Do you need to cancel your Planet Fitness membership? You can usually cancel your Planet Fitness membership in two main ways: by going to your home club in person or by sending a letter through certified mail to your home club. Most of the time, you cannot cancel online or by phone. This guide will walk you through the steps for both methods and explain what you need to know about your membership rules.
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Why You Might Need to Cancel
Life changes. Maybe you are moving far away. Maybe you found a different gym you like better. Or maybe your budget changed, and you need to save money. Whatever the reason, canceling your gym membership is sometimes necessary. Planet Fitness makes it a specific process, so knowing the steps helps a lot.
Deciphering the Planet Fitness Cancellation Policy
Every gym has rules about how you can leave. This is the Planet Fitness cancellation policy. It is part of the agreement you signed when you joined.
- The Basic Rule: Planet Fitness usually requires you to cancel either in person at your home club or by sending a letter via certified mail to your home club.
- Your “Home Club”: This is the gym location where you first signed up. It is very important because this is where your cancellation request must go.
- Monthly vs. Annual Fee: Most memberships have a monthly fee. Many also have an annual fee (sometimes called a Black Card or Yearly Fee) that is charged once a year. The cancellation rules often depend on when you cancel in relation to this annual fee date.
- Timing is Key: There is usually a deadline each month to cancel so you do not get charged for the next month. Often, you must cancel before the 10th of the month to avoid the billing for the following month. If you cancel after the 10th, you will likely be charged for the next month and then the cancellation will take effect.
- Checking Your Agreement: The best place to find exact details for your membership is your original Planet Fitness membership agreement. This document has the specific rules you agreed to.
Grasping Your Membership Agreement
When you joined Planet Fitness, you signed a contract. This is your Planet Fitness membership agreement. It contains important details about your specific plan, like:
- Your membership type (Classic, Black Card, etc.).
- Your monthly fee amount.
- The date your annual fee is charged.
- The exact rules for canceling, including deadlines.
Finding this agreement can be helpful. It tells you the specific terms that apply to you. If you cannot find your paper copy, you might be able to ask the staff at your home club if they can look up your agreement details.
The Two Main Ways to Cancel
Planet Fitness gives you two official ways to stop your membership:
- Canceling in Person: Go to your home club. Speak to a staff member. Fill out a Planet Fitness cancellation form.
- Canceling by Mail: Write a formal letter asking to cancel. Send this letter via certified mail to your home club’s address.
Let’s look at each method in more detail.
How to Cancel Planet Fitness In Person
This is often seen as the easiest way if you live close to your home club.
Steps for In-Person Cancellation:
- Find Your Home Club: Make sure you go to the specific Planet Fitness location where you originally signed up. Canceling at a different club will usually not work.
- Choose the Right Time: Try to go during normal business hours, maybe when it is not super busy. Avoid peak workout times (like after work) if you want more staff attention.
- Talk to the Staff: Go to the front desk. Tell the staff member you want to cancel your membership.
- Fill Out the Form: They will give you a Planet Fitness cancellation form. You will need to fill in your information, like your name, membership number, and contact details. You might be asked why you are canceling, but you do not have to give a detailed reason if you do not want to.
- Get Proof: This is a very important step! Make sure you get a copy of the filled-out form and get something showing you completed the cancellation process. This could be a signed copy of the form, a receipt, or a confirmation number. Keep this proof in case there are any issues later.
- Confirm the Date: Ask the staff member the exact date your membership will end and when your last payment will be. Remember the rule about canceling before the 10th of the month to avoid the next month’s charge.
What to Bring When Canceling In Person:
- Your membership card or keytag (if you have it).
- Your photo ID (like a driver’s license) to prove you are the member.
- Maybe a copy of your membership agreement if you have questions about it.
How to Cancel Planet Fitness by Mail
If you moved or cannot easily get to your home club, sending a letter is the other official way.
Steps for Canceling by Mail:
- Write the Cancellation Letter: You need to write a formal letter. This letter should clearly state your wish to cancel your Planet Fitness membership.
