Do Research, Read The Fine Print Before Joining That Health Club
(CBS) -- Today is the day to make all your resolutions for the New Year, and for many it has to do with getting in shape.
But beware: A plan to become healthier could be fraught with hidden costs.
Before you sign on the dotted line, take some time to check out the gym you're thinking about joining, says Steve Bernas of the Better Business Bureau in Chicago.
Beware The Fine Print On Health Club Memberships
For the second year in a row, the number of complaints about health clubs has gone up. Consumers filed some 8,000 complaints nationally with bureaus, an increase of 20 percent over the previous year, Bernas says.
"Consumers really need to do their due diligence," he says.
Some of the questions you should ask before committing to a membership: How much will it cost once the introductory offer is over? Will membership automatically renew? How can you get out of it? What happens if the gym goes out of business?
Perhaps the most basic question of all: Can you really afford it?
