to sign up for a gym membership. With these revisions, these consumers will be well informed before choosing a membership.”

Earlier this year, Dutch fitness chain Fit for Free revised its conditions after ACM had stepped in, because its conditions failed to comply with the rules. ACM subsequently contacted eleven other major fitness chains about which complaints had been filed, too. These fitness chains have revised their conditions of their own accord. In one case, ACM had to threaten with a fine in order to force the fitness chain in question to revise its conditions.

Prices

Consumers must be able to know exactly what a gym membership will cost them. Prices on the fitness chains’ websites should therefore make it immediately clear what consumers have to pay. All fixed items must be included in the advertised price, or should be listed directly with the advertised price such as a registration fee or any surcharges in case of monthly payments.

Cancellation period

Under Dutch law, gym memberships of which the initial membership period has already expired may only be converted (automatic renewal) into permanent contracts with a cancellation period of up to one month, and which can be invoked by consumers at any point in time (after the renewal).

Cooling-off period

Consumers that sign up for a gym membership online have the right to cancel their purchase within 14 days. Fitness chains are required to inform consumers properly about their rights. If consumers have already used the fitness chain’s services during the cooling-off period, it is allowed to charge for these services. However, consumers must be informed of this in advance, and consumers must have explicitly agreed to this.

ACM has called on fitness chains to instruct their staff properly about current regulations, and it will check whether fitness chains comply with the rules. Should any of these chains not play by the rules, consumers may then file a complaint with ConsuWijzer, ACM’s consumer information portal.