LA Fitness keeps billing me 3 months after cancellation - have proof of cancellation, what are my options?

I cancelled my LA Fitness membership in January by going to the gym in person and filling out their cancellation form. The employee gave me a stamped copy showing cancellation effective February 1st.

They charged me for February, March, and now April. That's $90 x 3 = $270 in unauthorized charges. I've called 6 times, emailed twice, and each time they say "we'll look into it" and nothing happens.

I disputed the charges with my credit card company but LA Fitness is fighting it saying I didn't properly cancel. I literally have their stamped form!

What can I do? Small claims? Report them somewhere? This is insane.

Classic gym scam. This happens ALL THE TIME with LA Fitness, Planet Fitness, 24 Hour Fitness, etc. They make it deliberately hard to cancel and then keep charging you hoping you'll give up.

Keep fighting the credit card dispute. Send them the stamped cancellation form. CC companies usually side with cardholders on this stuff if you have documentation.

Consumer protection attorney here. What state are you in? This matters because some states have specific laws about gym membership cancellations.

Assuming you're in California (LA Fitness is big there), you have strong protections under California's Health Studio Services Contract Act. Key points:

• Gyms cannot require more than 30 days notice to cancel
• Cancellation is effective when you submit it in the required form
• Continuing to charge after valid cancellation is a violation

You can file a complaint with the California Attorney General's office and also pursue this in small claims for the unauthorized charges plus statutory damages.

I'm in New York actually. Does that change things?

And when you say "statutory damages" - what does that mean? Could I get more than just the $270 back?

New York has similar protections. Under NY General Business Law Section 623, health clubs must allow cancellation with reasonable notice and cannot continue billing after cancellation.

You can sue in small claims for:

1. The $270 in unauthorized charges
2. Potentially treble damages (3x) if this was willful/knowing misconduct
3. Filing fees and costs

So you could potentially recover up to $810 plus your $30 filing fee. Small claims limit in NY is $10,000 so you're well under.

Also file a complaint with the NY Attorney General's Consumer Frauds Bureau. They take gym membership complaints seriously and it creates a paper trail.

I had this exact same issue with Equinox last year. Here's what worked for me:

1. Sent a certified letter to their corporate office (not the gym location) with a copy of the cancellation form and a demand to stop billing immediately
2. Mentioned that I would file complaints with AG and BBB if not resolved in 10 days
3. CC'd my credit card company on the letter

They refunded everything within a week. The magic words were "Attorney General" and "formal complaint."

Update: I sent a certified letter to LA Fitness corporate in Irvine, CA. Attached a copy of my stamped cancellation form and stated that I would file complaints with the NY AG and pursue small claims if they don't refund all charges within 14 days.

Also explicitly mentioned NY General Business Law Section 623 (thanks for that reference!).

Fingers crossed this works. Will update when I hear back.

In the meantime, call your credit card and tell them to block any future charges from LA Fitness. You can request that even while the dispute is pending. That way they can't keep charging you while you fight this.

Final update: LA Fitness corporate called me 5 days after receiving my certified letter. They apologized and said there was an "administrative error" (yeah right).

They're refunding all three months ($270) and sent me a confirmation email that my membership is cancelled with no further charges.

I also got confirmation from my CC company that they're reversing the dispute fees.

The certified letter with legal citations was definitely the key. Thanks everyone!

Found this thread while researching my own nightmare with Planet Fitness. They charged me $39.99/month for SEVEN months after I cancelled. That's $279.93 in unauthorized charges!

The kicker? I cancelled at the front desk AND got an email confirmation. When I called to dispute, they said my cancellation "didn't process correctly" and offered me ONE month refund as a "courtesy." No way.

Going to try the certified letter approach. @MarcusLee_ConsumerLaw - does California law apply if I cancelled at a CA location but live in Nevada?

@FitnessFreak_Gone - Good question. Generally, the law of the state where you signed the contract applies. Check your membership agreement for a "choice of law" clause. If you signed up in CA, California law likely applies even if you later moved.

Nevada also has consumer protection laws (NRS 598) that prohibit deceptive trade practices, including continuing to charge after cancellation. You can file complaints in both states if needed.

With email confirmation of cancellation, you have solid documentation. Send that certified letter!

SUCCESS with Discover Card chargeback! 24 Hour Fitness kept charging me $49.99/month for 4 months after cancellation ($199.96 total).

