On August 21, 2025, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) launched a high-profile lawsuit against Fitness International, LLC—the parent company behind LA Fitness and several other gym chains—alleging that the company deliberately made it extremely difficult for customers to cancel their memberships and related services. For millions of gym-goers across the country, the news might sound all too familiar. The complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court of Central California, accuses Fitness International and its subsidiary, Fitness & Sports Clubs, of creating “opaque, complicated, and demanding” cancellation procedures that, according to the FTC, have resulted in hundreds of millions of dollars in unwanted recurring fees (Fox Business, Associated Press).
Fitness International’s reach is vast, operating over 600 locations under brands such as LA Fitness, Esporta Fitness, City Sports Club, and Club Studio, with more than 3.7 million members nationwide (Associated Press). The FTC alleges that tens of thousands of these members have reported difficulties in ending their memberships—a problem so widespread that Andrew N. Ferguson, chairman of the FTC, remarked to Fox Business, “Gym cancellations have been hard for Americans for a very long time. This has been going on so long that the show ‘Friends’ did an entire episode about how hard it is to cancel gym memberships.”
According to the FTC’s detailed complaint, the process for cancellation has been anything but straightforward. Members wishing to cancel their memberships were required to log into the company’s website, print out a cancellation form, and either present it in person to a specific manager during limited hours or send it by certified or registered mail—at their own expense (Cox Media Group, Fox Business). The complaint notes that, “each of these cancellation methods is opaque, complicated, and demanding—far from simple.” Many customers found themselves having to return to the gym multiple times simply because the designated manager was unavailable, or they faced additional costs to mail their cancellation forms. For those trying to avoid further charges by stopping payments, the FTC alleges they were often rebilled under new account numbers, a practice that, according to the agency, violates both the FTC Act and the Restore Online Shoppers’ Confidence Act (Cox Media Group, Associated Press).
Christopher Mufarrige, Director of the Bureau of Consumer Protection at the FTC, summarized the situation: “The FTC’s complaint describes a scenario that too many Americans have experienced—a gym membership that seems impossible to cancel.” He added, “Tens of thousands of LA Fitness customers reported difficulties—cancellation was often restricted to specific times or required speaking to specific managers who were often not present or available. The FTC will not hesitate to act on behalf of consumers when it believes companies are stifling consumers’ ability to choose which recurring charges they want to keep.”
The alleged hurdles didn’t stop at the door. According to the FTC, Fitness International failed to adequately disclose cancellation options at the time of signup and frequently presented contradictory information in membership agreements and on its websites (Fox Business). The agency also asserts that some customers were signed up for additional services—such as personal training or towel service—without realizing that these add-ons might have separate, even more complicated, cancellation requirements.
Membership costs at these gyms vary widely, with base prices ranging from $30 to $299 per month, depending on the location and type of membership. Optional add-ons can drive the monthly cost even higher, and members typically pay both first and last month’s fees upon joining, along with possible annual charges (Associated Press).
In response to the lawsuit, Jill Hill, president of club operations for Fitness International, has pushed back strongly against the FTC’s allegations. In a statement provided to multiple outlets, Hill said, “We remain confident that we will prevail in court. Our company works diligently to comply with all health club state laws regarding membership cancellations and to offer, at a minimum, every cancellation method specifically required by each state. … We will continue to defend our practices vigorously while ensuring our members receive clear, simple and fair membership experiences.” Hill also argued that the law cited by the FTC, the Restore Online Shoppers’ Confidence Act (ROSCA), “was designed to address only online retail transactions, does not require any specific method of cancellation, and has never before been applied to the health club industry.”
Hill further emphasized that Fitness International “proactively launched” an online cancellation option 18 months before the FTC’s “click to cancel” rule was scheduled to take effect. “With just a few clicks, members may cancel online—a step we voluntarily implemented well ahead of regulatory deadlines,” she said, adding that the company has chosen to keep this offering in place to provide members with “yet another simple way to cancel.” According to Hill, members have always had the option to cancel in person at any club or by mail, and those who wish to do so “can and do cancel in such fashion.”
The FTC, however, remains unconvinced. The agency claims that even the new online cancellation option is not as accessible as advertised, often buried within the website, and is unavailable through the company’s mobile apps. For many customers, especially those who have lost or forgotten their login credentials, the process remains daunting (Fox Business, Associated Press). The FTC also points out that the company’s online cancellation option only applies to certain types of subscriptions with “stand-alone agreements,” leaving many still stuck with the older, more burdensome procedures.
This lawsuit is not the first time federal regulators have targeted companies for making subscription cancellations difficult. Under the Biden administration, the FTC adopted a “click to cancel” rule aimed at making it easier for consumers to end unwanted subscriptions. However, just days before the rule was set to take effect, a federal appeals court blocked its implementation (Cox Media Group). Meanwhile, some states have taken action independently; for example, Illinois enacted a law in January 2025 requiring gyms to allow cancellations via email or online, and LA Fitness operates more than 50 clubs in that state (Cox Media Group).
The FTC’s suit seeks a court order to prohibit the allegedly unfair practices and return money to consumers harmed by the company’s cancellation policies. The agency’s efforts are part of a broader push to crack down on what it views as unfair business practices in the subscription economy, a trend that has affected not just gyms but streaming services, newspapers, and a host of other industries.
For now, as the legal battle unfolds, millions of gym members across the country are watching closely, hoping for changes that could make the simple act of quitting the gym—at last—just a little bit easier.
