How to Cancel LA Fitness Membership in 2025

Canceling an LA Fitness membership has become a major consumer protection issue, culminating in a Federal Trade Commission lawsuit filed in August 2024 alleging "exceedingly difficult" cancellation procedures. With over 600 locations and 3.7 million members nationwide, understanding the correct cancellation process is essential to avoid unwanted charges and billing disputes.

Why LA Fitness Cancellation Is Difficult

Federal Investigation: In August 2024, the FTC filed a lawsuit against LA Fitness operators (Fitness International LLC and Fitness & Sports Clubs LLC) for making cancellation unnecessarily complicated, allegedly costing consumers "hundreds of millions of dollars in unwanted recurring fees."

Common complaints:

Operations managers unavailable during posted cancellation hours
Refused cancellation requests without explanation
Continued billing after proper cancellation procedures
Conflicting information from different staff members

Understanding Your LA Fitness Membership

Before canceling, identify your membership type:

Monthly Dues Members:

Month-to-month basis
Can theoretically cancel anytime
Requires 5 business days notice before next billing cycle

Paid-in-Full Members:

Longer-term commitments
Different refund policies
May face termination fees

Personal Training Memberships:

Separate cancellation from gym membership
Cannot be canceled online
Must follow specific training agreement terms

Primary Cancellation Methods

Method 1: In-Person Cancellation (Official Method)

The FTC alleges this process is deliberately restrictive.

Requirements:

Must visit your local LA Fitness during Monday-Friday, 9 AM - 5 PM
Can only speak with the operations manager
No other staff member can process cancellations
Fill out cancellation form (not available beforehand)

Step-by-Step:

Visit your home club during business hours
Bring valid photo ID and membership information
Ask to speak with the operations manager specifically
Request a cancellation form
Complete all required fields
Get written confirmation with staff signature
Take photos of the completed form
Request receipt or copy for your records

Known problems:

Operations managers frequently "unavailable"
Business hours conflict with most work schedules
Some locations refuse to process cancellations

Method 2: Written Letter by Mail

More reliable than in-person for many members.

Mailing Address:

LA Fitness
P.O. Box 54170
Irvine, CA 92619

Required Information:

Full name as it appears on membership
Account number
Membership type
Desired cancellation date (at least 5 days from mailing)
Contact information (address, phone, email)
Signature

Important:

Use certified mail with return receipt requested
Keep copies of everything
Allow 5+ business days before next billing cycle

Sample Letter:

[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[City, State ZIP]
[Email]
[Phone Number]

[Date]

LA Fitness
P.O. Box 54170
Irvine, CA 92619

RE: Cancellation of Membership

Dear LA Fitness,

I am writing to formally request cancellation of my LA Fitness membership effective [Date - at least 5 business days from today].

Member Information:
- Name: [Your Full Name]
- Account Number: [Your Account #]
- Membership Type: [Monthly/Annual/etc.]
- Home Club: [Location]

Please process this cancellation immediately and confirm in writing that:
1. My membership has been canceled
2. No further charges will be processed
3. The effective cancellation date

Please send confirmation to the address and email above.

Sincerely,
[Your Signature]
[Your Printed Name]

Method 3: Phone Assistance (Limited)

LA Fitness Customer Service: (949) 255-7200

What they CAN do:

Explain cancellation procedures
Verify account information
Provide guidance on documentation
Assist with processing problems

What they CANNOT do:

Actually cancel your membership
Override in-person/mail requirements
Process cancellations directly

FTC Allegation: LA Fitness has trained staff to deny phone cancellation requests and redirect to in-person visits.

Method 4: Online Cancellation (Very Limited)

Online cancellation is not available for most LA Fitness members. While the company maintains an online member portal, full membership cancellation functionality is not implemented for most account types.

If available:

Log into your LA Fitness account
Navigate to membership management
Look for cancellation option
Complete online form

Most members will not see this option and must use mail or in-person methods.

Special Circumstances

Medical Exemption

If you have a medical condition preventing gym use:

Eligible Conditions:

Serious injury or long-term disability
Doctor-ordered exercise restrictions
Chronic conditions incompatible with gym activities

Required Documentation:

Letter from licensed physician on official letterhead
Your name and date of birth
Medical diagnosis (appropriate detail level)
Statement that condition prevents gym use
Recommendation for membership cancellation
Doctor's signature, license number, contact info

Submission:

Include with written cancellation letter
Send via certified mail
May waive early termination fees

Relocation

If moving:

Must move more than 25 miles from any LA Fitness
Provide proof of new address (lease, utility bill, driver's license)
Include with cancellation letter
May waive termination fees

Membership Suspension

Alternative to cancellation:

Monthly dues members: $10/month suspension (indefinite)
Paid-in-full members: $35 one-time fee (up to 6 months)
Maintains membership status
Reduces but doesn't eliminate charges

Important Timing Considerations

5 Business Day Rule

Cancellation notice must be received 5 business days before next billing
For mail: Account for delivery time + processing
Missing this deadline = one more month of charges

First and Last Month's Dues

LA Fitness typically requires:

First month's dues upfront
Last month's dues upfront
This does not mean you get a free month when canceling

What to Do If You Have Problems

Continued Billing After Cancellation

Immediate Actions:

Contact your home club with proof of cancellation
Call corporate customer service: (949) 255-7200
Provide certified mail receipts or written confirmation
Request immediate refund
Document all communications

If Unresolved:

Dispute charges with your bank/credit card company
File complaint with FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov
File complaint with Better Business Bureau
Contact your state attorney general's office
Consider consulting a consumer protection attorney

