Money owed to you · Updated Oct 2026
I can't cancel my gym or subscription
A federal law, the Restore Online Shoppers' Confidence Act, requires sellers of online subscriptions to give you simple ways to stop recurring charges. Many states also have automatic-renewal or gym (health club) laws with extra cancellation rights, and these differ by state. You can also stop the payments through your bank or card company, but that doesn't by itself end a contract you signed.
This plan is general legal information, not legal advice. RobinClaim is not a law firm. Laws and deadlines change and have exceptions: check with the official source or a lawyer or legal aid office about your own case.
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Choose your state and answer 3 quick questions. The plan below changes as you answer: steps that don't fit your answers are hidden, and your state's deadlines appear. It all happens in your browser. Nothing is sent, and the page address holds only your answers.
Your plan
Do now
Find your contract or sign-up terms and read the cancellation section: how, where, and how much notice.
Why: Following the stated method, as well as any simpler method, makes it hard for the business to say you didn't cancel.
Cancel using every method you can: the online cancel button, email, the app, and a letter by certified mail (template below). Take screenshots and save confirmation numbers.
Why: Proof of the date you canceled is the most important evidence if charges continue.
Write down every call: date, time, the person's name and what they said.
Why: If the business refuses to cancel or keeps you on hold, your notes show you tried.
If you answered “An online subscription or app” to “What are you trying to cancel?”
For a subscription you bought online, look for the seller's online way to cancel and use it, then save the confirmation.
Why: A federal law, the Restore Online Shoppers' Confidence Act (15 U.S.C. 8403), requires sellers of online subscriptions to give you simple ways to stop recurring charges.
If you answered “At my home or a temporary sales event, in the last 3 business days” to “Where did you sign up?”
Cancel in writing before midnight of the third business day after you signed, and keep proof of the date.
Why: The FTC Cooling-Off Rule lets you cancel most sales made at your home (or at temporary locations like hotel or fair booths) within 3 business days.
Nothing extra here for your answers.
This week
If you answered “Debit card or automatic bank withdrawal” to “How are you being charged?”
Ask your bank to stop the payments, at least 3 business days before the next scheduled withdrawal, and also tell the business in writing that you've revoked permission to charge you.
Why: Federal rules (Regulation E) let you stop preauthorized withdrawals from your account. Stopping payment doesn't cancel the contract itself, so cancel with the business too.
If you answered “Credit card” to “How are you being charged?”
If you're charged after you canceled, dispute the charges in writing with your card issuer, with your proof of cancellation.
Why: Your written dispute must reach the issuer within 60 days after the first statement showing the charge.
If you answered “A gym or fitness membership” to “What are you trying to cancel?”
Ask your state attorney general or consumer office about your state's health club and automatic-renewal rules, and file a complaint if the gym won't cancel.
Why: Many states give gym members specific cancellation rights and limit contract length, but the details differ.
Report a business that makes cancelling hard to the FTC.
Why: The FTC uses reports to bring cases against companies that trap people in subscriptions.
Nothing extra here for your answers.
If it's not resolved
If you're sent to collections for charges after you canceled, dispute the debt in writing with the collector and send your proof of cancellation. Complain to the CFPB if the collector doesn't respond properly.
Why: Debt collectors must stop and verify a debt you dispute in writing within the validation period, and must not collect amounts you don't owe.
You can sue in small claims for charges taken after you canceled.
Why: Small claims is cheap and fits most subscription refunds.
Nothing extra here for your answers.
Deadlines
Dispute a credit card charge in writing with the card issuer
General rule: Your written dispute must reach the card issuer within 60 days after it sent the first statement that shows the charge (Fair Credit Billing Act, 15 U.S.C. 1666; Regulation Z, 12 CFR 1026.13).
Stop a recurring withdrawal from your bank account
General rule: Tell your bank (by phone or in writing) at least 3 business days before the scheduled withdrawal; the bank may ask for written confirmation within 14 days (12 CFR 1005.10(c)).
Cancel a sale made at your home or a temporary location
General rule: By midnight of the third business day after the sale, for sales of $25 or more at your home or $130 or more at a temporary location (16 CFR 429).
Documents to gather
- Contract or sign-up terms
- Screenshots of cancellation attempts and confirmations
- Copy of your cancellation letter and certified mail receipt
- Call log (dates, names, what was said)
- Bank or card statements showing charges after you canceled
- Any collection letters
Letters you can send
Fill in the blanks; the letter updates as you type. Copy it, print it or save it as a text file. Nothing you type is sent or saved: it stays on this page until you close it.
