State Attorney General Josh Shapiro is reminding Pennsylvanians of their legal rights for canceling membership contracts with gyms and health clubs. His office also provided pointers for how prospective gym members can evaluate facilities and their contracts to find the best possible match.

Pennsylvanians who made New Year’s resolutions to get in shape in 2018 should exert a little extra energy in reading over any contracts they sign for new gym memberships, according to the state Attorney General’s office, writes Thomas Friestad for intell.com. 

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Attorney General Josh Shapiro outlined state residents’ legal rights to cancel contracts with gyms and health clubs under certain conditions, in a news release.

“I want consumers to know my office monitors these health clubs to make sure they’re properly registered, and we’re here to help them avoid scams,” Shapiro said. “We don’t want the ‘ball to drop’ on your New Year’s plans to get healthy because of a bad gym choice.”

Under the state Health Club Act, gym members can cancel contracts covering longer than three months within three business days of signing and receive a full refund on fees paid, allowing for a ”‘cooling off period’ for consumers to decide if the gym best suits their needs,” Shapiro said.

Members also can cancel if their gyms or clubs close for longer than 30 days, provided there’s no alternate facility within 10 miles; if they move more than 25 miles away, so long as there’s no comparable club within five miles of their new home; or if they suffer an injury preventing them from using at least one-third of the club’s equipment for six months or longer. A doctor must write a note to verify any injuries.

Shapiro said most of the gym membership complaints his office receives involve contract cancellations or members seeking refunds after their gym or health club closes unexpectedly.

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