8 Long Island gyms among nearly 100 to settle over ‘widespread violations,’ state attorney general says

New York State Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman speaks at a news conference in Manhattan on March 30, 2015. Credit: Getty Images / Andrew Burton
Several Long Island health clubs are among the nearly 100 facilities statewide that have agreed to modify their client contracts and pay penalties and fines stemming from an investigation by the state attorney general’s office.
The settlements announced Thursday come after the investigation revealed “widespread violations of the law, including failure to make required disclosures to consumers” at more than 95 gyms, according to a news release from Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman’s office.
The news release said the clubs didn’t comply with state law regarding the enforcement of contracts and liability waivers.
Schneiderman said January is the top month for joining health clubs, so consumers should pay attention to the contracts they sign.
Under New York law, no health club contract can exceed $3,600 a year or be for a term longer than 36 months, the release said. In addition, all health club contracts can be canceled within three days of the contract signing, or at any time if the club stops offering services listed in the contract or if the member has a doctor’s order.
The announced settlements ensure that “members are treated fairly and clubs comply with state law,” Schneiderman said in the release.
The Long Island clubs agreeing to the penalties, fines and contract modifications are:
- Gold’s Gym, 1 Larkfield Rd., East Northport
- World Gym, 207 Little East Neck Rd., West Babylon
- Retro Fitness, 599 E. Main St., Bay Shore
- Retro Fitness, 501A W. Montauk Hwy., West Babylon
- Unique Health & Fitness, 1191 Portion Rd., Farmingville
- Unique Fitness Express, 5715 Sunrise Hwy., Holbrook
- Unique Xtreme Fitness, 78 McGraw St., Shirley
- VT Fitness, 15 Hawkins Ave., Ronkonkoma
- Lucille Roberts, 5801 Sunrise Hwy., Holbrook
- Lucille Roberts, 6534 Jericho Tpke., Commack
- Lucille Roberts, 1850 Sunrise Hwy., Bay Shore
- A fourth Lucille Roberts location, in Massapequa, also had agreed to the changes, state attorney general officials said. That location has since closed.
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