Fitness chain "MyFitness" briefly placed on Estonian consumer protection blacklist

Estonia's Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority (TTJA) added fitness chain "MyFitness" to its blacklist on October 1 after the company failed to comply with a consumer disputes committee ruling issued on August 28.

Background of the dispute

The case involved a client who joined "MyFitness" in 2011. Starting this July, the company sought to raise his monthly fee from €33 to €67. "MyFitness" justified the increase by citing the expiration of a "friend package" discount, explaining that the lower price had been tied to the employment of a friend the client had named at "MyFitness"; once that employment ended, the client was to switch to the standard rate.

The client disputed this, stating that his contract contained no reference to a friend package or any clause linking his monthly fee to another person's employment with the company. Reviewing the case, the committee found that "MyFitness" could not produce documents proving the client's enrollment in the friend package, the existence of the employee in question, or the end of that person's employment. The company also failed to submit the general terms in force at the time the contract was signed to confirm that such a clause was part of the client's agreement.

Committee ruling and blacklist entry

In late August, the committee ruled that "MyFitness" must continue honoring the original contract, keeping the monthly fee at €33. Because the company did not comply, it was added to the TTJA blacklist on October 1. As of the morning of October 5, "MyFitness" still appeared on the list, but the entry had been removed by midday.

A company representative said in early September that "MyFitness" respected the committee's decision and would not raise the client's fee, adding that the client had been informed before filing the complaint that his rate would stay the same. The company did not respond to media inquiries about its blacklist placement.