How to End Your Gym Membership Without Paying Cancellation Fees

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A step-by-step guide to terminating your gym membership

Co-authored by Jesse Pichardo and Raven Minyard, BA

Last Updated: April 29, 2024 Fact Checked

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Knowing Your Contract & Rights

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Sending a Cancellation Letter

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Alternative Options

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Video

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Q&A

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Tips

Busy schedules, accidents, injuries, and unexpected moves can prevent gym members from utilizing their pricy memberships; loss of income can make paying those monthly fees a hardship. While it was easy to sign-up for the membership, terminating the contract is often a long, challenging process. Luckily, we’re here to help. In this article, we’ll teach you everything you need to know about how to get out of a gym contract, plus alternative methods to avoid paying a cancellation fee.

How to Cancel Your Gym Membership

Read the fine print of your gym contract to understand the gym’s cancellation policy and note any loopholes that may allow you to end the contract early. Then, reach out to your gym to find out how to cancel. You’ll likely need to write a notarized letter explaining specifically why you wish to terminate your contract.

Section 1 of 3:

Studying your Contract and Knowing Your Rights

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Contracts contain pertinent information about the terms of your gym membership. When signing a contract of any kind, always request a copy of the legally binding form for your records. If you did not receive a copy of your gym contract or have since lost the document, request a copy from your club or gym. Your club or gym should not deny this request.^{[1]
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Read the fine print. Gym contracts contain clauses that state the company’s cancellation policy. In order to comprehend what the process of severing your contract entails, carefully read and decipher your gym’s cancellation policy. Note any technicalities that may prevent you from terminating the contract and any loopholes that may allow you to leave mid-contract.^{[2]
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- Every gym’s cancellation policy is slightly different.
- If you are confused by any part of the contract, ask for clarification.
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Know your rights. The majority of countries have laws that regulate gyms. These laws may provide you with a valid reason to sever your contract. Study the specific set of laws that regulates your gym. Often, you may legally terminate your contract if:^{[3]
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- You are still within the grace period of your contract.
- You are injured and cannot work out. You may need a doctor’s note to show to your gym.
- You have moved over 25 miles away and can’t transfer membership to another branch.
- The facility has never or no longer offers the services presented to you prior to signing up or listed in your contract.
- In the United Kingdom, you may legally terminate your contract if you have lost your job or source of income.^{[4]
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- You can access these laws online by searching “gyms” and “[your state or nation] law.” In the United States, health clubs and gyms are regulated by the individual states. In the United Kingdom, health clubs are regulated by national laws.

Section 2 of 3:

Sending a Notarized Letter to Your Gym

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In order to terminate a contract, many gyms require members to submit a notarized letter of cancellation. This is a letter signed by an official notary public. When writing the letter, be sure to include your name, address, email address, and phone number. You must also list your gym account number.^{[5]
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Formally request to cancel your membership. To prevent any potential misunderstandings, clearly state the terms of your cancellation in the letter.^{[6]
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- "I am writing to inform you that I intend to [cancel or not renew] my gym membership on [enter date]."
- "I wish to [cancel or not renew] my membership because [enter reason(s)]."
- "Under the terms of my contract, I need to [cancel or renew] my membership within [enter time limit]. As stated in the contract, I will [return my [membership card, clean out my locker, etc.]"
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Ask for confirmation and additional information. In closing, request that the company notify you when it receives your statement. Ask the company to confirm that you are following the correct procedure. If you are not following the correct procedure, ask them to provide you with additional information.^{[7]
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- "Upon receiving my letter, please notify me."
- "If I am not complying with your terms of cancellation, please inform me of the correct procedures."
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Notarize and submit your letter. Find a local notary to sign your letter of cancellation. Make sure you have all of your required documentation as well as your ID. Fill out the envelope with the gym’s address and your return information, then post the letter and wait for confirmation of your cancellation.^{[8]
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- A quick internet search will provide you with a list of notary publics near you. If you live in the United States, many UPS stores offer notary services.
- Be aware that you will likely have to pay a fee to have your letter notarized.

Section 3 of 3:

Alternative Ways to Get Out of a Gym Contract

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Freeze your contract temporarily. If you are temporarily away from home, injured, sick, or too busy to work out, consider freezing your gym contract instead of canceling it. Meet with a gym manager to discuss the possibility of temporarily pausing your membership. Explain your situation and your desire to renew, or unfreeze, your membership at a later date. Consider freezing your contract if you have:^{[9]
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- Moved into a building with a gym.
- Started traveling regularly for work.
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Transfer the membership to another person. Rather than going through the hassle of canceling your membership, consider transferring your membership to someone else. Today, online forums take the stress out of finding a person to assume your contract. Once you have sold your membership, you and the buyer will need to work with gym staff to transfer the contract. Transferring your membership to another patron typically costs between 0 to 50 dollars.^{[10]
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- Begin this process by finding an online service that provides individuals with a virtual space to sell, transfer, and buy memberships. A quick internet search will provide you with a list of reputable services. Once you have selected a service you are comfortable with, follow the instructions on the site to create your posting.
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Hire a cancellation service. Many people do not have the time, patience, or energy to jump through all of the hoops required to cancel their gym membership. Instead of begrudgingly paying a steep gym membership fee every month, hire a third-party cancellation service to terminate your contract. For a fee, these experienced companies take the hassle out of ending your gym membership.
- Prior to paying for this service, research the company you intend to use. To assess a company, find its physical address, read reviews on other sites, and read through its terms and conditions carefully.
It is preferable to pay for the fees of your gym membership with a credit card so you have the option to dispute charges. If your gym continues to charge you for a membership you have canceled or is overcharging you, contact your credit card company and explain why the charge is unfair. While investigating your claims, the credit card company may freeze your payments, and if they find that your claims are justified, they may reverse the payment.^{[11]
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I signed a gym contract in December 2016 and I want to cancel it now. The reason for cancelling is that they were supposed to open in January but still are not open. How can I get out of my contract?

Antonio Aiello

Community Answer

If you write a notarized letter informing them of your understanding that you were going to have access to the gym in January and agreed to the terms in good faith, they should let you out of the contract. If not, consult an attorney.

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What if I signed a gym contract for a year and there is no mention of a cancellation clause, other than the initial three day grace period at the original time it was signed?

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Claim that you're moving, and demand to speak to a manager or supervisor. There is no legal reason they have to cancel your membership, but if you become more trouble than you're worth, they will probably do it.

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Can a gym contract be upheld if it is in my name but clearly signed by someone else who used their name?

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Generally, no. I think you are stating that you NEVER signed anything. If you never signed anything, including a statement that this second person is authorized to enter into such contractual agreements on your behalf, the gym will probably bill you but they cannot legally enforce the contract that you did not sign. If you verbally authorized the person to enter into contractual agreements on your behalf, you are still obligated, but the gym would need proof. I am not an attorney.

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Tips

Most gyms will be willing to work with you on reducing the rate of your gym membership because they want to keep your business.

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If the management is not responsive or not willing to work with you, work through your credit card company to freeze your account.

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