LA Fitness gym cancel scam - fight for the right to cancel!

[@AK-ny5bz]

When there is a credit bureau for Costomers, there must be a similar system to report such scum business.

[@LiraNuna]

There's no money to be made in such a system, so you won't be seeing it.

[@sabinrawr]

In theory, BBB and D&B are two such organizations. It won't take you very long to guess at how effective they are.

[@MandrakeDCR]

Yes, a fellow admirer of the BBB that does nothing. I did private contracting for Barrister (tech contracts) for about a year. They are notorious for not paying, underpaying, undercutting, etc. Just shady business that has been fined twice ever, for the consistent bad intent. BBB rating? A+ as usual. You can look on any ratings website and see the 90% complaint reviews vs. the 'fixer' reviews that don't even sound realistic positive, yet they somehow have a decent to positive score even on those sites. lol

[@ianbelletti6241]

Put pressure on the FTC and your representatives as well. There's also the courts if you want to spend money.

[@knifeyonline]

@@sabinrawr wow, it's actually very effective in Australia. They (the equivalent of better business beuro)work as a middle-man arbitration, and they can fine the businesses a tonne of money if they do not resolve customer issues...

[@kfx017]

We need a National Right to Cancel Law because of abusive practices like this.

[@hartsfire5706]

i am all for this... and i don't remember the country's but it is out there.

[@dtz1000]

You guys are about thirty years behind us here in the UK.

[@brocaraton]

Where do I donate?

[@theodhorzhobro4646]

They passed this law in Germany... u can cancel online now and at anytime. If its mandatory for a year it will also work it will cancel automatically on th end of the year... super cool

[@maindepth8830]

Theres is no point if it is not enforces

[@billg7813]

I cancelled LA Fitness. Kept all my paperwork. The next month they charged me again. I showed my bank the paperwork/emails and my bank credited back the charge. As far as I’m concerned, LA Fitness is as slimy as Gavin Newsome’s hair

[@stevenhicks3321]

You need to keep the paperwork and get a lawyer. They will absolutely try to come after you with collections on that.

[@craigslist6988]

gotta figure out how to work in a political comment, eh? What was all that you guys like saying about "rent free in your brain"? "Rent free in your brain cell" is more accurate here though.

[@jesterbob828]

​@@craigslist6988cry more

[@xredhead7135x]

​@@craigslist6988LA Fitness is as smelly as Chris Christie on a hot beach all day.

[@xeykdeyk]

muppet

[@RenegadeBastard]

Right to Cancel laws need to be on the books, Louis. Please make this happen.

[@adamofblastworks1517]

WE need to make this happen.

[@benjamindover4337]

These scams are anti-free-market and really harm capitalism. It's not just gyms. Everyone is doing this now. The FTC should be fining these morons until they straighten out.

[@pt8306]

The awesome thing in Australia is that if you call them and say "as of right now, I cancel", that legally counts as "giving notice" and the responsibility is on them to ensure it happens. If they refuse, they are legally liable.

[@milkymilk53]

I am also in Australia and I had gotten a new card and they kept trying to charge my old card, after the first payment declined they suspended my membership so I called them and asked to cancel they were like you have to come in and fill out the form bla bla bla, kept trying to charge me over and over for weeks, finally went in to fill out their form and they made no mention of the outstanding debt, then months later they sold the debt to some collection company who has been trying to get me to pay these "debts" for over 5 years now lol

[@brocaraton]

”Right to cancel” isn’t a new right. Being able to cancel is implied in the act of signing up for a temporary service.

[@Dr_Evil_Genius]

Buying a product inherently comes with the right to do with it what you wish. We still needed a “Right to Repair” movement.

[@Dr_Evil_Genius]

@@GH0STST4RSCR34M The OP made the point that simply signing up [and paying] for a subscription service implies you should be able to cancel. That’s true. However, it hasn’t stopped for-profit organizations from trying to hinder/obscure that right. I used RtR as an example to support my premise that the movement may still be necessary even if our rights seem obvious on the surface.

[@aluisious]

That's the thing, these scumbags don't see it as temporary. They'll charge you long after you die.

[@rabidbeaver167]

It's because the f****** Boomers don't give a s*** about this either and have nobody looking at it so these people just keep doing this s***

[@trowawayacc]

The 6th ammendment...😅

[@innerself3796]

I used to go to LA Fitness years ago. They were a "no contract" gym until I went in to cancel and they tried to give me the run-around. They were charging my credit card and the lady was really rude so in front of her, at the counter, I called my card company and told them I lost my card and to cancel it and issue me another. The look on her face was priceless. I told her good luck charging my card next month and left.

[@icecreamfanatic55]

Shows her! Go ahead! Change these laws!

[@wyweb]

That's hilarious

[@The_Divergent]

Asia here😂 A request for new digital or physical credit card, only 3 USD (after 3 chance for physical and 3 chance for digital) *No delivery fee(edited)

[@milkymilk53]

I had to do a similar thing, except when I got a new card they tried to charge my card, after the first payment declined my gym card was blocked. They then tried for several weeks to charge my card again and again racking up the amount every time, finally cancelled the membership and then they sold my "debt" to some collection company that has been trying to get me to pay the fines for 5+years lol

[@Cryptic0013]

I had a job where I was the guy who had this kind of convo 30 times a day. As you surmised, I was only there because the employment market in my area was screwed and I had no options other than that shitty job or bankruptcy and homelessness. After six months, I was having very serious mental health issues. Like the kind where oncoming traffic starts to look very inviting. Barely made it out.

[@computerthrills]

I was with LA Fitness for nearly two decades. Loved their equipment in most of their gyms. Then had to move where there was no LA Fitness. They made it ridiculous to cancel. After going to my last LA Fitness for the third time to cancel. I had been working out in that one for over 10 years. I through a fit. So much so that the district supervisor showed up after an hour and authorized my cancellation. At one point they threatened to have me removed by the cops for trespassing. But I had a contractual interest in the property because they wouldn't cancel my membership. Which made trespassing me impossible.

[@likeaboss.studio]

oh that is brilliant that they cant trespass unless they cancel the contract

[@roxcyn]

Oh hell no, you were right to blow up on them. Three gym visits and they won't cancel? 😡

[@Consul99]

Huh, I'd never heard of contractual interest before. Is there an actual law that covers this?

[@LeifNelandDk]

It seems one need to send letters like how Harry Potter was invited to Hogwarts.

[@andoletube]

@@Consul99 It's an incorrect usage of the term contractual interest - which actually refers to financial interest rates on borrowed money. What he really meant was he simply couldn't be accused of trespass because his membership to the premises was still active due to their refusal to cancel it.

[@CannonKnight]

I used to go to LA Fitness, and they're crappy for more than just that. One day I took a friend of mine to the gym to give her some workout tips. TWO gym employees came up to me and said I'm not allowed to give training assistance to people. So just like making it easy to cancel is bad for business, having a friend give workout tips instead of using their personal trainer is bad for business, too. They are a horrible company, and I hope this video brings their policies to light.

