A 25-year-old man claims to have racked up over HKD1 million in debts to a gym after they allegedly duped him into signing multiple contracts with the gym itself and loan companies.

In a press conference, his aunt said that the 25-year-old is mentally disabled. The man, who identified himself under the pseudonym of “Ah Sing”, reportedly signed up for fitness classes at Fight Factory Gym in Causeway Bay last April, with his first contract costing HKD36,212, according to Apple Daily.

Ah Sing apparently earns just over HKD10,000 a month in the kitchen of a nearby restaurant.

In the following two months, Ah Sing allegedly signed another four contracts, bringing his debt to Fight Factory Gym to a total of HKD253,000.

The 25-year-old claims to have been approached by a loan company in July, which arranged for him to take out a HKD550,000 loan, using his late mother’s property as security.

In August, a different agency reportedly arranged for Ah Sing to take out a loan of HKD206,000. The loans were allegedly for “debt restructuring” and fitness trainer fees.

After receiving messages from a loan company in September, Ah Sing’s aunt claims she appealed to the police, customs, and the Consumer Council, but was given insufficient help.

Last month, Ah Sing was successfully sued by one of the loan companies. According to his aunt, he may have to sell off his apartment to repay his debts.

Speaking to the SCMP, Fight Factory Gym says that a student surnamed Yeung had entered contracts to use gym services and purchase equipment, but denied any connection to any loans that Yeung may have taken out.

Federation of Trade Unions lawmaker Bill Tang said he has received eight other complaints about mentally disabled people being victimised by businesses since last year.

Last week, California Fitness was accused of conning an autistic teenager out of HKD90,000 and forcing him to stand in a corner during fitness classes. The 18-year-old, surnamed Lam, was reportedly tricked into paying for application fees for a Thai boxing competition.

Tang suggested that the government implement a protection system for mentally impaired consumers, allowing them to void contracts unconditionally.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This article has been updated.

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