HAVING your gym membership terminated because of your exercise gear is probably the last thing you would expect to happen.
As ludicrous as it may sound, this was the exact bombshell that landed on a 47-year-old administrator by one of the largest privately-owned health clubs in the world.
CAROL LOKE from Cheras was given this 'rude awakening' by Fitness First Cheras Leisure Mall outlet earlier this month.
Even more outrageous was the fact she was informed about the decision at a roadside food stall by the management of the gym.
The mother of two who goes to the gym at least three times a week was stopped by three of the gym staff outside the outlet as she was heading there for her regular workouts on May 16.
"The staff, one of whom is the manager of the gym known as Maggie, stopped me and told me that they wanted to have a talk with me immediately. They then took me to a tea stall nearby where she bluntly told me I was no longer allowed into the gym as they have terminated my membership."
LOKE says when she asked for the reason, the staff replied they have been receiving numerous complaints from other gym members regarding her 'skimpy clothes' and the way she screams during class. No document was shown to support these allegations at this juncture.
LOKE claims the manager later showed her a complaint letter sent to Fitness First management with several signatures on it but she was not given a chance to go through the letter.
"The manager also insisted I return the access card to her, but I refused because the termination was verbal, she did not issue anything in writing."
"I've been a member of this gym for seven years but I was not given prior warning before my roadside termination.
"They also said they would rather lose one customer than all the others."
LOKE says when she asked for an explanation again, the manager was only able to say there were complaints by the other members. She then quoted Clause 14 of the terms and conditions of the Fitness First membership.
"I was not satisfied as I felt it was unfair and I lodged a police report the following day at the Taman Connaught police station."
LOKE says that prior to the May 16 incident, the manager did call her for a meeting on April 10 and told her that members have been complaining about her attire and her behaviour during class.
"I brought two witnesses along but when the management commented about my attire, I asked for their attire guidelines and they didn't have any. The meeting ended with no outcome."
Two years ago, she was called up by the then manager of the gym for the same reason.
LOKE says if her dressing is considered indecent, the fitness centre should have a dress code so that members know what they should or should not wear.
"I also would like to know which clause states that we must be silent during classes? In fact, the instructors encourage us to be more participative. I did not cause anyone any problems. It is very unfair for a loyal member to be treated in this manner."
● IN a statement to Hotline, a spokesperson for Fitness First Malaysia says they terminated LOKE's membership primarily because of her obscene gym attire which exposes certain private parts of the body.
However, the decision was also made because of the following incidents over the last one year:
* Misbehavior during group exercise classes where she screams, shouts and moans which is deemed disturbing to both the instructor and the members.
* Verbally abusing members in the changing room on a one-to-one basis and in general such as yelling out that all members in the centre were stupid.
* Damaging the centre's property by throwing equipment such as bars and plates during class and smashing the front desk phone after using it.
"Fitness First had taken earlier steps in handling the matter, such as holding a meeting on April 24 between LOKE and the branch manager as witnessed by a staff and two other members," said the statement.
"Maggie had addressed the seriousness of the complaints received from members and instructors with regards to LOKE'S obscene gym attire and her misbehavior during the group exercise classes.
"Maggie had highlighted that the recurrence of these incidents of misconduct will lead to the termination of LOKE'S membership with reference to the Fitness First terms and conditions stated in the contract."
After the April 24 meeting, more complaints were received with hard copies dated May 12. There were also members who preferred to complain verbally.
"On May 16, Maggie met up with LOKE witnessed by two other staff and informed LOKE that the complaints have escalated from the last meeting due to her action of verbally abusing members in the changing room and on online social networks. Therefore the management had no choice but to terminate her membership with immediate effect as highlighted to her a month ago during the meeting," the spokesperson says.
The statement also states they informed LOKE that the termination letter would be ready on Wednesday May 18.
"We tried to call LOKE to pick up her termination letter on May 18 but she did not answer our calls."
The termination was based on clause 14 of Fitness First contract signed between LOKE and Fitness First Management on 27th December 2004 which states:
The management may terminate the membership of any member without notice and with immediate effect if a member’s conduct, whether or not such conduct is subject of complaint by another member or members, is such that in the reasonable opinion of the management, it is harmful to the character and/or interests of the club.
