In short
Gym cancellation rules live in your membership agreement and often differ by club and state, so read it first for the notice period, any annual fee date and any termination or buyout fee. Use every method the gym offers and keep proof: an online confirmation, or a written notice sent by certified mail with a return receipt. Cancel well before the next billing date (Planet Fitness needs 8 days, LA Fitness a postmark 5 business days ahead). If the gym keeps drafting your account, dispute the charges with your card issuer; changing the card number is often not enough. The FTC's click-to-cancel rule was vacated, but ROSCA and state laws still apply.
How complaints work in this industry
- Many gyms are franchises or set rules per club: Anytime Fitness says each club is independently owned and cancellation policies vary by state, and Planet Fitness says some policies vary by location. Anytime Fitness: contact, Planet Fitness customer service FAQ
- Cancellation methods differ by chain. Planet Fitness accepts the online member portal, the home club in person, or mail to the home club; LA Fitness accepts the online account, a club, or mail to P.O. Box 54170, Irvine, CA 92619. Planet Fitness customer service FAQ, LA Fitness membership questions
- Equinox lists five methods: a club manager, mail as described in the agreement, email to Cancellations@Equinox.com, phone through Equinox Concierge, or online; Crunch says only some clubs offer online cancellation in the Member Portal. Equinox FAQ, Crunch FAQ
- On August 20, 2025 the FTC sued the operators of LA Fitness, alleging cancellation was limited to one employee during set hours, members were steered to certified mail, and staff refused phone and email cancellations; an amended complaint followed on January 26, 2026, and the case is pending. FTC press release, August 20, 2025, FTC case page: LA Fitness
Your leverage
- For memberships sold online, ROSCA requires "simple mechanisms for a consumer to stop recurring charges" (rule
rosca-negative-option); the FTC's LA Fitness case relies on ROSCA and the FTC Act. 15 U.S.C. 8403 - New York requires cancellation as easy as sign-up, and if you joined in person the business must, where practical, also offer cancellation online or by phone (rule
ny-automatic-renewal-law). N.Y. Gen. Bus. Law 527-a - California requires online cancellation for anyone who accepted the automatic renewal online, and cancellation in the same medium used to sign up (rule
ca-automatic-renewal-law). Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code 17602 - Certified Mail proves you sent the notice and shows when it was delivered; add Return Receipt to get the recipient's signature. USPS: insurance and extra services
- If a gym keeps billing after you cancel, the FTC says to dispute it with your credit or debit card company, because "just changing your credit or debit card number is often not enough," and to report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. FTC consumer alert, August 22, 2025
Traps
- Annual fees bill separately: Planet Fitness needs your request at least 8 days before the annual fee date, and Crunch's annual fee is up to $89 depending on the club. Planet Fitness customer service FAQ, Crunch FAQ
- Early exit fees: Planet Fitness commitment memberships may owe a buyout fee, and LA Fitness charges a termination fee if you cancel before the end of an initial term of three months or more. Planet Fitness: memberships, LA Fitness membership questions
- Refund windows are short: Crunch says the only valid reason for a refund is cancelling within the first few days, and Orangetheory's 30-Day Risk Free Guarantee needs a request to the home studio within the first month. Crunch FAQ, Orangetheory promotion terms
- Add-ons can bill separately: the FTC alleges LA Fitness did not clearly disclose that add-ons such as towel service could be cancelled on their own. FTC press release, August 20, 2025
- Do not cite the FTC click-to-cancel rule; the Eighth Circuit vacated it on July 8, 2025 (rule
ftc-click-to-cancel). Eighth Circuit opinion, Custom Communications v. FTC
Scams to watch for
- As of 2026-10-12 the registry has no gym-chain scam or phishing page on file. Take membership offers only from the club or the chain's own website or app, and pay by card. The FTC says paying by credit card best protects you if something goes wrong. FTC: online shopping
- Social media is where most BBB survey respondents met scammers in 2025: Facebook (56.1%), Instagram (17.5%) and TikTok (11.3%). Treat discounted membership offers in ads with caution. BBB Scam Tracker Risk Report 2025
- The FTC says no real business will ever tell you to buy a gift card to pay it. FTC: gift card scams