A SEVEN-DAY full-refund grace period has been included in the new version of the city’s sports and fitness industry membership service contract to tackle disputes, protect the rights and interests of consumers and regulate the market, city authorities announced yesterday.

The seven-day grace period enables consumers who have purchased membership cards to terminate the contract without any reason within seven days of the second day after the contract is signed with fitness or sports businesses and receive full refund if they have regrets over their purchase and have not used the membership services.

The contract drafted by the city’s market watchdog and consumer council was unveiled yesterday and will be promoted citywide from next year.

It also allows consumers to dissolve the contract and receive refund if businesses shut down or relocate, change membership service contents randomly, or breach contract.

It specifies details of the refund.

The contract tackles common disputes resulting from impulse purchase by consumers due to over-promotion in the fitness industry and the difficulty in getting refunds from businesses because of contract term restrictions, according to Tao Ailian, secretary-general of the Shanghai Consumer Council.

About 400 outlets of 15 fitness brands in the city have promised to use the new version of the contract.