Washington, D.C. — The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has filed a lawsuit against the operators of LA Fitness and its affiliated gyms, alleging that the companies deliberately made it exceedingly difficult for consumers to cancel memberships, in violation of federal law.
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, targets California-based Fitness International, LLC and Fitness & Sports Clubs, LLC, the parent companies of LA Fitness, Esporta Fitness, City Sports Club, and Club Studio. Combined, the brands operate more than 600 locations nationwide and serve over 3.7 million members.
“The FTC’s complaint describes a scenario that too many Americans have experienced – a gym membership that seems impossible to cancel,” said Christopher Mufarrige, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection.
According to the complaint, tens of thousands of LA Fitness customers have reported that they faced confusing, burdensome, or misleading cancellation processes—a violation of the FTC Act and the Restore Online Shoppers’ Confidence Act (ROSCA).
Alleged Barriers to Cancellation
The FTC alleges that LA Fitness:
- Limited cancellations to either in-person visits or written requests sent by certified mail.
- Required members to log in using obscure information, including the original email, a “key tag” number, and part of their credit card number, just to access a cancellation form.
- Cancellations were required to be made only through certain employees, who were frequently unavailable during standard business hours, despite gyms being open for up to 19 hours each day.
- They failed to inform customers that additional services (like towel service or personal training) could be cancelled independently, without needing to terminate the entire membership.
- Requests to cancel via phone or email were denied, even when members raised complaints or encountered urgent situations.
- Customers who tried to halt charges through their bank or credit card were rebilled, sometimes under different account numbers.
According to the FTC, these practices are considered unfair and deceptive business tactics that ensnare consumers in ongoing charges, making it extremely difficult to opt out of unwanted services.
Legal Action and Consumer Relief
The FTC is pursuing:
- A permanent injunction to cease the allegedly illegal practices.
- Financial compensation for affected consumers.
The Commission voted unanimously (3-0) to approve the complaint, which will now move forward in court. FTC attorneys Serena Mosley-Day, Reid Tepfer, and Edward Hynes from the Southwest Region are managing the case. The FTC advises consumers that no legitimate business or government entity will require cancellation through complicated or hard-to-navigate processes. For reliable information or to report scams, please visit:
🔗 consumer.ftc.gov
🔗 ReportFraud.ftc.gov
