TECH SERIES
The Fraud Squad F
DO YOU KNOWIF EVERYONE TRAINING IN YOUR CLUB IS VALID AND PAID UP? KATH HUDSON FINDS OUT ABOUT THE LATEST ACCESS CONTROL TECHNOLOGY DESIGNED TO HELP PREVENT FRAUD
raud is surprisingly common in health clubs. It can take various forms: tailgating, lending a membership card
to other people, or continuing to go to the club when the membership has expired or is in arrears. Lower grade fraud might involve paying up for a basic membership, but then nipping into a class or facility that isn’t part of the membership package, going at peak times on an off-peak membership, or maybe just helping yourself to a towel. The general public will easily find
a way of justifying their actions to avoid feeling guilty about these little transgressions: they have been paying their membership but haven’t managed to get there, so why can’t their spouse have the benefit? A lot of the time they might be small incidents, but added up it could be costing your club thousands of pounds over the course of the year – at least enough to install an access control system. Which leads us to the next
question: what sort of access control system? Should gyms install turnstiles or do they create a barrier to entry, making the gym look officious rather than friendly and welcoming? How about having access control systems in other parts of the club – systems that, for example, would prevent someone who’s only paying for a gym membership from sneaking into the wet facilities? Is this taking it too far and spoiling the atmosphere, or is it protecting the club – and those members who don’t take advantage? When it comes to access control
systems, what technology is currently available, what’s coming soon, and what are the pros and cons of each option? We ask the experts for their thoughts....
58 Staff spot checks may be needed to ensure gym users are paid-up members AITOR ELORZA
SALES DIRECTOR, OJMAR
defined strategy to avoid it, working out what kind of fraud is being carried out and designing a strategy to keep it at bay. RFID is the most popular technology
M
in mainland Europe, with proven effectiveness. As well as being used for access control, the identification media can be used for other services like lockers, cashless payment and cardio suites. Members like to have an all-in- one card. On the down side, it’s fairly easy to be passed to a friend, but this can be prevented via visual surveillance, with a photo showing up on the reception computer screen or combined with other technologies. Usually the highest integration level (lockers, cashless, activities) leads to the lowest
Read Health Club Management online at
healthclubmanagement.co.uk/digital
embership fraud has a relatively high incidence and clubs need a
ASWELL AS BEING USED FOR ACCESS CONTROL, RFID CAN
BE USED FOR LOCKERS, CASHLESS PAYMENTS AND SO ON –
MEMBERS LIKE TO HAVE AN ALL-IN-ONE CARD
fraud incidence, as the fraudulent user can be detected in different areas. Biometrics can be considered the
panacea against fraud, as the member must check in with their fingerprint or hand, but there are drawbacks: identification can be slow, which can lead to queues, and it’s negatively regarded by some as an attack on privacy.
October 2013 © Cybertrek 2013
©
SHUTTERSTOCK.COM/LUCKY BUSINESS
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