How to Cancel a Gym Membership and Get a Refund (Planet Fitness, LA Fitness, 24 Hour Fitness)

You signed up for the gym with good intentions in January. It's now April, you've gone twice, and they've charged you $40/month every month since. You tried to cancel online — there was no cancel button. You called — they put you on hold for 40 minutes. You went in person — they said you need to send a certified letter.

This is deliberate. But it's also increasingly illegal. Here's how to actually cancel, get a refund for unauthorized charges, and invoke federal and state law to make them stop.

The FTC's 2024 Click-to-Cancel Rule

In 2024, the Federal Trade Commission finalized its landmark "click-to-cancel" rule under the Negative Option Rule. The key requirements that took effect:

• Cancellation must be as easy as signup. If you signed up online, you must be able to cancel online.
• Businesses cannot require in-person visits or certified mail if they didn't require those for enrollment
• They must ask once — and only once — if you want to change your mind before processing the cancellation
• Charges must stop promptly after a confirmed cancellation request

This is a massive win for gym members. Planet Fitness, in particular, had a long history of requiring in-person or certified mail cancellations while signing people up online — that's now potentially an FTC violation.

Gym-by-Gym Cancellation Reality Check

Planet Fitness

Planet Fitness notoriously requires in-person cancellation or certified mail to the club. Their contract requires 30 days' written notice. Under the new FTC rule, this is being challenged — but for now, your safest path is certified mail to your home club's address. Request confirmation of cancellation in writing. Keep the tracking receipt.

LA Fitness

LA Fitness allows cancellation by submitting a form in club or by mailing a written notice to their membership services address. They require 5 business days' notice before the next billing cycle. If you paid an annual fee, request a prorated refund for unused months.

24 Hour Fitness

24 Hour Fitness allows online cancellation through your member portal. Log in, navigate to Membership, and select Cancel. Keep the confirmation email. If it doesn't work, send a written cancellation letter via certified mail to their corporate address.

State Gym Laws: Your Strongest Weapon

Many states have dedicated gym membership laws with teeth. These often override gym contracts:

• California: Health Studio Services Act — maximum 1-year contracts, mandatory refund rights within 5 days of signing
• New York: 3-day right to cancel any gym contract, refunds on unused prepaid months if facility closes or relocates 5+ miles
• Florida: Health Studio Act — right to cancel if you move more than 25 miles from any location, or if the studio closes
• Texas: Right to cancel within 3 days; if you move 25 miles from any location, you can cancel with 30 days' notice
• Illinois: Physical Fitness Services Act — right to cancel within 5 days, refund of any unused prepaid period

How to Write a Formal Gym Cancellation Letter

A formal cancellation letter sent via certified mail creates a legal record and triggers the gym's response obligations. Your letter should include:

1. Your full name, membership number, and home club location
2. Explicit statement: "This letter constitutes formal written notice of cancellation of my membership effective [date]"
3. Reference to applicable law: FTC Negative Option Rule (2024) and your state's health studio law
4. Demand for written confirmation of cancellation within 5 business days
5. If seeking a refund: specify charges and date range, demand refund within 10 business days
6. Statement that you will dispute continued charges as unauthorized with your bank

If They Keep Charging You After Cancellation: The Chargeback Option

If you've sent a cancellation letter (certified mail, confirmed delivery) and they continue charging your card, those are unauthorized charges. Here's your escalation path:

Step 1: Contact Your Bank

Call the number on the back of your card. Tell them: "I cancelled this membership on [date] via certified mail, received delivery confirmation, and the merchant is continuing to charge me after confirmed cancellation. I want to dispute these as unauthorized charges and block future charges from this merchant."

Provide your certified mail tracking number as evidence. Most banks will side with you immediately.

Step 2: Request a New Card Number

Ask your bank to issue a new card number. This cuts off the gym's access to your payment method entirely.

Step 3: File an FTC Complaint

File a complaint at reportfraud.ftc.gov. The FTC tracks patterns — enough complaints against a gym can trigger an investigation. Planet Fitness, for example, has been the subject of multiple FTC and state AG investigations.

Special Situations That Allow Immediate Cancellation

Beyond the standard process, you can often cancel immediately (and get a full or prorated refund) if:

• You move more than 25 miles from any location of that gym chain
• The facility closes permanently or temporarily for more than 30 days
• The gym materially changes its services (removes a pool, closes certain hours)
• You have a documented medical condition preventing you from using the facility
• You lost your job or have a documented financial hardship (some states require gyms to accommodate this)

The Bottom Line

Gyms have made cancellation deliberately painful for decades. But the FTC's 2024 rule, combined with state gym laws and bank chargeback rights, means you have more power than ever. A formal written cancellation letter citing the relevant laws is the fastest path to getting it done — and getting your money back if they ignored your previous attempts.