An Amritsar resident who paid Rs 5,760 for a six-month gym membership but quit within two months over complaints of premature closures and inadequate facilities has won Rs 6,500 in a consumer dispute. The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Amritsar, directed M/s Oceanic Gym to refund Rs 3,500 after deducting charges for the period the customer used its facilities. It also ordered the fitness centre to pay Rs 2,000 in compensation and Rs 1,000 towards litigation expenses, besides 6% annual interest on the refund.The commission, in an order dated October 21, 2026, gave the gym 45 days to comply.Bharigu Sharma bought a six-month membership at Oceanic Gym on November 7, 2024, paying Rs 5,760. He alleged that the fitness centre had promised hygienic premises, professional trainers, safety arrangements and facilities including a steam bath.However, Sharma told the commission that the gym regularly began shutting down before its advertised closing time of 10pm. Lights and music were switched off early, while the steam bath allegedly remained out of order. He also raised concerns about equipment sanitation and the absence of adequate emergency medical assistance. Unable to continue working out there, Sharma joined another gym on January 27, 2025, paying Rs 15,000, and sought a refund from his former fitness centre. After his requests allegedly went unanswered, he approached the consumer commission.Oceanic Gym contested the complaint, saying Sharma had attended trial sessions before enrolling and had been satisfied with the facilities. It maintained that the gym remained operational until 10pm, although its winding-up routine began at 9.45pm, when the lights and music were switched off. The management said notices explaining the arrangement had been displayed on the premises.To counter the allegations about the steam bath, it produced a register and affidavits from other members. On safety concerns, the gym said its proprietor, Dr Parminder Singh Sachdeva, was a doctor and that four doctors were available throughout the day at the dental clinic on the ground floor. It also submitted photographs of its first-aid kit, safety charts and cleaning arrangements, arguing that it had fulfilled its obligations.The commission examined the membership documents, payment receipt and evidence submitted by both parties. It found that the gym’s own account established that its winding-up process began 15 minutes before the advertised closing time. The bench said customers who had paid for a membership were entitled to access the essential facilities throughout the advertised operating hours. Merely displaying notices about an earlier winding-up routine did not absolve the gym of its responsibility, particularly when it had not established that Sharma had been informed of and agreed to the restriction before purchasing the membership.It also rejected the argument that Sharma’s trial sessions absolved the gym of its responsibility to maintain the promised standards throughout the membership period. The commission noted that he had used the facilities for approximately two months before joining another gym. It concluded that Oceanic Gym had failed to establish that it had delivered the services promised at the time of enrolment, amounting to deficiency in service under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.The commission partly allowed Sharma’s complaint and fixed the refundable amount at Rs 3,500 after accounting for the two months of membership he had used. Oceanic Gym must pay 6% annual interest on this amount from the date the complaint was filed until payment is made. It must also pay Rs 2,000 for the inconvenience caused and Rs 1,000 towards litigation expenses. The total payout comes to Rs 6,500, excluding interest. The gym has 45 days from receiving a copy of the order to comply, failing which Sharma can initiate execution proceedings before the commission.