Wondering if your fitness punch pass can expire? Here’s what the rules say under BC law.
Punch passes
A punch pass or card is a bundle or session-based system for “x” many visits to a facility. Perhaps you didn’t feel like committing to a membership or maybe the 10 class pass deal was too sweet to turn down. If you find yourself the proud new owner of a punch pass, here’s what you need to know.
Can my fitness punch pass expire?
The short answer is yes. Punch passes are considered a type of gift card, voucher or credit. We enforce the gift card laws in the province. Under BC law, expiry dates are allowed for:
- Gift cards that are for a specific good or service. For example, a punch pass for 10 classes at your yoga studio.
- Gift cards that are sold at a discount. For example, if the punch pass gives you a discount on the normal “drop in” rate.
So, in summary, yes, if your punch pass meets the criteria above, it can expire. This information should be disclosed to you at the time of purchase.
On the other hand, gift cards with a dollar value are NOT allowed to expire. For example, a $150 gift card to a yoga studio that could be used like cash for different classes, merchandise, or apparel. Learn more about BC’s gift card laws.
Can I cancel my punch pass and get my money back?
It depends. Contracts for services that are ongoing and physical in nature are known as continuing services contracts. We regulate aspects of these contracts in BC. This includes fitness punch passes and memberships. The law gives you cancellation rights in specific situations. Learn when you can cancel your fitness punch pass.
Where can I go for help?
We enforce the gift card laws in BC and may be able to help if you run into issues that fall under our authority. The first thing to do is to follow the steps on our gift card page. If you are still having problems and can’t resolve it with the business, you can submit a complaint to us directly so we can assess it.
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About Consumer Protection BC
We are not-for-profit regulator responsible for overseeing certain industries and specific consumer transactions in British Columbia. If your concern is captured under the laws we enforce, we will use the tools at our disposal to assist you. If we can’t help you directly, we will try to offer a referral to a relevant organization, if one exists. Other times, court or legal assistance may be the best option. Explore our website at www.consumerprotectionbc.ca.