WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Federal Trade Commission has filed a lawsuit against the operators of LA Fitness and affiliated gym chains, alleging they make it unreasonably difficult for consumers to cancel memberships and related services. The agency is seeking a court order to halt the practices and secure refunds for affected customers.
The lawsuit targets California-based Fitness International, LLC, and Fitness & Sports Clubs, LLC, which operate more than 600 locations nationwide under brands including LA Fitness, Esporta Fitness, City Sports Club, and Club Studio. The companies collectively serve over 3.7 million members, with monthly dues ranging from $30 to $299, plus additional fees for amenities like towel service and personal training.
According to the FTC’s complaint, the companies employ cumbersome and opaque cancellation procedures designed to discourage consumers from ending their memberships. Customers are often required to either visit a gym in person or mail a cancellation notice — a process that begins by logging into an online portal to download a cancellation form. Resetting login credentials has proven challenging for many, as it requires multiple pieces of account information, including a key tag number and partial financial details.
Even after accessing the form, consumers who attempt to cancel in person face further hurdles. The FTC alleges that cancellations are limited to specific staff members, often available only during restricted hours, despite many gyms operating up to 19 hours a day.
Members who choose to cancel by mail encounter additional obstacles. While the company directs customers to submit a cancellation form, it does not clearly disclose that a simple written notice is also acceptable or specify the required information. Further, consumers are advised to send cancellation requests via certified or registered mail, increasing costs and delays.
The complaint also highlights a lack of transparency regarding add-on services. Consumers are not clearly informed that amenities such as personal training or towel service can be canceled independently, often leading members to believe they must terminate their entire membership to stop recurring charges.
Rather than simplifying its cancellation policies in response to consumer complaints, the FTC alleges that LA Fitness trained staff to reject escalated requests and deny cancellations submitted by phone or email. In some cases, consumers who stopped payments through their bank or credit card providers were rebilled under new account numbers.
The FTC argues these practices violate both the Federal Trade Commission Act and the Restore Online Shoppers’ Confidence Act (ROSCA). The complaint was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California following a unanimous 3-0 Commission vote.
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