Fitness First

Fitness First is one of the largest health and fitness provider in the world, second in number of clubs only to Gold's Gym and third in memberships only to 24 hour fitness and Gold's Gym, with clubs in the United Kingdom, Europe, Australia, Middle East and the Asia-Pacific region.

In 2005 the company was acquired by BC Partners, a European private equity group.

In Australia, Fitness First took over a number of Living Well locations owned by the Hilton Group. Also they bought the 11-gym Healthland chain from an administrator, and now own over 80 gyms across Australia.

In late 2006, Fitness First reached the milestone of 500 clubs world-wide, marked by the opening of the fourth club in Sydney, Australia.

It now has over 550 clubs worldwide with more than 1.5 million First Fitness members.

Membership plans

Fitness First (Australia) offers a number of membership plans on different terms. Some membership contracts have a minimum term of one year and incur a cancellation fee on exit. Others are billed on a fortnightly basis and can be cancelled with 4 week notice. On the "home" plan, members can access one fitness first location. Other plans are available that allow members access to any standard Fitness First gym within Australia. Limitations apply on access to international Fitness First gyms. Fees range from around $70-$110 per month.

Controversies

In August 2008, Fitness First took an ill patient to the Australian NSW Supreme Court to recover a $200 cancellation fee given that she could not afford to pay and was no longer enough to use the gym on medical grounds. The patient explained her medical condition before signing up and was instructed to sign the contract. Fitness First sought action to ensure that gym contracts with clients were still legally valid even if the court finds that the client did not understand what they had signed.[1]. This appeal overturned a prior decision against Fitness First by the NSW Consumer, Trader and Tenancy Tribunal which had found that a contract required a "meeting of the minds, in that they each fully know and understand the terms and conditions of the agreement".[2]. The Supreme Court found that the Tribunal had erred in a matter of law.

The company also hit most members in Australia with significant fee increases in August of 2008, in the range of 20% - 30% increase, depending on membership type, the reasons provided for the increases were the number of new clubs opened and "increased general costs".

Fitness First does not include instruction on the use of equipment by qualified trainers for new members. To obtain this service members are expected to purchase a Personal Training Triple Pack, an added cost on top of membership fees. The "PT Triple Pack" is a method of on selling continuing personal training and program cards are never provided.

External links

• Official Fitness First Site
• Choice magazine:Gyms It’s a jungle out there .... and our gym survey discovered plenty of pitfalls for the unwary. accessed 9/11/2008
• Survey of Gym Chains: Fitness first and Fernwood
• Consumer Affairs Victoria: Unfair contract terms - Health and fitness centres
• Fitness First club virtual tour