Trio of gyms and a spa fined thousands for Quebec Consumer Protection Act violations

The Quebec Consumer Protection Office has fined three gyms and a spa for violations against the Consumer Protection Act. (Pexels)

A trio of gyms and a health spa have been ordered to pay thousands of dollars in fines to the Consumer Protection Office after pleading guilty to offences in the Quebec Consumer Protection Act.

The agency said that Gym Fit Forme and Studio Orangetheory Fitness in Montreal, Anytime Fitness TM in Sainte-Julie and Spa Renaissance in Sept-Iles were ordered to or paid fines for earlier offences.

Operating without a permit

On Tuesday, the Consumer Protection Office said that Anytime Fitness TM was found guilty in May of operating its centre without a license and ordered the company to pay $5,320, in addition to a $1,076 fine for its president.

The company has since applied for and obtained a license.

Orangetheory also pleaded guilty in April to operating without a permit and will have to pay $6,782.

Spa Renaissance pleaded guilty in April to operating a health studio without a license and will have to pay a $3,000 fine, in addition to a $1,086 fine for its president.

No total price

The Gym Fit Forme training centre pleaded guilty to not disclosing the total price of a subscription in an advertising message and paid a $3,000 fine.

The advertising message disclosed the amount of periodic payments only without giving the total price which is a violation of the Consumer Protection Act, the office said.

In addition, the Consumer Protection Office posted a reminder to customers on Instagram that gyms are required to notify customers before they renew memberships and that gym users can file complaints on the agency’s website if they find an issue.