Planet Fitness and their unfair tactics according to the Consumer Protection Act.

Planet fitness uses unfair and ******* business tactics in terms of the Consumer Protection Act. In particular, I would like to mention Planet Fitness Lynnwood Ridge, but in general, the call centre and all employees involved in both. My son app**** for the Two month “free trial” (they charged him a “tag fee” for this, which he paid.) This was in February 2020. He then had to complete a form with his banking details or else he wouldn’t be allowed the free trial. He did not tick a box to specify the length of the contract, since there was a change he may have to return to Cape Town for work.

He explained this to Decent, who signed him up. Then, during lockdown, he noticed various amounts deducted from his bank account. It was never the same amount and continued until the end of October. He called to query this and was not given an explanation. He called the call centre, also with no luck. He went to the gym in person, also without success. He was told if he stopped the debit order they would blacklist him. He was also informed, that if he wanted to cancel his contract, he would have to pay a cancellation fee of more than R2000.00.

It is very obvious that an employee at this gym completed the box marked 24 months, after he agreed to the two month free trial. He asked to choose the length of the potential contract after the free trial hoping he would know about his work situation by then.

The employees of this gym has given us the runaround and are disputing the fact that he did not tick the option for 24 months.

What should happen here, is that he should be refunded all of the deductions ( R1097.40) and given an apology.

The deductions started during early lock down when gyms were not even allowed to be open.

Their ethics is questionable and their business practice *******.