[@oriclin]

This is just plain stupid

[@wolfboy8117]

hmmmm i think i would set a rule where you have to claim your not a prof. trainer but aside from that, you would be allowed to give tips and stuff

[@bajatoma]

Maybe this is the easiest way to get your membership cancelled?

[@np494609]

I can attest because I’m an ex employee. Here’s some of the insider activity I witnessed working as one of their top performing sales reps in the northeast region in 2008-2009: 1. Deceptive sales tactics. It’s all about the sale at LA fitness. They held trainings on how to pressure unwilling customers to sign up for the membership, if you could convince them to pay for a year or two in full, the commissions were much higher. 2. Pressure to use their training services. As you saw, they run a tight ship for anyone they suspect is free lance training. 3. Shady, spineless upper management. The area VP was a snake. I once confronted a member nicely to rack his weights after he leaves a 415 lbs loaded barbell on the ground. He freaked out complained to corporate after threatening to bash my head in (steroid abuser), the vp took his side and wrote me up for enforcing their own damn rule. 4. Rampant thefts. They had no security system or defense. Thugs used to come in on 7 day guest passes or with their friends and rip the wooden locker doors open, stealing people’s things consistently. The gym assumed no responsibility for their own negligence and essentially told people “were sorry” every time and never changed anything. I worked in the downtown silver spring, MD location and quit after about a year. It’s good gym if you only want to spend the $45 / month or so but don’t expect good customer service unless you know the general manager on a personal level.

[@kennymorelandiii9406]

Makes you think they want you to cancel if they treat you like that

[@TrigTrig]

The shittiness of gyms goes so much further than this too. The hidden $80 fee that they randomly charge you 3 months after you sign up for "gym upkeep", when you already pay them $30/month actually made my miss my rent payment before. I was just trying to live healthier. I never cancelled something faster (well, technically slower because of the cancellation policy).

[@leventelenoir]

Hi Louis, if you push for a law to cancel, please also put in that you aren't required to give your credit card details for trials before you have to pay. I know you talked about this a lot, but this is very much needed. I enjoyed the drive btw as well as the talk.

[@Kirmo13]

When you said that the closest gym was 30 miles away and that you weren't going to drive that far away just to cancel the membership I stared laughing out loud because I thought that the video was you driving to a gym to cancel the membership.

[@lateblossom]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@Ritefita]

#metoo

[@mussdem]

Same, I was thinking this is a great joke but damn that sucks

[@superourico5551]

I used to work front desk at a gym that did this. When people came in or called and said they wanted to cancel, I'd just do it. Got some angry talkings-to from management but refused to participate in this nonsense.

[@polarvortex3294]

It's kind of funny that you got a talking-to from the higher ups because you were too nice.

[@everythingmatters6308]

Thank you for doing the right thing. It would be a much better world if everyone had your morals.

[@gamemasters]

the fact that scams likes this take place and that they can get away with it, blows my mind. THANK YOU Louis for standing up and putting this out on your channel. I'll NEVER be a member with them. and there SHOULD be a National Cancel Law. If you can sign up online, you should be able to cancel the EXACT same way. THAT will force them to actually provide good customer service.

[@hotlettucedrums]

100% needed. Years ago a group of friends signed up for a lifetime membership at a gym. We were told we could opt out after one year. We had that written on the paper contract that we all signed. After a year we told them we were done and they said we were lifetime and could not cancel unless we moved somewhere that didn’t have their gym local. They continually told us we were under contract. At a certain point we demanded to see such a contract and they could not produce it. How could we be under contract without them having a signed contract to show us. We insisted that the contract included an opt out. They then demanded we provide a copy of that contract. We asked how they could enforce their contract without being able to produce it while refusing ours. After about 2 years and a few threats to get a lawyer involved they cancelled our membership and made the whole thing disappear. Unreal what these gyms do.

[@bigcack]

during the 2 years you were fighting it were you being charged? and if so did you get a refund?

[@hotlettucedrums]

If I remember correctly they were invoicing us but we weren’t paying it. In the end they wiped it all.

[@ayuubabukar6388]

Similar thing in Canada, fit4less gym cancellation takes an entire month for some reason. I called, confirmed it's cancelled,. Keep in mind these guys advertised "Cancel anytime" aeverywhere. Any sane person would think it's done with right? Nope, they somehow keep charging for a month after you cancel. They also have a $20 Fee everytime payment doesn't go through... and they essentially try to take the 20$ right after. so their 14$ biweekly turns into a 14$ charge, followed by 20$ fee, for not being able to take that money, and another 20$ for not being able to take the "fee" out of your account. and you guessed it, that 20$ fee also comes with it's own 20$ fee. they'd charge the 14$ and 20$ separately so they each incur 20$ fees, not to mention bank fees. By the end of the month, my account went -340$, almost -500$ with the bank fees. I was lucky AF that the young bank manager that day also suffered the same BS from that gym, so she charged back most of their fees and waived the bank fees. still had to pay about 70$ from what should have been a "confirmed cancelled" gym charge.

[@dustyoldbanjo]

My wife went through something like this with Planet Fitness. We moved to a different state, and when she tried to cancel the membership, PF told her that she had to visit the gym location that she signed up at. When she explained that she was now living several thousand miles away, they offered no alternative option for cancelling 🤷 We cancelled the card instead, because fuck them.

[@tim_nj_devil176]

Such a crock of shit. I would tell them, "Either you cancel my membership or I am telling my bank this is a fraudulent charge."

[@BCMikuFan]

Apparently their model is set up to be as inconvenient as possible, because Planet Fitness is just a name with corporate rules anyone can license. Your membership stays with the club you signed up with and PF takes a cut. Of course your club is going to make sure it's as hard to cancel as possible.

[@ak47ava]

Yeah they are scammers.

[@spyplane3979]

criminals need to be sued for this

[@leonro]

I am pretty sure that you can still be charged by subscriptions because a lot of banks will transfer them over to a new card or even to another bank if you move your account. Therefore, be careful. The local gym here takes cash payment for a month of membership, so I am glad to do it that way.

[@TakacsJanos]

Louis, don't make the law that regulates cancellation. Make a law that compells the companies to apply the same procedure for signing up that they require to cancel. If they require you to do an irish dance in person during the cancellation ceremony, the law should force them to ask the customer to please come to the gym in person and do an irish dance if they want to sign up. Let the gyms come up with a new cancellation policy on their own. :)

[@EntakarA]

I don't know about the gyms in your area, but the ones in mine require you to go to the gym to sign up. That said, I live in a fairly rural location and being tech savvy is too leftist I guess.

