Under 18 gym membership

juliea67

HI,

My son has entered into a gym contract that is costing him over £50 a month via direct debit. He did this against my advice not to. He can't afford it, and low and behold his first payment from his bank has bounced. He doesn't even use the gym!!! My question is, as he is 17, is his contract binding? Surely you have to be 18 to enter into a legal binding contract.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Buzby

The contract will be binding. However it will not be enforceable due to his age - but if they report to CRA's then the default will be noted on his file. If the contract asked him to confirm he was over 18, and he agreed he was, then this is fraud - and he then gets a CiFAS flag alerting others to his dishonesty.

You did your best by giving advice. He now realises his actions were unwise - but his actions will have repercussions, there is no free pass to walking away unscathed.

funiture321

I didnt even know you could join a gym under 18