Staying active and social keeps us young at heart.  There are so many wonderful choices these days to meet new people, have fun, and stay in shape.  Whether you decide to join a gym, take dance lessons or even a self-defense class, it’s still important to know your rights as a consumer.

There are many options to choose from these days.  It is a good idea to do some research and be comfortable with the facility or fitness lessons you are purchasing before you commit.  Here are some tips to help you before joining a gym or fitness related program:

• Do your research. Before joining, determine what benefits are important to you, what services you need and what the time commitment is.  Ask your friends about their experiences and if they are satisfied.  Ask for a trial run of the fitness club - you may get a chance to try things out first before signing a contract.
• Ask questions. Know what is included with your membership or your lessons and be sure that you aren’t being charged extra for something you don’t need. Also, ask to see the qualifications of the person who may be working with.
• Find out your cancellations rights. By law, you have rights around cancelling your fitness or dance contract and these rights must be detailed in your contract.
• Read the fine print. It's very important to always read the full contract. It's also a good idea to request a copy of your contract and keep it for future reference.

Although many people don’t realize it, when you purchase gym memberships or classes for karate or dance, you are most likely entering a type of contract called a continuing services contract.  By law in BC, these contracts must disclose certain information to you, such as your cancellation rights.

Here are some things you should know about these contracts:

• You have 10 days to cancel your contract, no matter what.
• If you decide to cancel, make sure to cancel the way the contract requires you to which is usually in person, by registered mail, or by fax.
• You can’t be locked into a membership that is longer than 2 years although it may roll over month to month automatically so make sure you know when your agreement ends.
• You have the ability to cancel under very specific circumstances such as for medical reasons or if you move more than 30km away from the facility and are not offered services in the area you have moved to.

There is a lot to know about these types of contracts.  If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact Consumer Protection for more information at 1-888-564-9963, email us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Consumer Protection BC is a not-for-profit corporation that was created to strengthen consumer protection in BC and enforce consumer protection laws.  We balance the interests of all parties to promote a marketplace that is fair for both BC consumers and businesses.  We license and inspect specific industries, respond to inquiries through our Inquiry Centre, classify films, investigate alleged violations of consumer protection laws, and educate consumers and businesses about their rights and responsibilities under the law.

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