[@TakacsJanos]

@@EntakarA I don't live in the US, and the first time I heard about this cancellation scam was when Louis first made a video about it. In Hungary, usually you pay per entry, which you can pay in advance for a week or month, but it's not an automatically renewing payment. And it depends on the gym whether they have online payment options or just in person.

[@EntakarA]

@@TakacsJanos Sounds like they have the right idea in your country. Hopefully if we fight for it, it will be like that here too someday!

[@allaboutjapan237]

This dude went from being a Right to repair advocate to being literally a politician and changing the game 🔥

[@fmega8609]

I've blown up on corporate gym employees as well, except my issue was over the "cancellation fee" and "45 day equipment repair fee" buried in the fine print of my gym contract. It's strange how this one seemingly random field of business is uniformly filled with crooks. I guess once one franchise started doing it, they all realized they could get away with it

[@jerbear7952]

Its because they all from Balley's and were trained by them. Most big gyms have leadership that left Balleys to start their own gyms. I worked for a number of them.

[@Andy-im3kj]

They realized there was an untapped cash cow out.

[@Kevin-oj2uo]

I used to work as sales guy for LA Fitness they teach you to sell the most expensive subscription even if you see the person doesn't need it. The cancelation process was done through one person who was always on vacation literally , like the 3 months I work there she was at the gym 3 times.

[@ThatGoat]

Sir, I need a number to apply for that cancellation guy position.

[@HexOptimal]

​@@ThatGoatthis

[@stikfamaster2]

​@@ThatGoatsame plz

[@craigslist6988]

@@ThatGoat women only position, so they can call the cops if she gets yelled at.

[@debbyconnor9498]

It is already illegal for them to pull that crap. There is an FTC rule that prevents them from making it more difficult to cancel than it was to sign up. This would obviously include being able to sign up online and then having to mail a certified letter to cancel. The only thing I would have done is sued them and sent them a summons by certified letter. Especially since the person that processes the cancellations is never at work.

[@robster7787]

Unfortunately the FTC has the power, but is apparently it willing to actively enforce it. I mean look at Monoprice and their monitoring regarding a warranty sticker.

[@craigslist6988]

if this true, @Louis Rossmann should figure out all the steps and make a clear how-to sue LA fitness video.

[@Michael-sb8jf]

Ftc power was gutted by corporate intrest in congress

[@maiyannah]

A law only matters if it is enforced.

[@dragonsoldier1829]

Just because a governing entity has the authority to end an illegal act doesn't mean they will.

[@killmaster46]

I used to use a gift box service for my dog that sent us a few random toys treats and care items every month. The second month I valued the items they sent me at 1/4 the subscription cost so I wanted to cancel, after jumping threw 1 million hoops and still getting charged for the box the next month I just reported my card was lost/stolen and got a new 1 it was literally easier. A right to cancel law needs to happen for stuff like this

[@polarvortex3294]

I lost a card (which I later found deep under the car seat🤦) and getting a new one was a breeze. But if you have subscriptions or auto-pays associated with it (or if it's on file with eBay or something) you'll have to update your info with each company to keep things moving smoothly. So while your way is a crafty strategy to ditch an outfit that won't accept "no," I guess each person should assess their individual situation to find their route of least hassle.

[@Maki-00]

I had a makeup subscription that had samples of expensive brands every month. It was nice, but after a year, I had more makeup than I could wear. I went to the website to cancel and it said that you had to log in on the 30th of the month to stop the subscription for the following month. I forgot and was charged. It was only $14, but still. I forgot again the next month and finally, I had to email the company to cancel. Why make it so difficult?

[@uglypinkeraser]

I did this with microsoft one time because they wouldn't stop billing me for an xbox live subscription. I cancelled the card and thought I was good. Years later I tried to use my account for something unrelated and found out they had so graciously provided me several months of service despite my card declining on them and that if I wanted anything from them I'd have to pay for those months of service I never used and tried to cancel but couldn't

[@PhoctorDill]

I used to work at an LA Fitness and it was easily the worst job I’ve ever had. I worked at the front desk was never given access to cancel memberships. In order for someone to cancel their membership they would have to talk to an Operations Manager (who was almost never there) or send an email to corporate that usually did nothing. It was so embarrassing telling people that I couldn’t help them cancel their membership when I was literally the only employee in the building. I know I would be furious if I was told that.

[@karisasani7006]

On the rare occurence the Operations Manager being there?

[@parametr]

There's a law in Europe which says that unsubscribing MUST be as easy as susbcribing. ISPs, gyms and such still try to pull the same trick. They even send you letters from "their lawyers" threatening legal action. I confidently throw it all in the garbage, knowing that the law is on my side.

[@AthosRac]

Brazil is the same. It was bad in the past but the Congress passed a law and changed the status quo. Pretty much the same, the cancel must be as easy as the signing in. Brazil has an additional law that says IF a company charge you a value and you do not own they that amount, you receive the double. No lawyers needed. It's automatic.

[@marcellkovacs5452]

@@wanderer397no, GDPR is about Data Protection

[@nicolaspeigne1429]

They still try because most people get intimidated

[@emenesu]

And in Europe they usually use third party services as proxies for this bs. They have no authority over the actual service itself, it's only for intimidation.

[@gratux]

@@wanderer397 GDPR is about data protection (General Data Protection Regulation) but it includes a similar passage on cookies, where it must be as easy to refuse non-functional cookies as it is to allow them

[@AnimationByDylan]

During COVID all of the 24 Fitness centers shuttered within 100 miles of us, and they refused to cancel my wife’s month-to-month membership. We ended up having to threaten to sue them before they finally gave in.

[@stephenharrell8356]

What do people need to do to get the government to put an end to stuff like this. These companies bank on the fact that you are going to be too busy to jump through hoops just to cancel. These are predatory practices that more people need to be aware of so that boycotts can actually be effective. Thank you for the work that you do Louis.

[@thewizdad]

We ABSOLUTELY DO need a national right to cancel bill. The first question I ask on joining a gum is “how easy is the cancellation?” I don’t ask about their hours, equipment, lockers, or anything else. The only question is “How easy is it to cancel?” I left Planet Fitness and went to a small locally owned family run fitness company because they allow you to cancel online. Thats what it should be.

[@philscott7949]

I had not been to my gym for a year and my card expired. The gym started aggressively chasing me for payments with a "credit agency". After I threatened to shut them down for failing to provide duty of care / failure to supervise, they backed down because they couldn't prove I had been there.

[@aae8027]

I had one come after me during the COVID lockdown. They weren't even open but were still trying to charge members 😡 They backed off eventually but were relentless for a while.

[@maiyannah]

I get this with an old ISP. I moved out of the location and told them I was cancelling, they insisted I had to pay them for a callout to have it cancelled (false, they literally just stop provisioning the dhcp, I never had the hookup done to begin with).

[@HexOptimal]

😂 "they're not malicious they're incompetent" applies to so many situations.

