Gyms told to shape up

A campaign to stop health clubs and gyms locking members into long-term contracts and cancellation fees has been launched.

The Office of Fair Trading - worried by an increased number of complaints from members - is warning clubs to get into line or risk steep fines or closure.

With the country in the grip of a fitness obsession - some 6.2 million adults are members of gyms generating an income of £6,000million - the OFT said it was determined to protect consumers from unfair small print clauses in their contracts.

Penny Boys, the OFT's deputy director-general, said today: "With people spending hundreds of pounds and sometimes thousands of pounds a year we have to take steps to ensure that they are treated fairly.

"At this time of year, just after Easter, you might think that it's a good idea to take out a contract at a gym. But once September comes it might no longer seem such a good idea, or you may simply wish to change to a new club but unfortunately you discover that is not so easy."

She added: "Attempting to exclude liability for matters such as death or personal injury is a very serious matter and cannot be allowed to continue. Clubs must ensure they comply with the regulations. If they continue to use unfair terms, the OFT will take enforcement action."

She said: "We want all clubs to check their conditions and make changes where necessary. We are also writing to a number of clubs where we think changes are needed. We will give them a reasonable time to make those changes, but if they fail we will take enforcement action."

To that end the OFT is distributing to all clubs a 30-page set of guidelines entitled Guidance on Unfair Terms in Health and Fitness Club Agreements. At the same time it is distributing a pamphlet to potential club members.

The moves were welcomed by the Fitness Industry Association, whose 1,300 members include chains such as Holmes Place and David Lloyd, which has a strict code of conduct.

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