FTC Sues LA Fitness Over Difficult Gym Cancellation Policies
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is suing Fitness International, the operator of LA Fitness and related brands, alleging that the company intentionally makes it challenging for consumers to cancel gym memberships. The FTC claims that the company’s cumbersome cancellation methods, including in-person or mail-in options with numerous hurdles, resulted in hundreds of millions of dollars in unwanted recurring fees for customers. Despite Fitness International’s recent introduction of online cancellations, the FTC asserts that the process remains overly complex and that the company fails to adequately disclose cancellation terms. The FTC is seeking a court order to halt the alleged practices and obtain refunds for affected consumers.
John Q. Hosedrinker