Here's what worked:

1. Called Discover and explained the situation
2. Uploaded my cancellation confirmation through their portal
3. They gave me provisional credit within 48 hours
4. 24 Hour tried to fight it but Discover sided with me after reviewing docs

Discover was WAY more helpful than Chase was when I had an issue years ago. If you're choosing a new credit card, their chargeback process is top tier.

Former gym employee here (worked at LA Fitness for 3 years). Let me give you some insider info:

The "administrative error" excuse is used constantly because it protects the company legally. In reality, many locations have quotas for member retention and managers get bonuses for low cancellation rates. Some will literally "lose" cancellation forms to meet numbers.

Tips from the inside:

• ALWAYS get a stamped copy of your cancellation - don't leave without it
• Take a photo of the employee who processes it and the timestamp
• Send a follow-up email the same day summarizing what happened
• If possible, cancel on the first of the month, not mid-cycle

Corporate hates when members know the laws. That's why the certified letter works - it signals you're not backing down.

PRO TIP that saved me: Use a virtual card number for gym memberships!

Capital One, Citi, and Privacy.com all let you create virtual card numbers. When you cancel your gym membership, you can just delete the virtual card number. They literally cannot charge you anymore.

I did this with my Equinox membership. Cancelled in person, got confirmation, then immediately deleted the virtual card. They tried to charge me the next month and it just declined. Problem solved before it even started.

@VirtualCard_Victory - Be careful with that approach. Some gyms will send you to collections for "unpaid dues" even if you cancelled properly. Then you have to fight the collections agency AND deal with potential credit report damage.

The virtual card approach is great as a backup, but make sure you still have ironclad cancellation documentation in case they try that route.

I know people dismiss the BBB as useless, but filing a complaint actually worked for me with Gold's Gym.

They charged me $59/month for 5 months after cancellation = $295. I filed a BBB complaint with all my documentation. Gold's responded within a week offering a full refund to "resolve the matter."

I think bigger chains care about their BBB rating because it affects their franchise sales. Worth the 10 minutes it takes to file.

STATE AG COMPLAINT SUCCESS STORY:

Filed a complaint with the California Attorney General against Crunch Fitness for $420 in post-cancellation charges (6 months at $70/month for their premium tier).

Within 3 weeks, I got a call from Crunch's legal department. They refunded everything AND gave me a written apology. The AG's office sent me a follow-up letter saying the matter was resolved.

The AG complaint form took maybe 20 minutes to fill out. Totally worth it. Link for Californians: CA AG Consumer Complaint

DOCUMENTATION TIP: If you're in a one-party consent state (like California, Texas, or Florida), record your cancellation calls!

I recorded my Planet Fitness cancellation call where the employee confirmed my membership was cancelled effective immediately. When they tried to charge me 2 months later and claim I never cancelled, I sent them the recording. Refund issued within 3 days.

Check your state's recording laws first though. In two-party consent states (like California for businesses, Illinois, Pennsylvania), you need to inform them you're recording.

@RecordMyCall - Small correction: California IS a two-party consent state. You need to inform them you're recording (or they need to inform you, which most call centers do with the "this call may be recorded" message - that counts as mutual consent).

The single-party states include Texas, New York, Georgia, and about 38 others. Always google "[your state] call recording laws" before recording.

Equinox is the WORST for this. They charged me $375/month (yes, their premium "All Access" tier) for 4 months after I cancelled. That's $1,500!

Their excuse? "You cancelled your primary location but not your All Access membership." WHAT? That makes no sense.

Had to get my Amex involved. Amex is incredible for disputes - they sided with me immediately and clawed back all four charges. Equinox tried to fight it but Amex's consumer protection team basically told them to pound sand.

If you're dealing with high-dollar gym charges, Amex is your friend.

Filed small claims against Anytime Fitness in Texas. Here's my experience:

The situation: $35/month x 8 months = $280 in unauthorized charges after cancellation

What I sued for:

• $280 in actual damages
• $280 in statutory damages under Texas DTPA (Deceptive Trade Practices Act)
• $95 filing fee
• Total: $655

Result: They settled for $500 two days before the hearing. I didn't even have to show up to court.

Gyms know that if they lose in small claims, it sets a precedent and encourages more lawsuits. They'd rather settle quietly.

AMEX tip from @EquinoxEscape is legit. I also want to add that Discover and Capital One are excellent for gym chargebacks.

