The Consumer Protection Board (CPB) will issue a new legal contract for fitness centres covering commitments and commercial practices related to clients.
CPB secretary-general Niroth Chadhroenprakob said that finalising fitness centre contracts this year was its priority. During the first 10 months of last year, 297 complaints were filed about fitness club services not meeting commitments by sales representatives.
"Fitness centres rank third in complaints received last year. From November 2008 to March 2009, over 100 complaints were received with similar problems at eight centres,'' he said.
In the last fiscal year ending Sept 30, 626 complaints were filed against property firms. In second place were automobile and motorcycle firms, which faced 485 complaints related to unfair hire-purchase contracts.
Mr Niroth said the Office of the CPB had recently appointed 13 experts from the government and private sectors to draft a standard contract format.
The sinking economy has been a big challenge for fitness centres, which have resorted increasingly to price-cutting and other strategies. But the downturn forced several clubs to reduce the number of trainers and courses each day, and some did not inform customers in advance.
The Public Health Ministry's Department of Health is also concerned about sanitation and will monitor it.
"With the new product liability law, customers have the right to complain about damages. We have negotiated with fitness centres to return money to their clients who are not satisfied,'' Mr Niroth said.
About the author
- Writer: Bagnkokpost.com
