Before Joining A Gym
By Amy E. Feldman
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - In case you are thinking of getting healthy in 2013 and joining a gym - at least until you wake up mid January and remember, oh yeah, I hate exercise - this is what you need to consider before signing up so you know how you can cancel. Not that you will. This is your year and I am totally not being sarcastic.
In the third class action filed against LA Fitness, consumers claim the health club allegedly misrepresents that the membership is monthly, and that members can sign up and then cancel at any time without incurring any further billing as long as they provide written notice at least 30 days prior to the next billing date.
But here's the kicker: according to the lawsuit, LA Fitness collects the last month's dues up front. So "In order for a person to have his last month's prepaid dues be applied to a month when he is still using the gym – and not pay an extra month of dues for a period after he has stopped using the gym – he would have to cancel at least 61 days before his desired termination date," the class action lawsuit states.
If you are the original one with the weight loss New Year's resolution, before you sign up for a gym membership ask questions like: how do I cancel? Do I have to put it in writing? And when is the billing cycle?
Because the last place you want to lose weight is in your wallet.