Banks ranked by how helpful they were (based on my experience and friends' experiences):

1. Amex - Almost always sides with cardholders, aggressive protection
2. Discover - Very consumer-friendly, easy online dispute process
3. Capital One - Good, but slower than the above two
4. Chase - Hit or miss, depends on the rep you get
5. Bank of America - Tends to favor merchants, harder to win disputes

If you're signing up for a gym, use an Amex or Discover if you have one!

Has anyone here been contacted about the LA Fitness class action settlement? I got a notice in the mail last week.

Apparently there's a settlement fund for members who were charged after cancellation between 2019-2024. You can claim up to $200 without documentation or more with proof of unauthorized charges.

Check your mail and spam folders. The claims deadline is December 2025.

This whole thread is why I will NEVER join a gym again. Got burned by Planet Fitness for $225 after they "lost" my cancellation form.

Eventually got my money back through a credit card dispute, but the stress wasn't worth it. Now I just use YouTube workouts and a set of dumbbells. No monthly fees, no cancellation drama.

For anyone still wanting a gym, consider pay-as-you-go options like ClassPass or drop-in fees. At least you're not locked into a recurring billing nightmare.

Just want to say this thread saved me $450. Planet Fitness kept charging me for 5 months after I cancelled in person (they claimed I never cancelled). I sent them a certified letter basically copying the format from this thread - cited the cancellation confirmation I had, state consumer protection law, and threatened to file a complaint with the AG.

Got a full refund within 10 days and written confirmation of cancellation. These gym chains rely on people not knowing their rights and just accepting the charges. Stand your ground!

Adding my horror story with Bally Total Fitness (before they went bankrupt and got bought by 24 Hour):

They charged me for TWO YEARS after I moved states and cancelled. $29.99/month x 24 months = $719.76. I didn't notice for a while because it was on a card I rarely checked.

By the time I caught it, the chargeback window had passed for most charges. I only recovered 4 months through my bank. The rest was gone.

LESSON: Set up transaction alerts for ALL your cards. Most banks let you get notifications for any charge over $1. This way you catch unauthorized charges immediately.

Building on the virtual card tip from @VirtualCard_Victory:

You can also use prepaid Visa/Mastercard gift cards for gym memberships. Load just enough for a few months, then when you cancel, there's no money left to charge.

Yes, they might send you to collections, but @NewJersey_Jim's concern is valid - only do this if you have SOLID cancellation documentation. Keep that certified mail receipt!

Shameless plug for non-profit gyms: YMCA, Jewish Community Centers, and rec centers typically have MUCH better cancellation policies because they're not trying to trap you.

My YMCA membership? Cancelled online in 30 seconds. Got email confirmation. Never charged again. No drama.

The for-profit gym industry has built their entire business model around making it hard to leave. Vote with your wallet and choose better.

Dealing with this exact issue with 24 Hour Fitness right now. Cancelled in October, they charged me Nov, Dec, and January. Each time I call they say "we see your cancellation, this charge was an error, we'll refund it" and then... nothing happens.

Going to try the certified letter approach this week. The AG complaint angle is smart too. Thanks for documenting what worked.

Question though - when you disputed with your credit card, did they ask for documentation? I'm worried my CC company will just side with the gym if they claim I didn't cancel properly.

Adding to this thread because I learned something useful: If the gym won't stop charging you, you can also ask your bank to do a "stop payment" on the merchant. Its different from a dispute - it literally blocks them from charging your account going forward.

Did this with Crunch Fitness after they kept billing me. The charges just started bouncing. They eventually sent me an angry letter about "failed payments" and I responded with a copy of my cancellation confirmation. Never heard from them again lol.

Obviously this only works for debit/ACH. Credit cards need the dispute process.

For my fellow Illinois residents: We have the Physical Fitness Services Act (815 ILCS 645).

Key protections:

• Contracts must allow cancellation within 3 business days with full refund
• Can cancel within 30 days if facility moves more than 5 miles
• Monthly contracts must allow cancellation with 30 days notice
• Violations can result in actual damages PLUS punitive damages

The IL AG has been very active prosecuting gym billing fraud. If you're in Illinois, definitely file a complaint at Illinois AG Consumer Protection.

@Dave_M_Boston - For the credit card dispute, submit your cancellation confirmation and any emails/calls where they acknowledged the error. Most card issuers have a portal where you can upload documents now.

The key is Regulation E (for debit) or the Fair Credit Billing Act (for credit cards). Once you dispute in writing, the burden shifts to the merchant to prove the charges were authorized. Your cancellation confirmation is strong evidence they weren't.

