By Sara Beth Williams–
The parent company of a local gym in Citrus Heights has found itself in some legal trouble,
California-based fitness company Fitness International was recently sued over “impossible to cancel” memberships, according to a lawsuit filed last month by the Federal Trade Commission.
The company owns fitness brands such as LA Fitness, Esporta Fitness, City Sports Club, and Club Studio. Club Studio opened a location in Citrus Heights last fall in Sunrise Village, at ____
The suit claims that Fitness International and its subsidiary Fitness and Sports Club have made it “exceedingly difficult” for customers to cancel memberships as well as other related gym services.
The complaint alleged the company illegally charged customers hundreds of millions in recurring fees due to difficult cancellation procedures. The agency said “thousands of customers” have reported such problems. Cancellations can only be completed in person or by mail, the FTC alleged, calling the limited processes in which to cancel “unfair and unlawful.”
Both cancellation processes require customers to log into an online gym membership account and print out a form from the gym’s website. Members reportedly complained that they couldn’t always access their membership accounts and that when opting to go to cancel in person, customers had difficulty finding a manager to process the cancelation form once they arrived.
The FTC also alleges that the company does not adequately disclose cancellation offerings when customers sign up for memberships and that some customers signed up for additional services with recurring charges that have different cancelation policies or requirements.
Fitness International President of Club Operations Jill Hill said the allegations against the company were “without merit” and explained that the company “proactively launched” an online cancelation process 18 months before the FTC’s proposed “click to cancel” rule was to go into effect in July of 2025.
Under President Joe Biden’s administration, the Commission adopted a “click to cancel” rule, which would have made it easier for customers to cancel unwanted subscriptions. Earlier this summer, a federal court blocked the proposed changes.
In its lawsuit, the Commission is seeking to prohibit the fitness company from engaging in “unfair” conduct and asking for monetary repayment to customers who were “harmed by difficult cancellation processes.”
Club Studio Fitness recently celebrated its one-year mark with a ribbon cutting ceremony. During the annual Best of Citrus Heights awards ceremony held in August of this year, hosted by the Citrus Heights Chamber of Commerce, the fitness center took home the award for Best Gym or Fitness Center.
The Commission notes in its press release that the case will be decided in court, saying, “The Commission files a complaint when it has “reason to believe” that the named defendants are violating or are about to violate the law and it appears to the Commission that a proceeding is in the public interest.”
