17 Jan 2010

Gym contracts should be read carefully - ministry

10:31 am on 17 January 2010

People who have made ambitious weight loss goals for the New Year are advised to be careful when signing long-term gym memberships.

The Ministry of Consumer Affairs says those looking for a gym need to read the fine print carefully before joining.

Online auction site TradeMe has more than 150 gym memberships on offer, from people wanting to get out of their contracts early.

The ministry says customers need to read the cancellation and transfer clauses carefully before signing.

It also suggests people shop around and negotiate their contract if they are unhappy about its length or the fees.