If anyone needs a demand letter for these situations, theres a decent gym cancellation demand letter generator on this site that includes the relevant state law citations.

SUCCESS STORY: Just got a $720 refund from Gold's Gym after 8 months of unauthorized charges!

Here's exactly what worked for me:

1. Filed credit card disputes for ALL 8 months (my CC company, Chase, was very helpful)
2. Sent a formal demand letter via certified mail citing California Health Studio Services Contract Law (Civil Code 1812.80-1812.98)
3. Filed a complaint with California AG and BBB on the same day
4. Posted reviews on Yelp and Google mentioning the billing issue

Within 2 weeks, Gold's corporate called to "resolve the matter." They refunded all 8 months PLUS waived the "cancellation fee" they were trying to charge. The demand letter was key - once they saw I knew the actual laws, they backed down immediately.

UPDATE - I WON MY CASE: Filed in small claims court against Anytime Fitness for $540 in unauthorized charges + $250 in damages for my time/stress.

They didn't even show up to court! Got a default judgment for the full $790. Here's the timeline:

• January 15: Filed small claims ($75 filing fee)
• January 20: Had them served via certified mail
• February 2: Court date - no one from Anytime Fitness appeared
• Judge awarded me everything I asked for

Gyms count on you giving up. They're not going to send a lawyer to fight over $500-800. If the demand letter doesn't work, just file in small claims. It's worth the $75 filing fee when you're owed hundreds.

Pro tip: Include ALL your documentation - cancellation confirmation, bank statements showing charges, copies of emails/calls, and the demand letter you sent. Judges love paper trails.

PSA: There are multiple ongoing class action lawsuits against major gym chains for this exact billing fraud. Here's what I found:

• LA Fitness: Settlement fund for members charged after cancellation (check classaction.org)
• Planet Fitness: Multiple state AG investigations ongoing
• 24 Hour Fitness: Post-bankruptcy class action for billing issues

Even if you've already gotten your individual refund, you may be eligible for additional compensation from these settlements. Worth checking the class action databases.

Also, if you're in California, the gym demand letter template here specifically references the California Health Studio Services Contract Act which has some of the strongest consumer protections in the country. Even threatening to invoke those laws often gets immediate results.

Current corporate employee at a major gym chain (not saying which one). Using a throwaway for obvious reasons.

What @CardioQuitter said about quotas is 100% true. But it goes deeper:

• Our internal system literally flags cancellations for "review" which delays processing
• We have a "save team" that calls cancelled members to offer deals - during this time, billing continues
• The "error" refunds are capped at 3 months per member without manager approval
• If you threaten legal action, your account gets flagged for "executive resolution" which actually gets you to someone with authority

The magic phrase internally is "escalate to member services executive." That gets you to someone who can actually fix things.

Florida specific info: We have Florida Statute 501.017 (Health Studio Services).

Important Florida protections:

• 3-day right to cancel any new contract
• Can cancel if injured/disabled with doctor's note
• Can cancel if you move 25+ miles from facility
• Gym must have a $50,000 surety bond

If a FL gym charges you after proper cancellation, they're also potentially violating the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act (FDUTPA), which allows for attorney's fees recovery. That scares gyms because it makes it worthwhile for lawyers to take these cases.

FL AG complaint form: MyFloridaLegal.com

Detailed chargeback timeline for anyone going this route:

Day 1: Call your card issuer, explain you cancelled the service and are being charged without authorization. Request a dispute form or do it online.

Day 1-3: Upload/mail your evidence (cancellation confirmation, communication with gym, state law citations)

Day 3-10: Provisional credit usually appears on your account

Day 10-45: Card issuer investigates, may contact merchant

Day 45-90: Resolution. Either credit becomes permanent or merchant wins dispute

IMPORTANT: Most chargebacks must be filed within 60-120 days of the charge, depending on your card. Don't wait!

Also dispute EACH charge separately if they're in different billing cycles. More paperwork but higher success rate.

Washington State success story:

Got $380 back from 24 Hour Fitness using Washington Consumer Protection Act (RCW 19.86). Filed complaint with WA Attorney General - they have one of the most active consumer protection divisions in the country.

Within 2 weeks, 24 Hour's legal team reached out to settle. They refunded all charges plus $100 "goodwill payment." I didn't even have to threaten small claims.