[@SV-je8mg]

There is a such thing as weaponized incompetence

[@HexOptimal]

@@RaisedByMettle same 😂 the shit he says always makes my day

[@Apollo-Computers]

It's called malicious incompetence. The incompetence is on purpose.

[@wvincus5522]

DEI hires not merit based hiring. Welcome to the new WEF world.

[@HexOptimal]

@@Apollo-Computers This here is actually quite common. The SEC is targeting good people like Richard Heart right now with complete incompetence so they won't be seen as malicious when they lose the cases.

[@billjohnsonseattle]

THANK YOU FOR STANDING UP FOR THE PEOPLE. These assholes need to be stopped.

[@AVNetworkGuy]

Let’s do a Right to Cancel campaign. I’m a member of that same gym and don’t want to play that game the day I want to cancel.

[@Placid_Falcon]

If I saw this as a ballot initiative, you might actually convince me to vote for the first time in 14 years.

[@Dommifax]

Name checks out

[@g2sei]

I went to cancel my Retro Fitness membership one time and they said they only accept cancellations by written letter. You know what address they gave me to write the letter to? The exact same gym I was standing in. Additionally, they said they can't accept it without the USPS certified sticker on it. Meaning I couldn't just walk it to them. They wanted me to go back home, write the letter and mail it to them in the building I was currently standing in. I remember being hounded a year later for "unpaid debt" after I just froze the payments via my card, even though I hadn't been there for about a year and was clearly no longer using their services. Seems like a lot of gyms do this garbage-it's a shame, because it definitely doesn't have to be that way. In stark contrast, when I went to cancel my Blink Fitness membership I was in and out in about five minutes. It's all predatory.

[@cericat]

It's also done in such a way to potentially make you decide to just give up and walk away or potentially forget you had to mail the letter, etc.

[@RafaMazurekRMZ]

from a guy that lives outside of US even more crazy part is that they can hunt you when you not pay for subscription. Like sure - a letter is stupid thing but even Luis don't see the bigger issue that is not problem here when I live - when I don't pay for subscription here - any subscription - they are just canceled automatically - no issues with credit

[@Farquad76.547]

Why do people say one time instead of once

[@cericat]

@@Farquad76.547Because sometimes they're intending it as it was one time of multiple incidents, once suggests there was only the one incident.

[@jamjam1]

Dude. Same thing they called so much and since my number was on both accounts for myself and my gf i received double calls. What I ended up doing was going online and changing my phone number and address to their own local number/address. I hope they still call lmao

[@ExtravagantFragrances]

Louis. This is an EASY fix which I've used on big rental company slum lords and got a full deposit and rent back. They went from cursing me out to being extremely pleasant within one day of going back and fourth with them. Just tell them: " if you don't stop charging me, I'm going to all of the local news stations to report you as a fraud to the public." I think they'll be more than happy to accommodate you. None of the big companies like bad press, plus it will be bad for thay specific La Fitness because it will affect their gym membership sales department. 😂

[@Suppennudl]

If I'm not mistaken the upcoming DSA in the EU is also tackling that: "Moreover, cancelling a subscription for a service should become as easy as subscribing to it;"

[@Alias_Anybody]

The worst thing is when the high management of a company wants to screw you as hard as humanly possible and who has to take all the rightful anger and abuse? Some randos hired for the hotline or service, maybe for minimum wage. It just feels so inherently wrong.

[@umbreon9158]

A family member of mine tried to cancel her gym membership repeatedly only to continue being charged. 4 months in she actually changed bank providers and swapped all of her other details because dealing with literally dozens of other companies was easier than dealing with a gym... This was in the UK, it's an international issue with the industry and I have no idea how it's so prolific yet so literally illegal.

[@IgnitionMedia]

Doubt it, as in the UK you’d simply cancel a direct debit in a couple clicks / taps…

[@umbreon9158]

@@IgnitionMedia Not every payment is a direct debit. I can personally say my experience with it is having Xbox Live Gold charge me for 2 years after I stopped playing video games (this was about 2012-2014). I'd given them my card details, and they just kept charging. I would get refunds, and promises of actual cancellation, but they'd do it again the next year. It didn't go away until my card expired and they no longer had my details. I'm sure they tried though.

[@atomiclemon77]

This is interesting. I have just left a comment about how this whole concept is alien to me as i've never had any problems in the UK. I've even got out of gyms mid-contract. I used to sign up for SNAP fitness and cancel as soon as I signed up to get the joining bonuses. They didn't like that very much lol.

[@Andy-im3kj]

Honestly dealing with gyms pushed me towards just building my own home gym. Fuck these people. Just like the same businesses that gatekeep cars, appliances, etc.

[@TV-xv1le]

I belonged to a gym called "Retro Fitness" some years ago. Cancelling was a nightmare. After I got confirmation of being canceled I still got multiple charges. I had to call almost daily to the gym and finance company and go in person multiple times even after they said it was canceled because I was still getting charged. Edit* I'm aware of the nonsense policy they had to still charge you like 3 extra months. I was still getting charged over like 6 to 8 months after cancelling.

[@CGR89]

I was thinking at the end of the video you’d be pulling into the parking lot for LA fitness just for the punchline.

[@mikelee9173]

You know it's messed up when it's easier to cancel a youtuber than a gym membership 😂

[@johndoerr9289]

underrated comment

[@DM-eo6zw]

ADT Home Security had this same policy years ago. Not sure if they still do. They gave you a 30 day window to exit your 3-year contract or else it would automatically renew for another 3-years. And that request to cancel had to be done via mail. I learned about this scam from the Clark Howard Show.

[@ebx100]

Who needs a burglar with companies like this?

[@bluedistortions]

Hahaha.. ADT.. I worked as a telemarketer for them for three days. They have more scams than just that. Our big priority was getting them to switch to us, and if they did, they would save anywhere from one to twenty-ish cents per month. (Although seeing how scummy they were, I'll bet they had hidden fees as well). The price list had a big, "DO NOT SHOW PRICES TO CUSTOMERS" instruction. Imagine trying to sell a product to a customer, and not being allowed to even say what the price of the service would be! But that was their strategy. I'd tell them anyway, because I don't know how to be absurd. "You'd save.. eight cents." "Well that doesn't sound worth it." "No not really." Never made a sale, obviously. But on my third day, I called a number, and a little old lady answered, "I already bought your service!! I've been paying for six months now, and you still haven't installed anything!" "I'm sorry ma'am, that's horrible, let me get the owner. Hey, boss, this lady says she paid for our service six months ago, and still hasn't gotten anything." "I don't give a shit." "He says he doesn't give a shit." *Stunned silence on her end* "yeah, Id call a lawyer or something, sorry maam." I didn't go back to work after that. They never paid me, but that didn't surprise me after how they treated their customers.

