Anytime Fitness Bugis Apologises & Refunds Member After Erronously Charging Him S$60 ‘Tailgate Fee’
A man took to social media to document how he had to pay a S$60 ‘tailgate fee’ after a woman entered the Anytime Fitness Bugis gym after him without tapping her keyfob.
The gym claimed members had the “sole responsibility” to ensure the door was closed behind them to justify the fee.
The man was then given seven days to pay the fee or be barred from Anytime Fitness outlets.
Although the man disputed the chain of events, he said he eventually paid the fee.
However, the gym later clarified that the staff member had interpreted the incident incorrectly. It has since apologised and made a full refund to him.
Man asked to pay ‘tailgate fee’ by Anytime Fitness Bugis
According to Mr Sim, a person from the gym contacted him saying that he’ll be charged a S$60 ‘tailgate fee’.
Source: TikTok
He described receiving the text as a shock.
The person from the gym explained that on 28 Aug, Mr Sim was seen entering the gym but not closing the door behind him.
An unidentified woman then entered the gym without tapping her keyfob.
Due to this, Mr Sim was asked to pay a “tailgating fee” of S$60 unless he can verify that the woman is an Anytime Fitness member.
If payment isn’t received, Mr Sim was told that he would be banned from Anytime Fitness Bugis and all of their sister outlets.
Even though the person stated it may not have been intentional, he was still asked to pay the fee.
Told that it is member’s responsibility to ensure others tap keyfob
Mr Sim found the policy unfair as he had not noticed the person behind him and did not think it was on him to verify the person’s identity rather than the gym.
However, the person from the gym said, “It would have been ideal if you had urged her to exit and tap the keyfob before coming in.”
“We always explain this policy to our members during sign up as part of the terms and conditions,” they further claimed.
Source: TikTok
“I didn’t even notice there was a person behind me,” Mr Sim captioned.
When Mr Sim disputed the sequence of events and asked for the CCTV footage, he was told, “We have everything”.
They also claimed it was the member’s “sole responsibility” to ensure that she tapped her keyfob:
We understand you feel [it’s] unfair but it’s also your responsibility to make sure there is no one tailgating you.
Ends up paying fine as he had to travel
Wanting to clarify the footage and appeal the fee, Mr Sim decided to go down to the gym.
Source: TikTok
Mr Sim managed to obtain the CCTV footage and conjectured that the woman who entered the gym appeared to be a regular member.
This was based on her appearing to be familiar with the gym.
The video also appears to show that he was unaware of her behind him.
Regardless, he was asked to pay the S$60.
Mr Sim eventually decided to do so as he would be travelling and would not be able to meet the 4 Sep deadline.
“I was extremely upset,” he said, considering he did not intentionally allow the woman to enter the gym without tapping on her keyfob.
Source: TikTok
Mr Sim also claimed he wouldn’t renew his membership at the gym after it expires.
Comments incredulous at members being charged tailgating fee
After Mr Sim posted about the incident on social media, the video garnered over 600,000 views on TikTok.
@user4422076196203 @Mothership @MustShareNews @The Blue Cats by Goody Feed @Wake Up Singapore
Several people concurred with the OP.
One noted it shouldn’t be the members’ responsibility when enforcing security at the gym.
Source: TikTok
Others said even cars don’t receive tailgating fees or fines.
Anytime Fitness later apologises for tailgate fee incident & makes refund
In response to media queries by MS News, an Anytime Fitness spokesperson said Anytime Fitness Bugis has contacted Mr Sim to resolve the matter.
“The club acknowledged that this was a lapse in their security systems protocol and will make adjustments to ensure that no such incidents occur in the future,” she said.
Additionally, Anytime Fitness Bugis also released a statement regarding the incident on Instagram last night (30 Aug).
“Our tailgating policies exist to protect members and ensure a safe environment for all gym users,” the statement read. “However, it is clear after review that the interpretation of the incident was erroneous, and the subsequent action taken by the staff of AF Bugis was a mistake.”
Source: Instagram
“Members in good standing should not be penalised for a lapse in our security systems,” the statement added.
The management also further promised to take the necessary measures to ensure “proper reparations are made” for the “wrongful actions” taken against Mr Sim, a “member in good standing”.
Mr Sim also told MS News that he has received an apology and refund from the gym.
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Featured image adapted from Google Maps and TikTok.
