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Almost 100 complaints filed against gyms for charging during COVID-19 closures

FOX43 Finds Out the PA Attorney General's office is now looking into 94 complaints of potential Health Club Act violations

HARRISBURG, Pa. — Under the Health Club Act, gyms that are closed for 30 days should not charge cancellation fees and should issue refunds to customers.

FOX43 Finds out that as of April 25th, the Pennsylvania Attorney General's office has received 94 complaints about gyms and health clubs still charging during COVID-19 closures.

Now that those health clubs and gyms have been or will be closed for 30 days, you have certain rights under Pennsylvania law," said PA Attorney General Josh Shapiro a few weeks ago.

Those rights include being able to get some of your money back.

RELATED: FOX43 Finds Out: How to cancel a gym membership during COVID-19 with no penalities

Shapiro said, "It's annoying, you have to write a letter, but that's what the state law requires, write a letter to your health club, to your gym. They will suspend your membership, cancel your membership and give you money back for any of those days they weren't able to provide you service."

The AG is also calling on gyms to stop billing members while the facilities are shut down.

He's asking them to freeze membership accounts at no charge while Pennsylvania addresses COVID-19.

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The PA Attorney General also wants to remind gyms that even though a lot of them are posting videos on Facebook or live-streaming workouts, they still can't deny a cancellation request right now.

If health clubs don't comply, they can face penalties up to $1,000 for each violation or and $3,000 if the member is 60 or older.

The Attorney General's office says it is working with gyms right now and so far, no legal action has been required.

Here's how you can file a complaint if a gym won't let you cancel or is still charing you right now. 

If you have a story you want Jackie to look into, FOX43 wants to find out.

Send her a message on Facebook or send an email to FOX43FindsOut@FOX43.com.

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