[@harleyx7332]

Another problem i have with them is you cant pay cash or with a pre-paid card. Only a debit account. They phrase this as "making it easier for costumers to pay" but in reality it just makes it harder to cancel.

[@UpperAquatics]

100%. I support a right to cancel law. I'd love to see this happen

[@rogantu]

This is why I appreciate living in Norway. When I stopped working out for over a month they called me and asked if I wanted to freeze or cancel my membership. I could literally just pause it for up to 6 months no questions asked.

[@kingjasko]

i just dont understand why its not a standard lmao, what has this world come to

[@kabalanstef9636]

​@@kingjaskothis only happens in murica because its literaly a 4th world country

[@tacticallemon7518]

@@kingjaskoBecause money

[@kingjasko]

fuck money, u guys took capitalism way too far, people's rights should be ahead of money @@tacticallemon7518

[@jonstechchannel]

Right?? Can’t pause here. You’ll have to cancel and then get into a new 1 year contract if you wanted to start up again

[@devin19222]

Don't send a cancellation letter, let them auto renew it while like you mentioned using virtual credit cards, they will likely eventually send the account to collections. You already have a paper trail saying you tried to cancel with the first letter. Instead once it pops up on credit report they charged you x amount, take them to small claims court for damages to your credit, if they aren't responding to the letters that is ideal, this time sent them certified mail that you intend on suing them in small claims court, this will work in any state they operate in. This costs like 50$ or less, and can be recovered adding it to the lawsuit. You do not need a lawyer for small claims court, it's 2 sheets of paper in my state. If they do nothing at this point you win by default in like a months time when the case comes up in court. Now that you have won the default judgement its like another 100$ at least in my state, to get the sheriff to go out to where ever the business is located and preform a till tap. This is basically showing up with a warrant to take any cash they have in their registers at the time, in this case gyms sell all sorts of protein bars and supplements and garbage and likely have some cash. Sherriff takes it, returns it to court, you claim it. It's a hassle, but add your time in the suit that they wont check anyways, that is the point winning by default you win whatever you sue for. I know because I have had this done against me for dodging credit card debts lol, and lawyers only do it for credit card companies, because it's very little paper work and they just add like 300-500$ to every account for the lawyers time, and if no one shows up, and they do like 50 cases at a time, they make a decent chunk of change, and collect via wage garnishment in this case. However having a business with cash on hand is much easier to collect the previously mentioned till tap method, and of much greater risk to them because they have cash on hand rather than having to intercept paychecks.

[@juliachild9377]

Aside from writing your representatives, lobbying at all levels, contacting journalists, making videos like this, etc, you could also file a class-action suit against them since their cancellation policy is incredibly predatory. Obviously lawsuits are unbelievably time consuming and expensive, but they are another way of holding these scumbag corporations accountable. Legislation that protects consumers from practices like this is really the only long-term solution though. Right to cancel dat ass, boi!

[@patrlim]

Meanwhile in Europe this has been a thing for years. The fact you even have to fight for this is just disgusting.

[@metleon]

"I have gotten laws passed similar to one that would ruin your scummy business." is the only acceptable follow up to "Don't you know who I am."

[@robster7787]

5:10, that’s honestly a beautiful threat. “I have gotten three laws passed in the last 18 months” Like if European countries can force tech giants like Apple to comply, you wouldn’t want Louis to focus on anti-consumer subscription models. Tbh, he should give it a consideration, however it needs to be separately funded from right to repair to avoid possible conflicts .

[@l0gic23]

What conflict?

[@rexsceleratorum1632]

Think about the thousands of people who tried to cancel memberships who are not consumer activists who successfully lobbied for three laws in the past 18 months, so yeah, he should

[@pinksparkle6891]

The same LA Fitness that locked a man inside their facility while he was in the jacuzzi because they decided to shut down early and be negligent. The man filmed himself and instead of an apology and a compensation, he got banned… what more can we actually expect from such a scummy entity?

[@benj1236]

Please do it. We need this - "Right to Cancel" I had the same issue. I had Planet Fitness and I moved out of state. Didn't realize how hard it would be to cancel my membership. I sent them two certified letters and they magically disappeared.

[@countfrackula6707]

Do it. Create "right to cancel laws" everywhere. Make it part of FDCPA where if a company says you owe them money for a service, they are legally required to cancel your service when you tell them to cancel it, and that cancelation must be made available at all currently open physical locations and services and all virtual locations and services where you were allowed to sign up for that service within the last 5 years.

[@bedast]

It’s worth keeping in mind, when it comes to using these temporary cards to control payments, is that these gyms will attempt to bill for months before starting the collections process in order to rack up as much as possible. And they will eventually go to collections and AGGRESSIVELY report it to the bureaus (at least LA Fitness, 24 hour fitness, Bally, Lifetime, and other large chains will). The gym isn’t their business model. Generating debt and aggressively pushing collections is a big moneymaker for them. They know people will frequently ignore the subscription at least for a while, and then do things like chargebacks, cancelling cards, etc when they figure out they’re not going back to the gym and it’s just needlessly costing money. This is why I no longer use any of them. I have what I need at home to get the workouts that work for me. This doesn’t need a ton of space, and in the long run, is WAY cheaper than a gym. You don’t need fancy gym quality equipment that’s designed for daily abuse. You just need stuff that gets the job done for YOU. This can literally pay for itself inside of a year when compared to gym memberships before even getting into the cost of time and grief to cancel.

[@bedast]

To add on to this: A common service at gyms is personal trainers. This is also a big scam. Those trainers don’t earn the entire fee you pay for them and they tend to be expensive. You can actually hire in-home personal trainers, or personal trainers that offer their own gym spaces, and those trainers earn their entire fee. This means some can even be _cheaper_ than those at the gym with gym memberships.

[@fatguy9]

Home gyms are where its at, id never support funding a local gym again

[@niltonlacle]

Not only Gyms... I had so much headache about 10 years ago trying to cancel my SiriusXM Satellite Radio subscription. It think it's their business model too, to push their subscribers into debt indeed.

[@bedast]

@@h7hj59fh3f You are correct. But the percentage of people who actually go through this versus just abandoning everything about it is likely pretty low. They don’t care about you nor their reputation so long as they can maintain this passive income. They get rewarded every year with their annual new years membership rush that introduces a new batch of memberships that will get abandoned and continue their passive income. I actually did go through this process with LA Fitness. I even sent the letter. I disputed the charges that continued after that. I informed them I know they received my letter and that I would not take any further action to cancel my account as I followed their instructions to do so, and any further action from me would be legal. They did stop attempts to charge dues and zeroed the collections, but kept sending $0 bills and collections notices. It literally took going to a lawyer to get it to stop.

[@markmuir7338]

Also: good quality used gym equipment is cheap / free in many parts of the country: people buy them new, realize they haven't used any of it in years, and just want to get their garage space back.

