By Shae Rozzi, Fox23 News
Working out and getting healthier usually tops the list of New Year’s Resolutions. However, there are certain things the Better Business Bureau (BBB) says you need to look for before signing a contract to join a gym.
People often feel more motivated to exercise and lose weight by joining a gym versus relying on self motivation to workout at home where there can be too many distractions.
But before you sign a contract, Amie Mitchell, CEO of the BBB of Eastern Oklahoma says there are some things you need to ask yourself and the sales person.
“So the first thing before you join a gym, know where your priorities are. Is it the location? Is it the classes? Do you need daycare? Is it the cost? So determine what is most value within the membership that you need accomplished first, then really review that contract.” says Mitchell.
And she really does mean review the contract that people may just skim over. The reason you need to read it closely is to make sure you know what you’re paying for.
“We do see a lot of like extra hidden fees in gym membership contracts. Whether it’s a cancelation fee, a pausing or freezing your membership fee, a daycare fee, additional classes fee. Really make sure you know that everything you need from the gym is included, or if you are going to be paying an extra fee, know exactly what that fee is up front.” says Mitchell.
She also says to always use a creidt card for the gym membership. And if you do, pay off your balance every month if you can.
“You want to make sure, if you get into a shady gym that you can’t get out of the contract and you have a card on file that automatically charges every month, you may be able to dispute it with the credit card company if you’re not able to get out of the fee with the gym.” she says.
The BBB says you should never feel coerced to sign a contract. Instead, you should be able to take your time to make your decision. Ask about any discounts for students, seniors, military, first responders, whether the gym offers app-based workouts, and access to multiple locations.
