Why don't the operators of fitness studios set up ergometers and steppers with a generator, a user jokingly asked on the Reddit platform these days.

Then you could produce electricity directly during training.

And the operators would not have to complain about the energy prices - and would not have to increase the contributions for their members.

Because some fitness studios are currently trying the latter.

The anger about it is great.

Sarah Huemer

Editor in the "Value" department of the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sunday newspaper.

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Many customers have received an email from their gym in the past few weeks that they now have to pay more every month.

Because of the high energy costs, the operators justify.

Some even charge their members a one-off energy fee.

They should please show solidarity with their gym and support it financially.

For some it is only a few euros, others even charge 30 euros or more.

Many members vent their frustration on social networks.

After all, a contract is a contract, and the gym should kindly stick to it.

After all, the customers themselves would also have to contend with the high energy costs.

Some of them are also desperate for advice on how they might escape the higher premiums after all.

But is that even possible?

Mostly not legal

A fitness studio must adhere to the current contract, says Peter Lassek, a lawyer at the consumer center in Hesse.

That means: No, the sudden increases are not legally permitted.

Even if the contract contains individual price adjustment clauses, these do not have to be legal.

If it only says "subject to change", this can usually be ignored.

“That is far too general and sweeping,” says the expert.

Even a flat rate for service, energy or hygiene is by no means a free ticket for operators to demand additional contributions.

The affected customers should write to their gym, point it out to the legal situation and demand that they be able to continue training at the old prices.

A short e-mail is sufficient for this.

It is important to obtain this confirmation in writing and not just clarify the case verbally on site.

If the fitness studio does not react, the customer has the right to extraordinary termination immediately.

Money back via direct debit return

Of course, not everyone wants that.

After all, many of the members like going there to work out on the treadmill or on the weight bench.

A second option is to get back the overpaid contributions by returning a direct debit.

This is usually possible up to eight weeks after payment.

The lawyer Peter Lassek advises, however, to also send the studio a written declaration of objection – and only then to arrange for the direct debit to be returned.

Some members report that they just tried it and so far no complaints have come from the gym.

But it can also turn out very differently.

So it could happen that the gym terminates the contract.

Or that the Schufa is informed, which could become a problem with other contracts, such as loans.

In this case, the procedure is not legal, but it usually involves a lot of effort to reverse it, says Lassek.

Conversely, the member must also adhere to the contract.

This means that even if someone currently has less money, the contributions must continue to be paid in the contractually agreed amount.

The studio can only demand deductions if it significantly reduces its services.

According to the expert Peter Lassek, limited sauna operation is usually not part of it.