by R. Renee Bembry

Created on: April 10, 2009

Some say once you're in you can't get out! That's because joining a gym is serious business. Considering the fact that cases have been reported to the Better Business Bureau where getting out of health club memberships has caused former patrons major headaches, one thing you should consider before joining a gym is the length of time you plan to be a member.

People don't normally join gyms thinking about when they'll end their membership. Thinking about such a thing almost defeats the purpose of becoming a member in the first place. Just the same, things happen. You could get hurt. You could move to an area where the company doesn't have a gym. You could lose your income.

No doubt, there are plenty of good reasons to join gyms. You get out of the house. Someone maintains equipment for you. You can socialize while you workout. Etcetera... Etcetera... Furthermore, just because others have run into quitting problems doesn't mean this will happen to you. After all, you're doing your homework because you know joining a gym is an investment and - as with any other investment you make - prior to signing an agreement you will be paying close attention to the adage "buyer beware". Right...? Right...

So, let's pretend your homework is complete - meaning you've checked out various health club programs; you've asked family members, friends, neighbors and coworkers for club recommendations, and you've visited several club locations to compare them for yourself. If all this is true, your club shopping is complete, and you're ready to join the club that's best suited for you.

Now it's joining day and you're sitting across from a salesperson listening to him reiterate program options. Then the unexpected happens... He knows about a better deal than those previously mentioned to you and he calls "a closer" over to better explain it to you.

At this point, the only reason red flags should be absent from your mind is that you have every intention of reading through every single word of the contract the closer has placed on the desk before you or you are going to take the contract with you and read it at home - perhaps have someone read it with you - to make certain it is what the closer and salesperson claims it to be prior to signing it. This includes reading the fine print.

Even if no great offer other than what you've already expected is presented to you when you decide to join a health club, you should read through the paperwork line by line and ask questions for clarification wherever necessary to get a full understanding of the documentation prior to signing it. No matter how cheerful or charismatic or convincing the duo before you seem in their efforts to assure you you're making a great decision, they won't be paying your bill! Therefore, it's up to you to make certain you know exactly what the terms of the contract are and it's up to you to agree or disagree with said terms.

If it turns out that information the team tells you is not found in the contract, make them write it in. Any written-in terms should be "signed" - not initialed - "signed" by the closer, the manager, or another person of power with legal authority to grant said terms. These terms should be on all copies of the document of which you should have an original. Don't let them fool you. They can always make a "second" original if necessary. The point is, documentation you actually receive with ink fresh from the pen outlining additional terms may carry a lot more weight than a mere copy of someone's inked in additions.

Getting through contract phases of health club memberships is probably the most annoying and stress-related part of gym life. After that, everything else should be smooth sailing and healthy living unveiling.

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