Section 358-I:3 Contract Requirements; Disclosure of Cancellation Rights.


   I. A fully completed copy of each prepaid contract shall be delivered to the buyer at the time the contract is signed. Every contract must constitute the entire agreement between the seller and the buyer, shall be in writing, shall be signed by the buyer, and shall designate the date on which the buyer signed the contract.
   II. Each prepaid contract shall state in at least 10 point boldface type the following:
      (a) ""NOTICE TO BUYER: DO NOT SIGN THIS CONTRACT UNTIL YOU HAVE READ ALL OF IT. ALSO, DO NOT SIGN THIS CONTRACT IF IT CONTAINS ANY BLANK SPACES.''
      (b) ""STATE LAW REQUIRES THAT THIS HEALTH CLUB REGISTER WITH THE BUREAU OF CONSUMER PROTECTION AND ANTITRUST OF THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AND MAY REQUIRE THAT THIS CLUB POST A BOND TO PROTECT CUSTOMERS WHO PAY IN ADVANCE FOR MEMBERSHIP OR SERVICES IN THE EVENT THIS CLUB CLOSES. YOU SHOULD ASK TO SEE EVIDENCE THAT THIS CLUB HAS EITHER POSTED A BOND IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE LAW OR HAS BEEN EXEMPTED FROM THIS REQUIREMENT BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL BEFORE YOU SIGN THIS CONTRACT. IF THIS CLUB HAS NOT POSTED SUCH A BOND, AND YOU PAY THIS HEALTH CLUB FOR MORE THAN ONE MONTH'S MEMBERSHIP OR SERVICES IN ADVANCE, THEN YOU ARE PAYING FOR FUTURE SERVICES, AND YOU MAY BE RISKING THE LOSS OF YOUR MONEY IN THE EVENT THAT THE CLUB CEASES TO CONDUCT BUSINESS.''
   III. Every purchaser of a prepaid membership shall be entitled to cancel his or her contract within 3 business days by notifying the health club in writing by midnight of the third business day following the date of purchase of the membership contract. Written notification is deemed given if mailed or delivered by midnight of the third business day. All money collected pursuant to the contract shall be refunded to the purchaser exercising the right to cancel.
   IV. Each prepaid contract shall contain in at least 10 point boldface type a statement in substantially the following form:
      ""YOU MAY CANCEL THIS TRANSACTION IN WRITING ANY TIME PRIOR TO MIDNIGHT OF THE THIRD BUSINESS DAY AFTER THE DATE OF THIS TRANSACTION.''
   The buyer may cancel by written notice mailed to the seller, preferably by certified or registered letter; or he may cancel by delivering a notice in person within the cancellation period. If such notice is delivered, the buyer shall be entitled to a receipt.
   V. Each prepaid contract shall further contain a statement notifying the buyer of each of his rights under RSA 358-I:6.
   VI. Each club shall provide the attorney general with a copy of its membership contract.

Source. 1983, 438:1. 1987, 397:4. 1998, 305:6, eff. Jan. 1, 1999.