Here’s why your gym can’t charge monthly fees during the coronavirus shutdown

Coronavirus NJ - empty gyms

Most treadmills and elliptical machines inside this Planet Fitness center in Edison were empty amid the statewide coronavirus scare on March 15.Len Melisurgo | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Across Pennsylvania, non-essential businesses including gyms are shut down during the coronavirus pandemic.

So for those with health club memberships, it raises a question - are members still being charged monthly fees for services they aren’t using? Most gyms automatically withdrawal monthly fees from members’ bank accounts.

Thanks to the Health Club Act, consumers in Pennsylvania with gym memberships are offered several protections during the COVID-19 crisis, according to the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General’s office.

Attorney General Josh Shapiro said in a press release health clubs and gyms closed for 30 or more days are to stop billing members and freeze charges on accounts. In addition, Shapiro said gyms closed for more than 30 days are obligated to refund members who cancel their memberships.

The Health Club Act requires facilities to register with the state and provides financial protections to consumers during closures or special circumstances.

“Consumers in Pennsylvania have legal protections when it comes to health club memberships, and we enforce those laws. Members should not be charged for services not provided and should have the ability to cancel membership services they cannot use during this pandemic,” he said. “Private gyms and health clubs need to stop charging fees for services they cannot provide until the public health emergency is over.”

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Several chains including LA Fitness and Planet Fitness have already announced plans to suspend billing members or freeze memberships until the COVID-19 crisis is over.

Some gyms are now offering online and virtual classes. But Shapiro said health clubs are not allowed to decline a cancellation request on the basis they offer those alternative services.

Those who want to cancel memberships should send a letter confirming their cancellation to the health club or gym through certified mail or in person. During the state emergency Shapiro is making it easy by urging gyms to accept cancellations by email, phone or regular mail.

The Attorney General’s Office said violations of the Health Club Act carry penalties of $1,000 for each violation and $3,000 for each violation involving a consumer age 60 or older.

Consumers who wish to file a complaint about their gym to the office can submit a form on the Attorney General’s website.

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