My husband and I recently joined Gold's Gym. We knew going in there was a risk of it closing. My boss heard a rumor of it but we decided to join. Just yesterday, a gym possibly owned by the owner of ours, closed its doors suddenly in Baltimore. We are here in annapolis and worried since we just started our yearly contract 2 months ago.

Are there any preventative measures we should take? Any way to sue if they do close?

Advice appreciated.

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Originally Posted by dulaney0330

My husband and I recently joined Gold's Gym. We knew going in there was a risk of it closing. My boss heard a rumor of it but we decided to join. Just yesterday, a gym possibly owned by the owner of ours, closed its doors suddenly in Baltimore. We are here in annapolis and worried since we just started our yearly contract 2 months ago.

Are there any preventative measures we should take? Any way to sue if they do close?

Advice appreciated.

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What are you going to sue for exactly? You stated that you signed a yearly contract - I assume that you paid for a year's membership in full at the time you signed the contract?

If they do close, check your contract regarding the return of your membership fees.

Your right. I guess there's nothing we can do. But I hate having my hands tied. We did pay upfront.

On the other hand, is it illegal for the owner to just get up and leave the gym empty? Are there laws against this?

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Originally Posted by dulaney0330

Your right. I guess theres nothing we can do. But I hate having my hands tied. We did pay upfront.

On the other hand, is it illegal for the owner to just get up and leave the gym empty? Are there laws against this?

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I don't know that there's a law prohibiting him from closing his business but if he were to close, I think you'd be entitled to the difference of the months you paid for vs. the months you actually used the facility. If he refuses to reimburse you, then take him to small claims.

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Originally Posted by this8384

I don't know that there's a law prohibiting him from closing his business but if he were to close, I think you'd be entitled to the difference of the months you paid for vs. the months you actually used the facility. If he refuses to reimburse you, then take him to small claims.

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I meant if there was a law prohibiting closing a business without notice. Its just so rude to just close the gym without even "this gym is closing on this date."

Thanks for your posts.

There is no law prohibiting a business to close without notice. Many times the business is in bankruptcy and the bank simply takes over and locks the doors.

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Originally Posted by J_9

There is no law prohibiting a business to close without notice. Many times the business is in bankruptcy and the bank simply takes over and locks the doors.

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The gym that did close took out all the equipment at night.. which leads me to believe the owner planned the whole thing.

You can do what excastly your contract allows. I have to "wonder" if you heard it may be going out, why would you pay in full up front for a 2 year contract ?

But I do believe you can ask for a refund if there is no gym you can transfer to within a certain distance, ( that distance should be named in your contract)

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Originally Posted by dulaney0330

The gym that did close took out all the equipment at night..which leads me to believe the owner planned the whole thing.

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They were notified the day before that the bank was going to come close their doors so they got all of their equipment out before it became property of the bank. Happened to my family business recently.

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Originally Posted by Fr_Chuck

You can do what excastly your contract allows. I have to "wonder" if you heard it may be going out, why would you pay in full up front for a 2 year contract ?

But I do beleive you can ask for a refund if there is no gym you can transfer to within a certain distance, ( that distance should be named in your contract)

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Well, it was for a year and there are other gold's gyms in the area. We figured we could go to another one. We took a risk simply because the gym was cheaper, closer to home, and was what we wanted. Hopefully, it doesn't come back to nip us in the behind!