Join A Gym To Lose Weight Not Money

With the warmer weather upon us, many Queenslanders will be looking to join a gym to look great for summer. Qld Commissioner for Fair Trading Julie Kinross warns health conscious consumers to read the gym membership contract carefully and understand all the conditions.

Ms Kinross advises Queenslanders searching for the best gym or weight loss deal to take careful note of:

• the initial joining fee;
  
• - the fee for membership;
  
• - the method and timeframe for cancelling direct debit authorities;
  
• - the administration fee, which applies if the contract is terminated during the cooling-off period; and
  
• - the termination fee.

"Consumers are protected by the Fair Trading (Code of Practice - Fitness Industry) Regulation 2003 so they can cancel a gym contract within the 48-hour cooling-off period."

For a Fitness Industry Code of Practise Consumer Fact Sheet call the Office of Fair Trading on 13 13 04 or download it from Queensland Government - Office of Fair Trading website

www.fairtrading.qld.gov.au