Cancellation notice for a membership or subscription
Records the date you canceled and revokes permission to keep charging you.
[Today's date] [Business name] [Business address] Re: Cancellation of account/membership [Account or member number] I am cancelling my membership/subscription, effective immediately. I also revoke my permission for any further charges to my card or account ending in [Last 4 digits of the card or account]. Please confirm the cancellation in writing and tell me the date of the final charge, if any is allowed under my contract. Any charge after this date that is not allowed by the contract will be disputed. [Your name] [Your address] [Your phone or email]
Where to go
- FederalYour bank or card issuer
To stop recurring withdrawals or dispute charges made after you canceled.
- StateYour state attorney general or consumer protection office
To file a consumer complaint against a business; many offices offer free mediation. The federal directory lists every state's office.
- FederalFederal Trade Commission: ReportFraud.ftc.gov
To report a business that cheated you or a scam. The FTC does not resolve individual complaints, but reports help build cases.
- FederalConsumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) complaint
If your bank, card issuer or a debt collector does not handle your problem properly. The CFPB forwards your complaint to the company, which must respond.
- LocalSmall claims court for the county where you would file
If a written demand does not work and the amount fits your state's small claims limit. Your state page lists the court, limit, fee and official forms.
Costs
Cancelling, stop-payment requests (your bank may charge a fee), card disputes and complaints are generally free. Small claims has a filing fee (see your state page).
Talk to a lawyer if
- A collector sues you over the membership
- Many people were charged the same way (a consumer lawyer or the AG may act)
- The contract involves a large prepaid amount, such as a multi-year membership
Free help
LawHelp.org (lawhelp.org) lists free legal aid programs and plain-language self-help pages for every state. The Legal Services Corporation's finder (lsc.gov/about-lsc/what-legal-aid/i-need-legal-help) shows the federally funded legal aid office for your address; these offices help people with low incomes for free. Most state court websites also run a free self-help center for small claims, and your state page on smallclaimsmap.com links to the official forms.
Guides for your state
Choose your state above for direct links to its pages.
Guides for every state
Questions
What is the dispute a credit card charge in writing with the card issuer?
Your written dispute must reach the card issuer within 60 days after it sent the first statement that shows the charge (Fair Credit Billing Act, 15 U.S.C. 1666; Regulation Z, 12 CFR 1026.13).
What is the stop a recurring withdrawal from your bank account?
Tell your bank (by phone or in writing) at least 3 business days before the scheduled withdrawal; the bank may ask for written confirmation within 14 days (12 CFR 1005.10(c)).
What is the cancel a sale made at your home or a temporary location?
By midnight of the third business day after the sale, for sales of $25 or more at your home or $130 or more at a temporary location (16 CFR 429).
When should I talk to a lawyer?
A collector sues you over the membership; Many people were charged the same way (a consumer lawyer or the AG may act); The contract involves a large prepaid amount, such as a multi-year membership.
How much does it cost?
Cancelling, stop-payment requests (your bank may charge a fee), card disputes and complaints are generally free. Small claims has a filing fee (see your state page).
Plans by state
This plan is the same in every state. Each state's RobinClaim page lists its courts, agencies and deadlines:
Sources
- 15 U.S.C. 8403 Restore Online Shoppers' Confidence Act, negative option marketing on the Internet (GovInfo)
- FTC: Getting In and Out of Free Trials, Auto-Renewals, and Negative Option Subscriptions
- FTC: Tried to cancel a service but couldn't? Learn steps to take
- FTC: Buyer's Remorse: The FTC's Cooling-Off Rule May Help
- eCFR: 16 CFR Part 429, Cooling-Off Rule
- CFPB: How do I stop automatic payments from my bank account?
- CFPB: Regulation E, 12 CFR 1005.10 Preauthorized transfers
- CFPB: Regulation Z, 12 CFR 1026.13 Billing error resolution
- USA.gov: State consumer protection offices
Plan checked Oct 2026. Independently fact-checked 2026-10-24. Some details could not be fully verified; see the notes in each section.
This plan is general legal information, not legal advice. RobinClaim is not a law firm. Laws and deadlines change and have exceptions: check with the official source or a lawyer or legal aid office about your own case. How we research.