In August 2024, I walked into my local LA Fitness to cancel my membership after finding a gym closer to my new apartment. The front desk attendant barely looked up from her computer. “You need to talk to the operations manager,” she said. “He’s only here Monday through Friday, 9am to 5pm”.I work those exact hours. Of course.
Three weeks and four attempted visits later, I finally caught the elusive manager during my lunch break. He handed me a form, watched me fill it out, and said, “You’ll get confirmation in 7 to 10 business days.” Then he added the kicker: “But since your next billing date is in three days, you’ll be charged for next month too”. That “simple cancellation” cost me an extra $45 and six hours of my life I’ll never get back.
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Why LA Fitness Makes Cancellation So Difficult
The FTC’s August 2025 lawsuit reveals what thousands of frustrated members already knew: LA Fitness deliberately designs their cancellation process to be opaque and complicated. According to the complaint filed in California federal court, the company restricted cancellations to specific employees who were often unavailable during hours when most people work.
The business logic is brutally simple. Every month you stay enrolled because cancellation is too much hassle equals another $30 to $299 in revenue. Multiply that across 3.7 million members, and the financial incentive becomes crystal clear.
LA Fitness membership costs $35 to $50 monthly for most members as of December 2025, plus a $49 annual fee. When you sign up, you pay the first and last month upfront along with a $99 initiation fee—roughly $184 to $248 before your first workout.
The Three Official Ways to Cancel LA Fitness
Despite the FTC lawsuit, LA Fitness still requires you to follow specific cancellation procedures. You cannot simply stop paying or delete your payment method—they’ll send you to collections. Here are your three official options.
Cancel in Person at Your Home Club
This remains the fastest method if—and this is a big if—you can actually reach the Operations Manager.
- Visit your home club (the location where you originally enrolled) during business hours Monday through Friday. Ask the front desk for the Operations Manager by name. If they’re unavailable, ask when they’ll be back and get their schedule in writing.
- When you finally meet them, request the cancellation form. Fill it out completely with your membership number, full name, email address, and signature. Photograph the completed form with your phone before handing it over.
- Demand a signed copy of your cancellation confirmation on the spot. This is critical. Without written proof, LA Fitness can claim they never received your request.
- The FTC complaint specifically notes that LA Fitness designated only one employee at each location to process cancellations even though multiple employees can sign members up. This creates artificial scarcity that makes in-person cancellation nearly impossible for people with standard work schedules.
Cancel by Mail Using the Official Form
If in-person cancellation feels impossible, mailing your cancellation form is the second-best option.
- Log into your account at lafitness.com (this alone can be frustrating—the system requires your original enrollment email address, your key tag number, and the first five digits of your credit card to reset forgotten passwords).
- Navigate to “My LA Fitness” then click “Account Information” and select “Cancellation Form.” Download and print the PDF form.
- Fill out every field completely. Sign and date the form. Make copies of everything for your records.
- Mail the completed form to: LA Fitness, P.O. Box 54170, Irvine, CA 92619-4170.
- Critical timing detail: your cancellation must be postmarked at least five business days before your next billing date to avoid being charged for another month. Weekends and holidays don’t count as business days. If your billing date is March 1st, mail your form no later than February 21st to be safe.
LA Fitness recommends using Certified Mail with return receipt. This costs around $8 at the post office, but it’s worth it. Without tracking proof, LA Fitness can claim they never received your form, and based on thousands of online complaints, this happens frequently.
What Actually Happens After You Submit Cancellation
Once LA Fitness receives your cancellation, processing takes 7 to 10 business days. During this time, you remain enrolled.
If your cancellation was submitted too close to your billing date, you’ll be charged for one more month. LA Fitness’s policy allows refunds in this scenario, but you need to follow up aggressively. Many members report being told refunds are “not possible” despite written policy.
You should receive email confirmation when processed. If you don’t within 10 business days, call 949-255-7200 immediately. Get the representative’s name and reference number.
Some members report continued charges for months after cancellation. Monitor your bank statements closely for at least three months.
The Operations Manager Runaround
The biggest complaint involves the Operations Manager requirement. I called 12 different LA Fitness locations across three states. Only four could tell me when their manager would be available. The others gave vague responses like “usually around midday” or “try calling back tomorrow.”
The FTC lawsuit confirms this isn’t paranoia, it’s deliberate policy. Members with standard 9-to-5 jobs essentially cannot cancel in person without taking time off work.
If you encounter this runaround, document everything. Write down dates, times, and staff names. Take photos of posted hours. This documentation becomes crucial if you need to dispute continued charges with your bank.
Alternative Methods That Might Work
While LA Fitness officially requires in-person or mail cancellation, some members have succeeded with alternatives after the FTC lawsuit.
- Email: Send cancellation request to contact@fitnessintl.com with your full name, membership number, and clear cancellation statement. Some members report success.
- Phone: Call 949-255-7200. Representatives will likely direct you to mail or in-person options, but escalating to supervisors and mentioning the FTC lawsuit has worked for some.
- Online: LA Fitness added limited online cancellation in 2025. Log in, go to Account Settings, then Membership Options. Not all locations or membership types qualify.
What to Do If They Keep Charging You
If LA Fitness continues billing after cancellation confirmation, take immediate action.
Contact your bank or credit card company and dispute the charges as unauthorized. Provide your cancellation documentation. Most banks will issue a temporary credit while investigating.
File a complaint with the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. The ongoing lawsuit means they’re actively monitoring consumer complaints.
File a complaint with your state Attorney General’s office. Multiple states including New York have taken action against gyms for predatory cancellation practices.
Consider small claims court if the amount justifies it. LA Fitness typically settles these cases rather than sending lawyers. Filing fees run $30 to $75.
Moving Forward After LA Fitness
Once you escape LA Fitness, consider gyms with simpler cancellation policies. Planet Fitness allows online cancellation for $10 to $25 monthly. 24 Hour Fitness processes cancellations by phone. Anytime Fitness lets you cancel through their app.
Local independent gyms often offer month-to-month memberships with no initiation fees and straightforward cancellation. They cost $40 to $60 monthly but treat you like a valued customer.
The YMCA operates on a nonprofit model with fair cancellation policies—typically 30-day notice via email or phone. Membership costs $30 to $80 monthly depending on location.
Conclusion
Canceling LA Fitness membership requires persistence, documentation, and strategic timing. The company has spent years perfecting obstacles that keep members paying long after they want to leave. The FTC’s August 2025 lawsuit confirms what frustrated members have experienced: these aren’t bugs in the system, they’re features.
Expect the process to take three to four weeks minimum. Budget for one additional month’s payment beyond when you want your membership to end. Document everything obsessively. And once you’re finally free, choose a gym that respects your autonomy enough to let you leave without a legal battle.