[@karlniedzielski12]

After the right to cancel law, we also need a law requiring food and beverage makers to list sugar in cups or tablespoons in the ingredient list.

[@anjiliveach3267]

A right to cancel is absolutely a necessary consumer protection. These predatory practices are harmful to everybody, and many people do not have the means to effectively fight back and get things cancelled when faced with these systems. 54% of American adults read below a sixth grade level. They are less able to do effective research about these policies to know how difficult it will be when they eventually want to cancel. This is a serious problem.

[@Hedgpig]

Planet Fitness requires you give them your bank account so they can bill it directly. Because they totally want to make sure their members don't miss gym time because of billing issues. As you can guess, they're not so diligent about making it easy for their members to cancel. I opened a new account for PF as soon as I smelled that BS, when I wanted to cancel I just closed that and saved myself a headache.

[@andspenrob]

With what you've learned from advocating for R2R, you could do a lot of good for causes like this. I'm pretty sure everyone who has helped fund your efforts to-date would be in support of you expanding your lobbying scope to Right to Cancel. Make it happen!

[@xmuun]

agree 100%!!

[@clusterstage]

Right to "change of mind" also works, especially for all legal contracts with a grace period.

[@cericat]

It's related honestly, there's a lot of subscriptions involved in the newer vehicles in particular that tie to the fight per the corps arguments for their right to charge for your heated seats, battery usage, etc.

[@mromutt]

yeah right to cancel seems like a good idea seeing as how the world in moving, hell its might even be the right time to strike before it is so normal and ingrained that people just shrug. Like one of his recent videos talking about feeling like always to late or a step behind maybe for once he could have the upper hand! XD

[@Barquevious_Jackson]

First Time commenting since finding your channel Yesterday. I like that you are a consistent war horse hammer of a creator. You talk about the things that matter to you and do so casually, critically, and while providing good sound advice and a model for the way things ought to be. I would be proud to be a business owner one day with your ethnically backbone or a man with your responsibility. But any who, I used to bike a route which took 40 minutes in the middle of the night, 1AM, 2AM, 3AM, and go 15 Miles (round trip) to the Gym to work out. It was one of the things I lived for, nothing made me happier then that level of cardio. It was a 24 Hour Gym, I was a Vampire Bat, Match made in Heaven. The distance started to be the draw. I now live within walking distance and I don't nearly go as much as I should.

[@xGodofAcidx]

A bit off topic but I was a member of Best Fitness in Nashua, NH for a short while. They include a 1 hour introductory session when you sign up. About halfway through, I felt a hamstring tugging at me. I told the trainer, to which she gave me a very annoyed look, coldly said "You're done", and walked away. I never received any acknowledgement from the staff after that, aside from maybe a "How ya doin" if I was lucky. Nobody offered to complete that session at a later time or anything. Not the most pleasant experience. I didn't have to send a certified letter (this was 10 years ago so maybe that's a newer practice) but back then at least, they did stick you with a 100 dollar cancellation fee if you cancel early, and they don't inform you of this when you sign the contract, so you have to be damn careful and read every word. Lesson learned on my part, but still a very shady practice on theirs. I'd definitely agree with the assessment that they're a garbage gym.

[@RevoX4]

I worked at LA Fitness roughly 8 years ago. Not at all surprised at the cancellation hassles. I'm actually surprised they let you mail the cancellation form online. Back then you had to print the form and the only option was to take it into the gym to present to the manager. Only the manager was allowed to cancel because a password needed to be entered and only the manager had that password. The manager also only worked 8am-5pm so if you couldn't get in at that time then you had no other option. It also goes against the gym for cancellations so people cancelling harmed the funds the gym got. By funds I mean we literally had a monthly fund limit based on how many memberships the gym sold. Cancellations took away from that. There were many months where the LA Fitness I worked at had too many cancellations that our funds given for the month forced us to not buy soap for the gym bathrooms because we barely had enough for cleaning supplies and toilet paper. It really was a garbage system and extremely predatory. I hated it. I didn't even bullshit people at the front desk. I turned the monitor around and said "I literally cannot cancel it. If I could I 100% would but I don't have the ability to do so."

[@MonkeyJedi99]

Does LA Fitness WANT another killdozer? Because this is how you get another killdozer!!!

[@WherEmEweeD]

I'm guessing some of the employees you worked with would BS the customers and let on that they cancelled their membership.

[@clusterstage]

imagine if someone passed a right to "change of mind" which will require contracts entertain a possible change "without prior notice" valid & legal.

[@erutuon]

So the company not only abuses their customers, but their employees too.

[@MonkeyJedi99]

@@erutuon You don't get needlessly rich by treating people right, apparently.

[@trowawayacc]

I feel bad for the clerks that have to uphold this bs. They should sue their company for forcing them to scam people.

[@AaronHendu]

You can choose a different job...might require sacrifice, but morality often does...

[@YTPartyTonight]

Assuming such people would have legal standing to sue, I very much doubt it, what qualified lawyer would take this case; who is going to pay the employee's legal fees; what are the employee's damages? Think about it. These customer service clerks are expendable minions who shield the corporation they work for. They're the face. They take the abuse. They're an external layer of plausible deniability between the custom getting screwed and the C-suite corporate A-holes who come up with these scams and then simply label them as "policy".

[@ramonmendez2282]

I hate this LA Fitness scam. I went to Colombia to visit my family. I lost my passport, and I couldn't cancel because they didn't allow me. I wasn't working, so I couldn't pay. They ruined my credit, charging me for BS I was not even using.

[@anderson8601]

Unfortunately this is a business practice in the Caribbean as well. Signed up for month's subscription of a sports package for TV and just when the month was about to up, like 2-3 days before the new billing cycle, I called to cancel said package. I was told the info would be forwarded to the respective department to cancel. New billing cycle starts, package is charged to my bill and sports channels still live on TV. When I asked why no cancellation and that I would like to speak to that department directly, response was: "Oh that department doesn't have a phone". I ranted to the person I was speaking to cancel and said I would not be paying for the package in the new month, low and behold, 10 mins after, package cancelled. Good Business is built upon a solid and profitable foundation of Dishonesty. Without it, profits would be small.

[@MyGoodFriendJon]

If every gym had an easy cancellation policy, I'd consider using a gym again. The fact that they make it so hard to cancel means I don't want to use their services, regardless of how great they are.

[@RicardoSantos-oz3uj]

Right to cancel should not only apply to Gyms. But also for Home Owners Associations. They are legalized organized crime. Affiliation should never be forced. Nor should it be a requirement to buy a home. No idea why forced affiliation is even legal.

[@FinalManaTrigger]

THIS. Louis, if you're reading this... HOA's need to be your next target if you branch out from RTR. HOA's are the devil.

[@snex000]

You weren't forced to join an HOA rofl. You chose to live there.

