Syarif Hidayatullah, Marjan Miharja

Analysis of Gym Membership Contracts from a Consumer Protection Law Perspective

Introduction

Analysis of gym membership contracts from a consumer protection law perspective . Analyze Indonesian gym membership contracts under consumer protection law. Issues like non-refunds, auto-debit, and strict cancellations often harm consumers. Know your rights.

Abstract

Indonesia’s fitness industry is rapidly growing as public awareness of the importance of exercise increases. However, many gyms impose unilateral standard contracts containing non-refund clauses, auto-debit systems, and strict cancellation policies. These practices often harm consumers, as seen in the sudden closure of Gold’s Gym Indonesia in 2025, which led to refund claims totaling Rp 4.4 billion. This study aims to analyze the form and content of standard clauses in fitness center membership contracts in Indonesia and evaluate their compliance with Law Number 8 of 1999 concerning Consumer Protection. Using a normative legal research method with a case study approach, this study combines empirical data on contract practices with legal material analysis. The findings indicate that unilateral standard contracts may be null and detrimental to consumers. Therefore, organizations such as YLKI and BPSK play a crucial role in dispute resolution, preventive education, and ensuring fair and transparent contract practices to protect consumer rights.uits.

Review

The submitted paper, "Analysis of Gym Membership Contracts from a Consumer Protection Law Perspective," addresses a highly pertinent and timely issue within Indonesia's burgeoning fitness industry. The abstract effectively highlights a significant consumer protection challenge: the prevalence of unilateral standard contracts in gym memberships that frequently contain clauses detrimental to consumers, such as non-refund policies, auto-debit systems, and stringent cancellation rules. The compelling example of Gold's Gym Indonesia's closure and the subsequent Rp 4.4 billion in refund claims underscores the urgent need for this type of legal scrutiny, establishing a clear and impactful problem statement for the research. The study's stated aim to analyze these contract clauses and assess their compliance with Indonesia's Consumer Protection Law (Law Number 8 of 1999) is therefore well-justified and critically important for consumer welfare. Methodologically, the paper adopts a normative legal research approach, complemented by a case study and the integration of empirical data on contract practices with legal material analysis. This multi-faceted methodology appears appropriate for examining the intersection of actual business practices and existing legal frameworks. The abstract concisely presents a key finding: that these unilateral standard contracts are likely to be null and demonstrably detrimental to consumers. This finding is significant as it provides a legal basis for challenging such practices. Furthermore, the emphasis on the crucial role of organizations like YLKI and BPSK in dispute resolution, preventive education, and ensuring equitable contract practices points towards practical, actionable implications derived from the legal analysis. Overall, this study promises to be a valuable contribution to the field of consumer protection law, particularly within the Indonesian context. Its strength lies in tackling a widespread practical issue with rigorous legal analysis, moving beyond mere theoretical discussion to offer tangible insights into consumer vulnerability and potential remedies. The focus on the roles of YLKI and BPSK provides a practical pathway for implementing the study's findings, fostering better consumer awareness and fairer contractual relationships. This research holds significant potential to inform policy discussions, guide consumer advocacy efforts, and encourage greater transparency and accountability within the fitness industry, ultimately strengthening consumer rights in a rapidly evolving market.

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