Breaking News: Gym Introduces Shocking Policy – Members Must Pay Dues for Out-of-Membership Period Before Rejoining
In a move that has left many fitness enthusiasts stunned, a popular gym has announced a new policy that requires members to pay their dues for the time they were out of the membership period before rejoining. This unprecedented move is sending shockwaves through the fitness industry, with many wondering if this is the start of a new trend.
According to sources close to the gym, the new policy is designed to "encourage responsible behavior" among members. This means that if a member leaves the gym for an extended period, they will still be required to pay their dues for the entire duration of their absence. This can add up quickly, with some members potentially facing bills of hundreds or even thousands of dollars.
Gym officials claim that this policy is necessary to ensure that members take their fitness goals seriously and make a long-term commitment to their health and wellness. However, many members are speaking out against the new policy, calling it unfair and unreasonable.
"I left the gym for a few months to focus on some personal issues, and when I came back, they hit me with a $500 bill for the time I was away," said one disgruntled member. "It’s absurd. I’m not paying for something I didn’t use."
The gym claims that this policy is consistent with their contract, but many members are disputing this, saying that they were not aware of this clause when they signed up.
As the news spreads, fitness enthusiasts are taking to social media to share their outrage and disappointment. Hashtags such as #GymScam, #FitnessFiasco, and #MembershipMayhem are trending, with many calling for the gym to reconsider their policy.
Industry experts are also weighing in, saying that this move could have far-reaching consequences for the fitness industry as a whole.
"This could be a game-changer for the industry," said fitness expert Jane Smith. "If other gyms start to follow suit, it could lead to a major backlash from consumers. We’ll have to see how this plays out, but for now, it’s a major blow to the fitness community."
As the situation continues to unfold, one thing is certain – this shocking policy is sending shockwaves through the fitness world, and the industry will be watching with bated breath to see how it all plays out.
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England:
Bit of a random one, two months ago I joined a local, independent gym. It's not very well maintained, very unclean, you can only pay by cash or by BACS to the owner, that sort of establishment, but it's the only option locally.
Never had any bother there before but my month's membership ended last week on the 19th September. I had a busy, irregular week at work so I knew that I wouldn't be able to attend from that date anyway but resumed working out there today, 23rd September.
I took in the cash for the membership and was told they'd sort out my new card and have it ready for when I left. When given my card I queried why it said my membership would cease on the 19th October and not the 23rd to be told "We backdate memberships."
I asked what exactly that meant, and why this is the first time it had happened and was told "It's not our fault you weren't here at the end of last week, that's what we do here." The young man behind the desk was grinning from ear to ear and laughing away while delivering this news.
Simple question then, is this practice legal? There are no contracts, no paperwork, nothing. Just can't quite get my head round being forced to pay for a period during which I wasn't a member and wasn't using the gym.
View info-news.info by TFandPKMNfan
It depends on what was agreed when you joined the gym, but from what you have written it sounds like the agreement is month-to-month rather than a longer period of time.
Unless you have made a contractual agreement (which could be verbal) committing you to more than one month at a time, then they cannot legally charge you for the period of 19th – 24th.