[@richfiles]

​@@snex000a private organization that does not own a property, dictating whether I am even permitted to buy it or not, based on aggreeing to pay them and comply with them is very not okay. If the HOA owned the property, it'd be one thing, but they hold other people's peoperty hostage, discriminate against those who refuse to associate with their organization, preventing the actuall property owner from being able to sell to them.

[@snex000]

​@@richfiles You signed a contract, dummy. Don't sign your name on shit you don't agree to. And maybe next time, read it.

[@Cornelius87]

​@FinalManaTrigger yes they are but the problem is I don't think people want to get rid of them. From what I see people who live in homes with strict HOA love complaining about it but also see it as a sort of status symbol.

[@pavman42]

I owned two gyms. The best customers would pay but never show up. However, we had a 45 day cancellation notice and almost always cancelled them as soon as they requested it with few exceptions. But then, we weren't crooks and were trying to build a brand with a solid reputation.

[@WereJoebin]

Experienced the same thing with LA fitness. Went in to the gym in person to cancel and their excuse why we couldn’t cancel was because the manager wasn’t there. Such a scam. There should be something built into the contract when you sign up that says you can cancel anytime from anywhere.

[@nintendu64]

I use privacy and just cancel the card it worked great

[@Kevin-oj2uo]

Did privacy ask you to give an ID? I cancel mine because they want me to send Driver License and selfie of me.

[@nintendu64]

@@Kevin-oj2uoI don’t remember having to do that but I signed up back before they were popular

[@Shadsix]

​@@Kevin-oj2uonope

[@ReaIHuman]

@Kevin-oj2uo they also asked me for my SSC number, noped the fuck out.

[@brayannexon4613]

​@@Kevin-oj2uothey do ask for your SSN.

[@funnyweirdovideos]

This makes me so mad. Heaps of companies do this and even guilt trip people for cancelling.. disgusting corporate tactics.

[@Thinks-First]

They're not "corporate" tactics. They are just scumbag tactics. There are many corporations that don't do business this way. Don't be so swift to generalize and vilify. It makes you look like the bad guy. Without corporations you wouldn't survive. Don't forget that reality. Not every corporation is evil and most people work for corporations.

[@miki410]

Hi Louis, I am a resident of Los Angeles and I was able to walk into my LA Fitness today and cancel very easily in person. I believe this was because of your videos on this topic. Thank you so much. You are making a difference all across the country. Appreciate it. And I love the cats.

[@orangemonkeykiller]

My gym membership was pay in advance, and I had to give 2 months notice to cancel. Since I canceled a couple days into my billing cycle, i ended up paying almost 3 months for nothing. Toxic as hell

[@yawnclark]

I used to work in a call center for a well-known national company that once had good brand recognition. New leadership came in and changed a bunch of policies to essentially scam customers and throw away good will. You're spot on, I hated having those calls. That job ruined my mental health and it was incredibly tough because we were incentivised to not fix customers problems to make the company more money. Having legislation would be beneficial to everyone (except the shareholders) and I hope something can get passed.

[@HaloWolf102]

Are you going to be a proper whistleblower and put this in writting. There are constant companies being sued. Look for one. Put your info in as annoymous. The reason why these companies keep getting away with it. Is because the employees don't seek legal ramifications.

[@craigslist6988]

do you have any idea why so few people from the customer service at companies like yours don't come out and talk about what goes on? Is it due to making you sign legal clauses like non disparagement? Or some other work culture reason like never getting hired anywhere again?

[@yawnclark]

@@craigslist6988 It's a combination of myself not being financially secure (young, have no family that can support me, working full time, and currently fighting state farm in court) and NDAs. The amount of time and financial effort that goes into going after massive companies like this is a lot. I was also naive at the time and wasn't really aware of how bad the practices were until I moved into another company.

[@yawnclark]

@@HaloWolf102 I'll look more into it, currently already handling a thing with State Farm right now (apartment burned down and they refuse to pay) so I don't really have the mental capacity to take this as well. But if I can just provide input that would be good.

[@_shadow_1]

It is not your fault. You had no say in that policy at all.

[@replikvltyoutube3727]

Sir Rossmann, you are truly a hero. Also I think instead of right to cancel, there should be a right to withdraw/remove credit card info from any service.

[@vidaworksout]

As someone who used to work at LA Fitness and who had this conversation many times, it was a pain to watch and have to tell people the only way to cancel was through the mail or wait for a manager to cancel since they have the access to do that. Personally just find another gym cause they aren't it.

[@Kahless_the_Unforgettable]

Family Fitness did this to me 30 years ago. I actually closed the bank account after FF refused to cancel. That turned out bad. Bank of America, the worst bank in the world, reported it to check systems. Which meant that I couldn't get another bank account for several years. Even though I explained that Family Fitness had no right to charge me for a service that I canceled. So yeah. We need a law to stop gyms from doing this. And we need that law 30 years ago. I'm shocked that nothing has changed in that time. What do we elect people for? To pass laws that enrich themselves at the expense of us? Because that's all I see.

[@Ssyphoned]

I had to go through this with my ex. She was paying a gym membership for a gym in a city she hadn’t been to in 3 years stating ‘I tried 3 times to cancel and gave up’

[@JohnDoe-yj5ng]

Moral of the story, don't join a Gym, work out at home.

[@umarmujaahid1136]

Yes let start a 'right to cancel ' law campaign. 👍 sign me up.

[@nomado-sensei]

Fighting for a right not to be screwed over. How far have we come as a species.

[@TarossBlackburn]

Over here in the Netherlands there is definitely a requirement in place that allows you to cancel as easily as it is to subscribe. And if this is a monthly thing, the most they can demand is that they set a 'payment date' that will act as the cut-off. So if you cancel a day before that term you're pretty much done immediately. If you cancel after it you are technically still subscribed until the next time that date rolls around and then it ends. For subscriptions that renew on a yearly basis, you get a reminder a month before the year is up that it will be up and you get a chance to cancel before you are billed for another year. With the caveat that silence means accepting the terms and if you DO miss that date you are on your own. That part can be harsh, but they DID ask you a month in advance... Even mobile telephone contracts that can be signed up for for a year/multiple year term up front have to give you notification when that term is up and afterwards automatically revert to a by-the-month contract.

[@Dennis0824]

@@holgerwolf2546 Actually it was effective legally August 25,2023. It is part of the EU Digital Services Act.

[@marcusbardstown505]

Yep. It is a total racket and nearly impossible to cancel - total BS. Had to cancel the card.

[@ImChrisDuke]

I didn't hear a turn signal once.... oh wait, he's from NYC! 😂

[@TonyThomas10000]

Found this on Reddit: "When I canceled my LA Fitness membership a few months ago, it was terrible. I went to the gym to cancel and the person at the front desk told me I can only cancel in person when the manager was present, which is between 10AM and 2PM Monday - Friday." and "I finally found out that there is a corporate number. They actually have surprisingly good customer service and if you get mad and say you absolutely cannot cancel in person or mail in the form, they will cancel for you."

