FTC Sues LA Fitness Over Cancelled Memberships
- On August 21, 2025, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) launched a lawsuit against Fitness international and Fitness & Sports Clubs, the parent companies behind popular gym chains including...
- The FTC's lawsuit details a pattern of behavior designed to obstruct cancellation requests.
- The following gym chains, all under the umbrella of Fitness International and Fitness & Sports Clubs, are implicated in the FTC's complaint:
FTC sues LA Fitness and Affiliates Over Cancellation Practices
Table of Contents
Published: August 21, 2025
The Core of the Complaint
On August 21, 2025, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) launched a lawsuit against Fitness international and Fitness & Sports Clubs, the parent companies behind popular gym chains including LA Fitness, Esporta Fitness, city Sports Club, and Club Studio. The central allegation? These companies made canceling memberships unnecessarily arduous, leading to unwanted charges for consumers. This action underscores the FTC’s commitment to protecting consumers from deceptive and unfair business practices.
What the FTC Alleges
The FTC’s lawsuit details a pattern of behavior designed to obstruct cancellation requests. Consumers reportedly faced hurdles such as being required to cancel in person, despite signing up online, or being told cancellations weren’t possible during certain times. These tactics, the FTC argues, resulted in continued billing for individuals who no longer wanted or used the gym’s services. The agency believes these practices violate the Restore Online shopping Balance Act and the FTC Act.
Affected Gym Chains
The lawsuit isn’t limited to just LA Fitness. The following gym chains, all under the umbrella of Fitness International and Fitness & Sports Clubs, are implicated in the FTC’s complaint:
- LA Fitness
- Esporta Fitness
- City Sports Club
- Club Studio
This means perhaps millions of gym members across the country could have been affected by these alleged practices. Consumers who have struggled to cancel their memberships at any of these locations should pay close attention to the developments in this case.
The FTC’s Role and Consumer Protection
The Federal Trade Commission is a bipartisan federal agency dedicated to consumer protection and promoting fair competition in the marketplace. The FTC’s actions in this case demonstrate its willingness to challenge businesses that employ deceptive or unfair practices. Consumers can find valuable resources and report scams directly on the FTC’s website, including information on how to avoid scams and protect their financial information.
What This Means for Gym Members
This lawsuit could lead to important changes in how these gym chains handle membership cancellations. Potential outcomes include requiring the gyms to simplify the cancellation process, provide refunds to affected consumers, and pay penalties for their alleged misconduct. It also serves as a warning to other businesses: the FTC is actively monitoring and taking action against companies that make it difficult for consumers to exercise their rights.
Resources for Consumers
If you’ve experienced difficulty canceling a gym membership, or believe you’ve been unfairly charged, here are some resources:
- Federal Trade Commission: https://consumer.ftc.gov/scams
- FTC en Español: https://www.ftc.gov/es (for Spanish-speaking consumers)
- FTC News & Events: https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news (for updates on this case and other FTC actions)