Member-only story
PERSONAL FINANCE/FRAUD
Why Is Canceling a Membership So Difficult?
Easy to Join, Nearly Impossible to Cancel
“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” — Benjamin Franklin
Signing up for a membership is a breeze. A few clicks, a quick signature, and you’re in. But try to cancel? That’s when the real trouble begins.
Last year, I injured myself and asked my community-focused fitness studio to put my membership on hold. They assured me it was paused for two months. I took their word for it. Later, I checked my credit card statement and saw the charges had never stopped.
A friend of mine had it even worse. She thought she had canceled her gym membership completely at a big-box commercial gym. Two years later, she realized they had been charging her the whole time. Two years! She had to go through a ridiculous back-and-forth just to get them to stop. Forget about getting her money back.
At this point, I hesitate before signing up for anything with a recurring charge. It’s not just gyms — streaming services, subscription boxes, and…
