Before you sign a gym contract

Billing and canceling are where gym memberships can go wrong, and the FTC has warned about gyms that make canceling hard. This page lists what to check before you sign, using advice from the Federal Trade Commission and the attorneys general of Washington and Rhode Island. State laws differ, so check the rules where you live.

Do your homework first

The FTC suggests searching the gym's name together with words like "subscription," "complaint," "problem," "cancel" and "fee" to see what others are saying. The Rhode Island Attorney General adds to ask family and friends for recommendations and to check with the Better Business Bureau for complaints.

Visit when you plan to use it

Both state offices say to see the place at the day and time you expect to go. Washington notes that peak hours may show more competition for equipment. Rhode Island suggests judging how crowded it is and whether you like the atmosphere and equipment, and says an empty gym may be a red flag.

Read the whole contract

Rhode Island's advice is to read the entire contract and make sure it lists all fees and services, and what costs extra. Any promise a salesperson makes should be in the contract. Get the total cost, including enrollment costs and finance charges, in writing. Special offers and discount prices should be in writing too, according to Washington.

Know how you will pay and for how long

The FTC says that if a plan renews automatically, charges continue until you end it. Rhode Island warns that a deal advertised at a certain amount per month might be billed six months at a time or more. Check whether you pay in one sum or by the month, how long the membership lasts, whether it renews and what the cancellation policy is. The contract should also say what happens if you move or if the club closes before the membership ends.

What a state law can require

Washington is one example of why it pays to look up your own state. Its Attorney General says a written contract must include the operator's name and address, the signing date, a description of equipment or services, the length of the contract, the amount you must pay and whether it can increase, and your cancellation rights. Clubs cannot sell lifetime memberships there, and dues cannot be raised more than once a year.

In Washington you can cancel for any reason within three days of signing. Cancellation must be in writing, mailed or delivered to the club. A mailed notice must be postmarked by midnight of the third day. The Attorney General suggests requesting a return receipt and keeping a copy, or having an employee initial and date your copy if you deliver it by hand. After a written cancellation the club has 30 days to refund your money. Money paid to a club that has not opened yet must be held in a trust account or covered by a bond.

If billing does not stop

The FTC says to contact your credit or debit card company and dispute the charges if a gym keeps billing you after you tried to cancel. It warns that changing your card number alone often will not stop the billing. You can report the problem at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. In Washington, complaints go to the Consumer Protection Division.

Questions to bring

Take this short list with you and write down the answers.

What is the total cost, including enrollment fees and finance charges?
How long does the contract run, and does it renew by itself?
How do I cancel, and does it have to be in writing?
What happens if I move or the club closes?
Is every promise the salesperson made written into the contract?
How is payment taken: one sum, monthly, or several months at a time?

Also on this site: How much exercise adults need · all gyms and fitness centers by state.

Sources

Read on November 9, 2026. Rules and advice change. If something here is out of date, the contact page is at the bottom.