Connecticut General Statutes 21a-219 – Term of contract. Renewal
(a) No health club contract shall have a term for a period longer than twenty-four months. If a health club offers a contract of more than twelve months’ term, it shall offer a twelve-month contract. If a health club sells a membership contract of more than twelve months’ term, the health club shall not collect payment, in cash or its equivalent of more than fifty per cent of the entire consideration for the contract in advance of rendering services. The remainder of the cost of the contract shall be collected by the health club on a pro rata monthly basis during the term of the health club contract. Each contract shall have the prices for all contracts printed thereon.
Terms Used In Connecticut General Statutes 21a-219
- Buyer: means a person who enters into, or receives the benefit of, a health club contract. See Connecticut General Statutes 21a-216
- Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
- Health club: means any corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or other business enterprise offering facilities for the preservation, maintenance, encouragement or development of physical fitness or well-being in return for the payment of a fee entitling the buyer to the use of such facilities. See Connecticut General Statutes 21a-216
- Health club contract: means an agreement by which a buyer is entitled to membership in a health club or use of the facilities of a health club. See Connecticut General Statutes 21a-216
- month: means a calendar month, and the word "year" means a calendar year, unless otherwise expressed. See Connecticut General Statutes 1-1
- Remainder: An interest in property that takes effect in the future at a specified time or after the occurrence of some event, such as the death of a life tenant.
(b) Written notice that a contract will automatically renew shall be provided by the health club to the consumer at the time of entering into the contract. Such notice shall be conspicuously printed on the first page of the contract and shall be provided in fourteen-point bold type. No contract shall contain an automatic renewal clause except for a renewal for a period not to exceed one month. If such contract contains such a one-month automatic renewal clause, such renewal shall become effective only upon payment of the renewal price and such contract shall permit the buyer to cancel any further renewal upon no more than one month’s notice. The price of any such renewal shall not increase or decrease unless the contract: (1) Discloses the amount of such increase or decrease or the method of calculating such increase or decrease in the price of such renewal, or (2) such information is otherwise provided to the buyer, in writing, no less than one month prior to such renewal. Any renewal option for continued membership shall be accepted by the buyer in writing, by electronic mail or facsimile and shall become effective only upon payment of the renewal price.
(c) Each health club shall post the prices and the three-day cancellation provisions, the disability provisions and the twenty-five mile moving provisions of all contracts in a conspicuous place where the contract is entered into.