WA residents: Use the AG complaint process at WA Attorney General. They actually follow up and have serious enforcement power.

Just want to add my voice to the "demand letter works" chorus.

Sent one to Retro Fitness for $180 (6 months x $30 after cancellation). Used the template from this site, customized it with NJ consumer protection law citations.

Got a call within 1 week. Full refund deposited 3 days later.

The certified mail receipt cost me $7.75. Best ROI ever - $180 back for an $8 investment.

Boutique fitness studios do this too, not just big box gyms.

Orangetheory charged me $189/month for 3 months after I cancelled ($567 total). They claimed my "freeze" expired and I never "formally cancelled."

The catch: Their contract said I had to cancel "in writing at my home studio." I cancelled by email. They said email doesn't count.

Ended up winning my Amex dispute because the contract didn't specifically exclude email as a form of writing. Got all $567 back.

Lesson: Read the cancellation clause in your contract BEFORE signing. And if it says "in writing" - email counts unless they specifically say it doesn't.

Class action attorney here. A few notes on the class actions mentioned:

LA Fitness settlement: Claims are still being processed. If you were a member between 2019-2024 and have documentation of post-cancellation charges, file a claim even if you already got an individual refund.

Planet Fitness: Multiple state AG investigations in CA, NY, NJ, and MA. Not yet a nationwide class action but individual state actions are ongoing.

24 Hour Fitness: Post-bankruptcy, their billing practices are being examined. Several regional class actions pending.

If you've been charged more than $1,000 total in unauthorized gym fees and haven't gotten full recovery, consider consulting with a consumer protection attorney. Many work on contingency for these cases.

NYC-specific tip: We have special protections under NYC Administrative Code 20-700.

New York City gyms must:

• Provide clear written cancellation procedures
• Process cancellations within 30 days
• Not charge after effective cancellation date
• Provide written confirmation of cancellation

Violations can be reported to NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection. They've fined several gyms recently for exactly this issue.

Filing is free: NYC DCWP Complaint

Follow-up to @VirtualCard_Victory's suggestion:

I've tested several virtual card services specifically for gym memberships:

• Privacy.com: Free, works great. Can set spending limits per merchant.
• Capital One Eno: Built into their card, generates virtual numbers easily
• Citi Virtual Account Numbers: Good but sometimes get flagged by gyms
• Apple Card: Unique number per device, but can't lock individual merchants

Privacy.com is my top choice because you can create a card just for "Gym Name" and then pause or close it instantly from the app. No phone calls, no disputes, just click and done.

Gold's Gym saga complete!

Timeline:

• June 2025: Cancelled membership in person
• July-Dec 2025: Charged $65/month x 6 = $390
• December: Noticed charges, called 3x, got nowhere
• January 2026: Sent certified demand letter citing CA Civil Code 1812.80
• January 2026: Filed CA AG complaint and BBB complaint
• February 2026: Gold's called, full $390 refund + written apology

Total time from demand letter to refund: 18 days. The multi-pronged approach (letter + AG + BBB) seems to work best.

Massachusetts has excellent gym consumer protections under Chapter 93A (Consumer Protection Act).

Key MA advantages:

• Send a demand letter under 93A and you're entitled to actual damages
• If gym doesn't respond reasonably within 30 days, damages can be DOUBLED or TRIPLED
• Attorney's fees are recoverable if you win

I got $240 back from BSC (Boston Sports Club) after 4 months of unauthorized charges. Sent a 93A demand letter and they settled for full refund plus $100 within 25 days. They knew if it went to court, it could be tripled.

MA AG: Mass.gov AG

Master documentation checklist for gym cancellations:

1. Take photo of yourself at the gym front desk with timestamp visible
2. Get stamped/signed cancellation form - photograph it before leaving
3. Send follow-up email same day: "Per my cancellation today at [location]..."
4. Request written confirmation by email
5. If cancelling by mail, use USPS Certified Mail with Return Receipt
6. Screenshot your bank/card statement before cancellation (shows last "legitimate" charge)
7. Set calendar reminder for billing cycle to check for unauthorized charges

Yes, this seems like overkill. But this thread proves why it's necessary. Gyms exploit people who don't document.

EOS Fitness horror story with happy ending:

They charged me $24.99/month for 9 months after cancellation = $224.91. When I called, they said my cancellation was "pending approval" for NINE MONTHS.

