NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) — New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman has announced settlements with nine Synergy Fitness health clubs in New York City and Nassau County after allegations of failing to comply with the state’s Health Club Services Law.
Schneiderman’s office received numerous complaints from consumers who alleged Synergy improperly billed them for memberships, misrepresented and unfairly applied cancellation policies and charged fees that were not part of the contract. To resolve the allegations, the defendant Synergy clubs will pay $60,000 and modify their contracts so as to comply with the state’s laws.
“Consumers join health clubs to get fit, not to spend energy avoiding improper fees or dealing with harassing collection calls concerning lawfully cancelled contracts,” Schneiderman said. “We won’t tolerate companies that employ opaque and illegal practices to line their pockets at the expense of New Yorkers.”
Three of the clubs in the settlement are no longer operating. The six in operation are Synergy Fitness Astoria Inc. in Astoria, 1781 Fitness Corp., Pekic Fitness Inc. and ABDO Fitness Corp in Manhattan, Garden City Fitness Corp in Garden City, and Farm Fitness Inc. in Farmingdale.