Anytime Fitness member billed S$65 ‘tailgating’ charge after stranger followed him into gym in Tampines

An Anytime Fitness member is disputing a S$65 “tailgating” charge he received after a man apparently followed him into the gym at Tampines Grande.

In a Xiaohongshu post, the gym member said he had tapped into the premises and the stranger tailed him to get in.

He subsequently shared screenshots of what appeared to be a WhatsApp exchange with a person representing Anytime Fitness Tampines Grande.

Did not know the man

In the screenshots, the outlet told the gym member that CCTV footage on Oct. 8 showed a person entering the gym without separately tapping a key fob.

The gym member was asked if he knew the person who had followed him into the premises.

The message also included what appeared to be an image from surveillance footage showing a man in a red t-shirt entering the gym after the gym member went in.

The gym member replied that he did not know the person behind him, adding that he usually visited the gym alone and that the outlet could check his previous access records.

The gym member was then told:

“Please note that allowing someone to enter without tapping in separately is considered tailgating, regardless of whether you know the person.”

He was also told that tailgating carried a S$65 fee, referring to a notice at the entrance.

In a subsequent message, the gym acknowledged that the member might not have intentionally let the other person in.

However, it said members were expected to ensure the door closed securely behind them to prevent unauthorised access.

According to the screenshots, the member was given 48 hours to settle the charge.

‘Not your security personnel’

The gym member disputed the charge, saying he had neither invited nor intentionally allowed the stranger to enter.

In his reply to the outlet, he said: “I am a paying member of Anytime Fitness, not your security personnel.”

He also questioned how was he supposed to know whether a stranger behind him had tapped in and argued that he should not automatically be held responsible for another person’s actions.

The gym member also asked for the matter to be escalated to management.

In his Xiaohongshu post, he said he had been a long-time member of Anytime Fitness and was disappointed with how the issue had been handled.

Lodged police report and contacted CASE

In an update on Oct. 14, the gym member said he had yet to receive a further response or explanation from Anytime Fitness.

He also said he had lodged a police report and contacted the Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE).

Similar case in 2023

In August 2023, a man was charged S$60 after another person allegedly entered an Anytime Fitness outlet in Bugis behind him without tapping a key fob.

The man disputed the fee, saying he had not noticed the woman entering behind him.

In a follow-up TikTok video, he shared screenshots of his gym membership's terms and conditions, which stated that members could be charged a guest fee if they allowed someone else to use their key fob.

However, a separate clause in his membership acceptance letter stated that members could be charged S$30 if someone else used their key fob.

The man questioned the difference between the S$30 fee stated in his letter and the S$60 he was charged, claiming he had not been informed of the increase.

He eventually paid the S$60 fee after being told he could be barred from all Anytime Fitness outlets if he failed to do so.

Mothership has reached out to Anytime Fitness for comment.