What finally worked:

1. Tweeted at them publicly with my story
2. Their social media team responded within hours
3. Got escalated to "member experience director"
4. Full refund processed in 5 business days

Sometimes going public on social media gets faster results than official channels. Companies hate bad PR.

Arizona residents: We have ARS 44-1791 (Physical Fitness Center Contracts).

Arizona law requires:

• Written contracts with clear cancellation terms
• 3-day cooling off period for new contracts
• Cancellation allowed if you move 25+ miles away
• Pro-rata refunds if gym closes

AZ AG has been actively pursuing gym billing fraud cases. File complaints at AZ Attorney General.

I filed against Mountainside Fitness and got $320 back within 3 weeks of my AG complaint.

Important chargeback nuance: Different dispute reason codes have different success rates.

For gym billing after cancellation, use these codes:

• Visa: Reason Code 13.1 (Merchandise/Services Not Received)
• Mastercard: Reason Code 4853 (Cardholder Dispute)
• Amex: Reason Code C08 (Goods/Services Not Received)
• Discover: Reason Code 05 (Good Faith Investigation)

When you call your bank, explicitly say "I cancelled this service and am being charged for services not received." This triggers the right dispute category.

Don't say "fraudulent charge" unless your card was actually stolen - that's a different category with different requirements.

Planet Fitness specifically requires cancellation either in-person OR via certified letter. They don't accept phone or email cancellations (check your contract).

This is how they trap people. You think you cancelled, but unless you did it their specific way, they claim you didn't.

I learned this the hard way - $119.88 in charges (12 months x $9.99) because I "cancelled" by email. Had to fight for 2 months to get it back.

ALWAYS check the specific cancellation method required in your gym contract. Then do it EXACTLY that way with documentation.

Texas friends: Texas Health Spa Act (Tex. Occ. Code Chapter 702) is your friend.

Key Texas protections:

• 3-day cancellation right for new contracts
• Can cancel if gym relocates more than 10 miles
• Can cancel if you become disabled
• Health spas must maintain a security bond

Also, Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act (DTPA) allows for treble damages on knowing violations. That means if the gym knowingly kept charging you after cancellation, you could get 3x your money back.

TX AG: Texas AG Consumer Protection

Colorado update: Got $450 back from Vasa Fitness last month.

They charged me $45/month for 10 months after I moved to a different state. When I called to cancel (from out of state), they said I had to come in person. I said that's impossible - I live 1,000 miles away now.

Sent certified letter with proof of new address (utility bill). They ignored it. Filed CO AG complaint citing Colorado Consumer Protection Act.

AG's office followed up with Vasa. Full refund plus a letter saying they're "updating their relocation cancellation procedures."

CO AG: Colorado AG

For anyone intimidated by small claims court (like I was), here's what to expect:

Filing: Go to your county courthouse, fill out a 1-page form, pay $30-100 depending on state. You can often file online now.

Service: Court will tell you how to notify the defendant (usually certified mail or sheriff service)

Day of: Dress business casual. Bring ALL your documents. Judge will ask you to explain briefly. Other side gets to respond. Judge decides, often same day.

Reality: Most gyms don't even show up. They'd rather eat the $500 loss than pay a lawyer $300/hour to fight it. Default judgment = you win automatically.

I was terrified but it was honestly easier than a DMV visit. And I got $680 back from Fitness 19.

UPDATE on my 24 Hour Fitness situation from January:

Sent certified letter on Jan 14. Filed MA AG complaint on Jan 15. Filed BBB complaint on Jan 16.

Got a call from 24 Hour "Executive Member Services" on Jan 28. They offered to refund 2 of the 3 months. I said no - full refund or small claims.

They called back the next day with full refund offer. Money hit my account Feb 2.

Total recovered: $149.97 (3 months x $49.99). Total spent: $7.75 for certified mail.

This thread's advice works. Thank you all!

This thread has become an incredible resource. Summary of what works based on 50+ comments:

Prevention:

• Use virtual card numbers
• Document EVERYTHING when cancelling
• Follow contract's exact cancellation procedure
• Set up transaction alerts

Recovery:

• Certified demand letter with state law citations (works ~70% of time)
• Credit card chargeback (Amex/Discover best)
• State AG complaint (creates paper trail, sometimes direct resolution)
• BBB complaint (surprisingly effective for big chains)
• Small claims court (nuclear option, high success rate)

The gym demand letter template on this site has been mentioned multiple times as a good starting point. Customize it with your state's specific laws.

Don't let gyms steal from you. Fight back!