Staff Refuses to Process Cancellation

Steps:

Ask for manager's name and contact information
Document date, time, and specific refusal reason
Take photos/video if allowed
Submit written cancellation via certified mail immediately
File formal complaint with:
- Better Business Bureau
- Federal Trade Commission
- State Attorney General
- Local consumer protection agency

Can't Reach Operations Manager

Common Problem Highlighted by FTC:

Operations managers "unavailable" during posted hours
Staff claims manager "busy" indefinitely
No appointment system offered

What to Do:

Visit multiple times and document each attempt
Get names of staff who turn you away
Switch to certified mail method immediately
File complaint with regulatory agencies

Consumer Protection Resources

File Complaints:

Federal Trade Commission:

Website: reportfraud.ftc.gov
Phone: 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357)

Better Business Bureau:

Website: bbb.org
Search for LA Fitness and file complaint

Your State Attorney General:

Find your state AG's consumer protection division
File formal complaint about cancellation difficulties

Legal Action:

The FTC lawsuit may result in:

Court orders requiring policy changes
Monetary relief for affected consumers
Simplified cancellation procedures

If you've experienced significant losses, consider:

Consulting a consumer protection attorney
Joining class action lawsuits if available
Small claims court for amounts under state limits

Membership Alternatives to Canceling

Before canceling completely, consider:

Downgrade Your Membership

Switch to a less expensive plan
Reduce from premium to basic access
Save money while maintaining access

Transfer to Another Location

Moving to a new area?
Transfer to LA Fitness near your new home
Typically free or minimal cost

Family Plan Adjustments

Remove family members no longer using gym
Reduce overall costs
Maintain your own access

Important Things to Remember

Best Practices:

Do:

✅ Use certified mail with return receipt
✅ Keep copies of ALL documentation
✅ Take photos of completed forms
✅ Document every interaction (dates, names, details)
✅ Account for 5-day processing period
✅ Monitor bank statements after cancellation
✅ File complaints if you face obstacles

Don't:

❌ Trust verbal confirmations without written backup
❌ Assume one cancellation attempt is enough
❌ Stop monitoring charges after cancellation
❌ Cancel payment method instead of proper cancellation
❌ Give up if first attempt fails

Documentation Checklist:

Keep for at least 6 months:

Original membership agreement
Cancellation letter and certified mail receipt
Photos of completed cancellation forms
Written confirmation from LA Fitness
Email correspondence
Notes from phone calls (date, time, name, content)
Bank statements showing charges stopped

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is LA Fitness cancellation so difficult?

The FTC alleges LA Fitness deliberately made cancellation difficult to keep billing members who want to quit, generating hundreds of millions in unwanted fees.

Can I cancel online?

Most members cannot. Online cancellation is not available for the majority of LA Fitness accounts.

How long does cancellation take?

Properly submitted cancellations should process within 5 business days, but monitor your account for 2-3 billing cycles to ensure charges stop.

Will I get a refund?

LA Fitness typically does not provide prorated refunds for unused time. You'll have access until your billing period ends.

Can I cancel if I just signed up?

Check your membership agreement for any commitment period. Some memberships have minimum terms with buyout fees.

What if I move?

Moving more than 25 miles from any LA Fitness typically qualifies for cancellation without penalties. Provide proof of new address.

Can someone else cancel for me?

Generally no, unless they have legal power of attorney. The member typically must cancel personally or via signed letter.

What happens if I just stop paying?

Your account will go to collections, damaging your credit score. Always cancel properly through official channels.

After Cancellation

Verification Steps:

Within 7-10 days:

Check for confirmation email or letter
Verify no pending charges on your account
Confirm billing has stopped

Within 30 days:

Review bank/credit card statements
Ensure no additional charges appear
Contact LA Fitness immediately if charges continue

If Charges Continue:

Contact LA Fitness:
- Provide proof of cancellation
- Request immediate refund
- Get incident number/case ID
Contact Your Bank:
- Dispute unauthorized charges
- Provide cancellation documentation
- Request chargeback if necessary
File Formal Complaints:
- FTC: reportfraud.ftc.gov
- BBB: bbb.org
- State Attorney General

Regulatory Context

FTC Lawsuit Status (August 2024):

The Federal Trade Commission sued LA Fitness for:

Making cancellation "exceedingly difficult"
Restricting cancellation to business hours when gyms operate up to 19 hours daily
Limiting cancellation to single operations manager
Training staff to deny phone/email cancellation requests

Potential Outcomes:

Court-ordered policy changes
Monetary relief for consumers
Simplified cancellation procedures

Click-to-Cancel Rule:

A federal "click-to-cancel" rule that would have required simple cancellation was struck down by court in 2025. Without this protection, companies like LA Fitness can maintain complex cancellation procedures.

Conclusion

Canceling your LA Fitness membership requires persistence, documentation, and awareness of your rights. The FTC lawsuit highlights systematic problems with the company's cancellation procedures, but until court-ordered changes take effect, members must navigate the existing complex system.

Key Success Factors:

Use certified mail for strongest documentation
Account for 5-day processing period
Keep comprehensive records
Don't hesitate to file formal complaints
Monitor accounts for months after cancellation

Remember: Difficulty canceling is not your fault - it's a business practice that federal regulators have identified as problematic. Stand firm, document everything, and use available consumer protection resources.

Need help managing all your subscriptions? Track your gym memberships and other recurring payments with Vexly to stay on top of cancellation timing and avoid unwanted charges.