These contracts differ from other legal contracts in that bargaining power rests almost exclusively on the gyms and the contracts are drafted without prior consultation with the people who will be using the gym. Nevertheless, these contracts offer benefits for both parties and help minimize the risk for all parties involved. Some might mistake it for a new contract and assume that the terms of the previous one will be lifted. Should gym operators try to convince members to sign longer-term contracts, or is pay-per-use preferable for retention? A careful combination might be the best way. As a gym owner, it is important to have a legally binding contract for gym membership. This protects you and your business in the event of a dispute. Here are some tips for creating an effective gym membership contract: Keep in mind that most contracts are equivalent to buying an entire year and financing. „There are specific state regulations that require gyms to allow cancellations in certain circumstances (your gym may offer something more generous, which is why you`ll want to get a copy if you don`t already have one). In general, there is a very short period after signing the membership contract that you can cancel without any questions being asked. In New York, it is three days; in California, there are five. „A seller must behave legally, not lie or distort the contract.
So they`re sellers and they tend to do things,” Herbst said. Cancelling a contract can be a simple process if you follow the steps outlined above. Just make sure you do it in a way that is fair to both parties and keep good records of everything. These important details will help you terminate the contract as efficiently as possible. You may not intend to break the membership agreement, but some things happen beyond your control. This is the time to ask questions about the cancellation policy and when you can cancel if something happens out of your control, such as moving the gym or reduced service, or if you get injured. Although the Agreement includes a grace period during which you may cancel, you may have to pay a fee for the days you used the Service. While you may be tempted to dispute the charges with your bank or credit card and avoid other charges, that`s not necessarily the best way to go, Carpenter suggests. „If your account becomes `delinquent,` most gyms will continue to charge you. And after about a year, they can sell your account to a debt collector,” he adds.
This could mean that long after you`ve thought you`ve canceled your gym membership, you`ll knock on your door with a subpoena asking you to pay $800 in gym fees and $2,000 in legal fees. It sounds crazy, but it happens. This section should be at the top of the gym contract. Here, you need to mention the name of the person joining your gym, followed by the name of your gym and the location of the branch. Ideally, changes to the contract are made on a computer and a new version is printed for you to sign. However, if you make handwritten changes to the contract, make sure those changes are initialized by you and a manager, Simeone advises. „To be enforceable against the gym, someone has to sign it on behalf of the gym,” Simeone says. „It`s not enough to sign it. Later, the gym can say, „Well, you signed it, but we didn`t initialize it, so we didn`t accept that part.” This gives the gym a great argument. Some gyms allow members to terminate their contract within three days of signing, others within five days, and smaller gyms may be more forgiving. Want to spread more of the culture you really care about right in your inbox? Click here to sign up for our daily email.
It is the clause that most people have a problem with because they are not aware of its existence when they sign the contracts. That`s why state governments have strict laws to protect guests from unfair renewal policies that you, as a gym owner, must follow. You should hire professionals to draft your contract, but create the latest one in easy-to-understand language and use commonly known terms so as not to confuse the reader. Many gym contracts have conditions that allow you to cancel your membership without paying a fee or penalty if you meet certain conditions, including: I wondered why it had taken me so long to leave even one of the gyms. I had walked past everyone outside of office hours, but I was never able to muster the energy to get in and do it. In the spirit of taking control of my bank account and limiting the allure of my fitness debt in one fell swoop, I decided to embark on an odyssey to cancel all three in one day (i.e. cancel my membership). „Assuming all the conditions are legal, it`s our fault to accept these contracts that meet these `strict rules.`” You must conclude the contract with a section for signatures to show that both parties have read, understood and accepted the terms set out therein. Some gyms renew the contract monthly. But many gyms lock you out for six months, a year or more. It is also important to know if the contract automatically renews and, if so, how long before the end of the contract, you must notify the gym to cancel the extension. It`s always a good idea to save any contract renewal date on your smartphone so you get a reminder enough time to cancel or review the contract.