With the New Year prompting a frenzied focus on fitness, the NSW Fair Trading has cautioned gym junkies against signing dodgy membership deals.
Over the past three years, Fair Trading received around 550 complaints regarding gym memberships, said Minister for Better Regulation Matt Kean.
"It's important to know your consumer rights but at the same time don't forget you're signing a legally binding agreement, which means contractual obligations for you, and the gym," Mr Kean said in a statement on Wednesday.
Consumers were reminded to read gym contracts properly so as to avoid some of the biggest complaints involving membership cancellations, cooling-off periods and refunds.
"All businesses are required to clearly outline terms and conditions of their direct debit arrangements both at the time of joining and at the end of the agreement, and this is no different for fitness centres or gyms," Mr Kean said.
To avoid dodgy deals Fair Trading advised only signing up to gyms affiliated with Fitness Australia, bound by the Fitness Industry code of practice.
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