Gym will be 'fairer to the ill'

The OFT says that it will look at other companies' contracts

The largest gym operator in the UK has rewritten contracts following complaints that the ill could not cancel their membership.

Fitness First was approached by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) after the watchdog received customer complaints about the clarity of its contracts.

Agreements now make it clear that those with genuine medical reasons can get a refund on some gym fees.

The OFT said it was keen to tighten up any unfair consumer contracts.

Simple language

Some customers complained that they struggled to cancel a contract during a minimum term owing to genuine medical problems.

Fitness First has now made cancellation policy clearer in "shorter and simpler" contracts together with confirmation that it was not offering credit to customers.

"We have worked closely with Fitness First and are satisfied that consumers will find these new membership agreements much clearer and simpler to understand," said Mike Haley, the OFT's head of consumer protection.

John Gamble, Fitness First UK managing director, said the company was asked to simplify application forms by the OFT two years ago, and it made terms and conditions even clearer in January.

"We are confident that we continue to provide a transparent and simple system by which members can amend or cancel their contract," he added.

Fitness First is the largest health operator in the world, with 1.5 million members and 550 clubs worldwide, including 183 clubs and 452,000 members in the UK.