The fiscal 411 on fitness clubs: what to look (and look-out!) for when buying a health club membership.

Roxy Carter has always worked out. Sol when she wanted to tone and shape up, Carter joined a small, local gym in Forrestville, Md., where some of her co-workers from the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority worked out.

After paying almost $400 up front for a one-year membership, Carter had a major disagreement with the gym's owner over the poor conditions of the facility and the degree of assistance she needed from his staff Six months later, he asked her to leave. She's now trying to get her money back.

While details can vary, fitness club contracts have been rife with problems--if not fraud in some instances. In Pennsylvania, for example, the filing of over 3,000 complaints against one former gym led to the creation of the Pennsylvania Health Club Act in 1990.

"It was created because a number of clubs collected money up front for contracts, then closed their doors," explains attorney Renardo Hicks, director of public protection in the Pennsylvania attorney general's office. Hicks says passage of the law "has radically changed the way the health club industry is run in Pennsylvania."

But few consumers know what their rights are when it comes to health club memberships. Here are some general guidelines that can help you protect yourself:

* Shop for a club most convenient to your home or Office; you're more likely to use it.

* Before signing a contract, make an appointment to tour the facility and sample the classes you're most interested in. "Visit during the hours you would be most likely to use the club to get a first-hand experience," advises Shirley Rooker, president of Call For Action, a consumer watchdog group.

* Pay attention to the club's atmosphere and surroundings. Are there several staff members walking around and available to members? Is the club well-maintained? Look for inspection certificates from the health and fire departments.

* Are new members given a formal orientation and instructed on how to use equipment? Is the staff certified?

* Do you feel comfortable in the club? Do you see other African Americans or business professionals using the facility? How are they being treated?

If you've looked the place over, taken a sample class and like what you've seen, there are still a few more things to watch out for:

* Examine the agreement carefully. Make sure everything you were told verbally is spelled out in writing. Pay particular attention to renewal clauses, length of contract, payment terms and/or penalties and contract cancellation clauses. "Ask if the club is registered with the state's attorney general's office and to see a copy of the registration," advises Carter. "If so, they've probably had to post a bond or letter of credit. If something happens to the club, members can get their money [prorated] back."

* Find out the terms under which you can cancel your contract. Ask what happens if the club is closed for repairs.

* Can you use your membership at any facility the fitness company owns and without paying any additional fees? What do your fees include the use of?

* Will your contract be owned by the club, or can it be sold to a third party? If so, look elsewhere.

* Know how long your contract is for. Is it renewable without additional fees other than a monthly user's fee? But beware: Most monthly contracts are installment agreements or loans. In other words, the club pays itself for the balance of your contract, after your initial deposit, and you pay back the club monthly, with interest, over the life of the contract in addition to user fees. And, avoid lifetime memberships.

* Most states also require a "cooling off" period--usually three days after you sign a contract--during which time you can cancel without incurring a penalty.

* Finally, be realistic. "The history of fitness clubs is that so many people join and then don't use it. Really think if you're going to use it," advises Rooker.

For more information, write for the pamphlet, Your Guide to Choosing A Quality Health and Sports Club by sending a self-addressed stamped envelope to IHRSA, 263 Summer St., Boston, MA 02210.