• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Submit News
  • Contact Us

Capital Soup

Florida News Straight From the Source

  • Soup Du Jour
  • People
  • Government
  • Campaign
  • Business
  • Education
  • Insights
  • Video
You are here: Home / Soup Du Jour / Commissioner Putnam Provides Tips for New Gym Memberships

Commissioner Putnam Provides Tips for New Gym Memberships

Posted on January 3, 2017

Many Floridians want to kick-off healthier habits in the new year with memberships to health studios. Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam today provided tips to educate consumers on what to look for when signing a new membership.
“January is an extremely popular time for consumers to join gyms, and I encourage Floridians to do their homework to ensure they get the most out of their memberships,” said Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam.
Commissioner Putnam urges consumers to consider the following before signing a membership:

  • Search the “Business/Complaint Lookup” at FreshFromFlorida.com or call 1-800-HELP-FLA (435-7352) to check if complaints were filed about the studio and how they were resolved.
  • Don’t join the first time you visit. Use the gym first to make sure it meets your needs, then take the contract home and read it thoroughly before signing. Be sure to ask for clarification if you don’t understand something.
  • It’s a good rule of thumb to avoid long contracts. Shop around to make sure you know what’s included in the membership.
  • Service fees, such as registration fees, processing or start-up fees, may be required. However, it must be considered a “reasonable and fair service fee,” meaning no more than 10 percent of the contract price.
  • Use a credit card, debit card or check to pay each month. Setting up an automatic withdrawal from checking accounts may result in problems if there is ever a dispute.
  • The contract should include a provision for penalty-free cancellation in writing within three days, exclusive of holidays and weekends, of signing a contract.

Under Florida’s Health Studio Act, health studios are required to register with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and to provide a bond or other financial security to protect consumers’ funds if the gym expectantly moves or closes. Additionally, if a gym closes or moves its facilities more than five miles away, it must provide access to an alternate facility of equal quality within five miles of its original location at no additional cost.
For additional information on the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, to verify a health studio’s registration status or to file a complaint, contact the department at 1-800-HELP-FLA (435-7352), 1-800-FL-AYUDA (352-9832) for Spanish speakers, or visit FreshFromFlorida.com.

Share this article! Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Filed Under: Soup Du Jour Tagged With: Commissioner Adam Putnam, FDACS, Gym, Memberships, Tips

Primary Sidebar

    Submit News    

Mast’s Northern Estuaries Restoration Plan, $100M for Estuary Protection Pass Transportation & Infrastructure Committee

“A Massive Win”: Water Resources Development Act Includes Mast Legislation To Improve Water Quality, Combat … [Read More...] about Mast’s Northern Estuaries Restoration Plan, $100M for Estuary Protection Pass Transportation & Infrastructure Committee

Trade Association Sues Florida Insurance Commissioner for Allowing Property Insurance Companies to Circumvent State Law

Lawsuit asserts that state regulators approved policy changes denying statutory rights enacted by the … [Read More...] about Trade Association Sues Florida Insurance Commissioner for Allowing Property Insurance Companies to Circumvent State Law

PACE Broward, AshBritt, Broward College Launch Emergency Management Program for Young Women

Pace Center for Girls, Broward has partnered with emergency management and logistics firm AshBritt and Broward … [Read More...] about PACE Broward, AshBritt, Broward College Launch Emergency Management Program for Young Women

Keep in Touch

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Newsletter signup

Stay in the loop! Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to receive a brief recap of the week's most popular stories.

Footer

News

  • Soup Du Jour
  • People
  • Government
  • Campaign
  • Business
  • Education
  • Insights
  • Video

About Us 

  • About
  • Advertise
  • Submit News
  • Contact Us

Keep in Touch

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Copyright © 2021
Terms & Conditions

© Copyright 2022 Capital Soup · All Rights Reserved ·