[@wertywerrtyson5529]

As someone who worked as a “human piñata” it’s not fun being screamed at and being called a Nazi or whatever for following the orders of the bosses and the bosses never talk to customers. They pay someone 10 bucks an hour to just be yelled at all day because they just want to make money at any cost. I was requiring proof to stop billing dead people. “Sorry it’s a 3 year contract. You need to send in mail with certified documentation that your father is deceased” even if we could easily look it up. I hated that job but I needed it even if going to the office would make me physically I’ll from the stress of knowing what my work would be for that day. Another day of being treated like absolute shit from the customers and the employer.

[@damonmelendez856]

I sympathize with your experience but we must all be aware that ‘Just following orders’ was determined not to be a valid defense.

[@wertywerrtyson5529]

@@damonmelendez856 If I had left the job not only would I love my home my wife would be kicked out of the country since she wasn’t a citizen yet and the way it works at least in my country is that if you can’t support your spouse that comes from outside EU she cannot stay. Being married isn’t enough unlike the US.

[@damonmelendez856]

@@wertywerrtyson5529 I understand, of course you have to do what’s best for your situation.

[@wertywerrtyson5529]

@@damonmelendez856 I left that job years ago and I wouldn’t take it again now that I know better.

[@damonmelendez856]

@@dispatch-indirect9206 wrong. Life is not black and white. Ever heard of the slippery slope?

[@glo-brain]

85% of big box gym members don’t use the gyms. I know - I’ve seen the numbers, and they are all tracked. And the gym cancel scam has been going on since I started using clubs in the mid eighties. I’ve used a dedicated bank account for gym memberships for decades, but the virtual credit card idea does seem better at this point.

[@Onihikage]

We absolutely do need a proper click-to-cancel law, the FTC's click-to-cancel rule is not a law, and is arguably not enforceable, whether it's the means they have available to them (too many crimes, not enough pencil-pushers to go after them) or legal roadblocks put in place by conservatives who seem to be allergic to good governance.

[@christianp5486]

Imagine needing to jump through hoops to not buy other products. Like going through hours of paperwork to not automatically get pizza delivered every day.

[@Adammont09]

This is why I’m so hesitant on getting a gym membership.

[@dragonmyr]

I had this problem with LinkedIn a few years ago. I cancelled and they charged me anyway. At least the chargeback worked. I also know a former phone support "pinata" for American Airlines. Being forced to talk to angry customers over and over again made him suicidal. Myself and other friends helped him out of that situation, but it took a lot of time and effort. There needs to be fines and jail time levied against companies that force low level employees to repeatedly encouter irate customers. Any effort to make cancellations or changes easier is needed.

[@everythingisfine9988]

It's easy to beat. Use a virtual credit card for these recurring payments or if required, set up a checking account just for your gym. When you're done, cancel them

[@np494609]

Louis we need to fight back to the gym industry. These dirt bags need to suffer consequences for scams, let’s do it bro. How can I help?

[@unploog]

Wasn't Amazon slapped on the wrist for obfuscating how to cancel Prime? You can definitely get this lobbied successfully.

[@Ezekiel43]

I do my 35ish pushups using a chair under my feet once before my shift starts and once during my thirty minute lunch at my work and also bicycle nine miles to and from work (a warehouse) every day. That's enough for me. I look fine, I feel fine. Reason so many people have to go to the gym is because of car-centric city planning making walking and cycling difficult or intimidating/deadly.

[@Ginfidel]

Working at a warehouse is a physically active job. If you were sitting on your rear end in front of a desk all day you'd want to dedicate an hour or two to lifting in order to stay in shape

[@marcussimmons2708]

I actually visited an LA Fitness gym the other day looking to check the place out. The high pressure sales taxes completely turned me off. The classic “This is the last day of the sale” garbage had me shaking my head. I walked out and I’m never looking back. 👍🏾!

[@Trigger292]

I moved several states away and forgot to cancel whatever gym membership before I left. They said I had to bring a form to my local gym. They weren’t super close by, but I drove out there anyway. Got to the gym and they said “oh we’re franchises, we can’t cancel another gym’s membership”. It was so much BS.

[@HarryDilz]

Hey Louis. I lived in Maryland, and signed up at a local gym. Long story short I had to move away suddenly for family reasons. I argued with them for weeks about how "I wish they would please let me cancel, i had to move suddenly, i forgot to cancel before i moved. Please" TL;DR I had to get a plane ticket just to fly back to maryland and cancel my gym membership. This wasnt a chain or anything, so i had to go back to that specific location. It was 5 years ago and it still boils my blood. Love ya Louis keep fighting for the right to stop getting f#$%*d all the time lol

[@aluisious]

You didn't have to go back there. Calling them was enough. Magic words you could try next time: "if you're going to charge me X, I'd rather give it to a lawyer. Do you prefer to talk to a lawyer?" Scumbag businesses never want to talk to a lawyer, it'll dredge up all kinds of things they're hoping no one will notice.

[@HarryDilz]

It was in the fine print that i agreed to on page 30 something of the contract apparently. Apparently "i agreed that i have to come in to that location to cancel" Maybe id use a lawyer if i was rich

[@BPo75]

@@HarryDilz Just because they wrote it into a clause, it doesn't mean it is valid in court, as unfair clauses aren't legally binding. That's why you usually see something along the lines "this agreement remain in effect even when an individual clause gets overruled" in the contract.

[@Molon_Labe1776]

World Gym?

[@doctorprofessoroblivious1282]

I would have just called my bank and had them stop the recurring payment. They send you a cancellation notice real fast on their own when they cant get your money.

[@thethirdseashell]

To avoid the whole virtual card "scam," Planet Fitness requires their members to provide routing and bank account numbers when they sign up.

[@Molon_Labe1776]

On top of that, if you use a virtual credit card (at a gym that even allows you to use a credit card) and they don't get paid per the contract terms, you are technically in breach of the contract and they will report it, charge you fees, and take legal/collection actions aganist you. Totally horrible business practice.

[@AnimationByDylan]

Holy crap, that’s a crazy red flag!

[@bbow4972]

Totally agree. I still have a Planet Fitness membership because of similar shady tactics. They literally put me on hold and disconnected after i waited for like 15min and i could not get someone on the line after. You mention cancelling and they ghost you and good luck sending a letter.

[@slsinflorida]

The YMCA where I live skirts the law by allowing you to sign up online, but not actually starting your membership until your first gym visit and making you fill out a paper. This makes it so that you didn't sign up completely online, so they don't have to let you cancel online. Then they require you to cancel in-person at your home gym, so if you move before you cancel you have to sign up at a YMCA near you and then cancel in-person there. And if there's no gym near you, sucks to be you. My sister tried to "cancel" by just canceling the card that they had and they actually sent her membership fee to collections!