Guide

PT packages, contracts and refunds

Most trainers and studios sell sessions in packages, which bring the price per session down. A package is a commitment, so it's worth reading the terms before you pay. This guide is general information, not legal advice.

Before you buy

• Start small. A trial or a short package lets you check you get on with the trainer before committing to 30 or 50 sessions.
• Get the terms in writing. A receipt alone usually isn't enough. Ask for the package terms on paper or by email.
• Don't be rushed. A genuine offer will still be there tomorrow.

What the terms should cover

• Number of sessions and their length.
• Expiry. How long you have to use them. Make sure it's realistic for how often you'll train.
• Freezing. Whether you can pause for travel, illness, injury or pregnancy, and for how long.
• Cancellations. How much notice you must give to move a session without losing it.
• Changing trainer. At a studio, whether you can switch if it isn't working out.
• Transfers. Whether unused sessions can be passed to someone else.
• Refunds. Whether unused sessions can be refunded, and on what terms, including if the trainer stops working or the studio closes.

Paying

• Paying in instalments, or for smaller packages more often, limits how much you have at stake.
• Keep receipts and a record of the sessions you've used.
• Be cautious about paying a large sum up front to a business you can't find much about.

If something goes wrong

1. Raise it with the trainer or studio first, in writing, saying what you'd like to happen.
2. Keep everything: the terms, receipts, messages and your record of sessions.
3. Get help if you can't agree. The Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE) helps with consumer disputes, and the Small Claims Tribunals hear claims for smaller amounts. Check their sites for current rules and limits.

Comparing prices first? What personal trainers in Singapore charge and questions to ask before you book.