How to Cancel a Gym Membership in Writing (and Make It Stick)

Why gyms make cancellation hard, and what the law says

The FTC filed suit against LA Fitness in August 2025 alleging the company used "a variety of unlawful tactics that make it difficult for consumers to cancel recurring membership and other payments ranging from $30 to $299 a month or more." The complaint accused the chain of requiring in-person cancellations, losing paperwork, and continuing to bill members who had submitted cancellation requests.

The FTC had attempted to address this industry-wide problem with a "Click-to-Cancel" rule requiring businesses to make cancellation as easy as sign-up. That rule was vacated by the Eighth Circuit in 2025 on procedural grounds, and in March 2026 the FTC launched a new rulemaking process under its ANPRM, signaling continued regulatory pressure on subscription cancellation practices.

In the meantime, most states have their own health club statutes, typically requiring gym contracts to offer a cooling-off period and requiring written notice of cancellation. A written letter satisfies those requirements and eliminates the he-said-she-said problem that verbal cancellations create.

What your cancellation letter must include

An effective gym cancellation letter should state: your full name as it appears on the membership account, your membership ID or account number, the gym location and address, a clear, unambiguous statement that you are cancelling effective on a specific date, your contact information (address, email, phone), and a request for written confirmation of the cancellation.

If your contract has a specific cancellation notice period (typically 30 days), state the effective date accordingly. If you've been charged after a previous cancellation attempt, include the date and method of that attempt and request a refund of charges made after that date.

Don't sign the letter with a digital signature, print and sign by hand if sending certified mail.

Send it certified mail. This step matters

Walking into the gym and handing someone a letter creates no verifiable record. Email is better, but still depends on the gym's acknowledgment. Certified mail with return receipt (USPS Form 3811, the green card) is the gold standard for cancellation disputes.

The certified mail receipt proves you sent the letter. The return receipt (green card) proves the gym received it. These two documents together are almost impossible for a gym to argue against in a chargeback dispute or small claims case.

Send the letter to the gym's registered address, not just the local branch. Many gym contracts specify a corporate or regional headquarters address for cancellation notices. Check your original membership agreement for this.

What to do if they keep charging you

If the gym continues billing after your certified-mail cancellation, you have several options:

First, file a chargeback with your credit card or bank, attaching the certified mail receipt and green card as evidence. Card issuers take written proof of cancellation seriously.

Second, file a complaint with the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov. The FTC's enforcement actions against LA Fitness were partly driven by volume of consumer complaints.

Third, check whether your state has a health club statute with private right of action. Many states allow consumers to recover double the improperly charged amount plus attorney's fees.

Fourth, if the amount is substantial, consider small claims court. A certified mail receipt plus your contract terms plus a pattern of continued charges makes a strong case.