FTC accuses LA Fitness of making cancellation processes too complex for members
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission is suing LA Fitness operators for allegedly making it 'exceedingly difficult' for consumers to cancel gym memberships and related services. The FTC claims that Fitness International and its subsidiary Fitness & Sports Clubs have charged consumers 'hundreds of millions of dollars in unwanted recurring fees' due to complicated cancellation processes. These include in-person cancellation requiring printing forms and limited hours, or mailing forms with additional costs. The complaint states that tens of thousands of customers have reported difficulties, and the company does not adequately disclose cancellation options during sign-ups. The FTC also notes that website cancellations for subscriptions 'with stand-alone agreements' are buried online and not available through mobile apps. This lawsuit follows the FTC's previous 'click to cancel' rule, which was blocked by a federal appeals court.