In response to dozens of consumer complaints, Attorney General Bob Ferguson sent a letter to Washington fitness centers and gyms Friday providing the following guidance:
Fergusons letter warns that any gym failing to comply is violating the Washington State Consumer Protection Act, and will face legal action from his office.
My office received dozens of complaints from Washington consumers that their fitness center is continuing to charge them membership fees in the midst of this crisis, Ferguson said. The law is clear: Washingtonians are allowed to cancel their gym memberships any time, for any reason.
Fergusons guidance applies to all health studios, defined in the Washington State Health Studio Services Act as any person or entity engaged in the sale of instruction, training, assistance or use of facilities which purport to assist patrons to improve their physical condition or appearance through physical exercise, body building, weight loss, figure development, the martial arts, or any other similar activity.
Nothing in the law prohibits a fitness center from waiving the written requirement and accepting cancelations from its members by phone. Gyms can also comply with the law by not charging membership fees until gyms can safely reopen.
The letter states that the Attorney Generals Office has contacted many gyms and fitness centers that have already frozen memberships or issued refunds.
Consumer protection lawsuits brought by the Attorney Generals Office can seek civil penalties of up to $2,000 per violation plus consumer restitution.
Anyone experiencing problems with their fitness center membership is encouraged to file a consumer complaint with the Attorney Generals Office at http://www.atg.wa.gov/file-complaint.
For more information for boomer consumers, see my blog The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide.
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State tells fitness centers that consumers can cancel their memberships any time, for any reason - seattlepi.com