- Include Necessary Information: Your letter must have specific details so they can find your account. Include:
- Your full name (as it appears on your membership).
- Your membership number (find this on your keytag or agreement).
- Your address and phone number.
- Clearly state that you want to cancel your membership.
- Ask for a written confirmation of the cancellation date.
- Address the Letter Correctly: Send the letter to your home club’s address. You can usually find this address on the Planet Fitness website or your original membership agreement.
- Send via Certified Mail: This is crucial. Do not just put it in a regular mailbox. Go to the post office and send the letter via certified mail.
- Why Certified Mail? Certified mail gives you proof that the letter was sent and received by the gym. You get a tracking number and a return receipt card that the gym signs when they get the letter. This is your evidence that you sent your cancellation request.
- Keep Your Records: Keep the certified mail receipt and the tracking number. When you get the green return receipt card back in the mail, keep that too! This is your proof of delivery. Keep a copy of the letter you sent as well.
- Follow Up (Optional but Recommended): After sending the letter and getting the return receipt back, you might want to call the club after about a week to confirm they received it and processed the cancellation.
Sample Cancel Planet Fitness Membership Letter:
Here is an example of what your letter could look like:
[Your Full Name] [Your Street Address] [Your City, State, Zip Code] [Your Phone Number] [Your Email Address (Optional)] [Date] Planet Fitness [Your Home Club Location Name or Number, if known] [Your Home Club’s Street Address] [Your Home Club’s City, State, Zip Code] **Subject: Membership Cancellation Request – Account Number: [Your Membership Number]** Dear Planet Fitness Management, This letter is to inform you of my decision to cancel my Planet Fitness membership. My membership number is [Your Membership Number]. My full name is [Your Full Name], and my address is [Your Street Address, City, State, Zip Code]. I request that my membership be canceled effective immediately or at the earliest possible date according to my membership agreement and your cancellation policy. Please stop all future billing associated with this membership account. Kindly send a written confirmation of my membership cancellation, including the effective date of the cancellation and confirmation that all future payments have been stopped, to the address listed above. Thank you for your time and assistance. Sincerely, [Your Signature (if printing and mailing)] [Your Typed Full Name]
Important Note: Make sure you replace the bracketed information [like this] with your actual details.
Can You Cancel Planet Fitness Online?
One common question is, “how to cancel Planet Fitness online?”
The direct answer is usually no. Planet Fitness’s official policy generally requires cancellation in person at your home club or by certified mail. They do not typically offer an online cancellation option through their website or mobile app.
- Why Not Online? Some gyms prefer methods that they say help verify identity and manage documentation directly. For Planet Fitness, this means the in-person or certified mail process.
- What About Apps or Websites? While you can manage some account details like updating billing information through the Planet Fitness app or website, you cannot cancel your membership there.
So, if you see information suggesting you can cancel online, be very cautious. Always rely on the official methods (in-person or certified mail) to ensure your cancellation is processed correctly according to the Planet Fitness cancellation policy.
Planet Fitness Black Card Cancellation Specifics
The Planet Fitness Black Card is a popular membership that offers extra benefits like bringing a guest, using any Planet Fitness location, and tanning/hydromassage.
Canceling a Planet Fitness Black Card follows the same rules as canceling a classic membership:
- You must cancel either in person at your home club or by sending a certified mail letter to your home club.
- The cancellation policy regarding deadlines (like the 10th of the month) still applies to Black Card members.
- You still need to fill out the Planet Fitness cancellation form if canceling in person or include all necessary details in your letter if canceling by mail.
- Getting proof of cancellation is just as important for a Black Card as for any other membership.
The only real difference is the type of membership you are canceling. The process is the same. Do not expect a different cancellation method just because you have a Black Card.
Dealing with the Planet Fitness Cancellation Fee
Sometimes, there might be a Planet Fitness cancellation fee. Whether you owe a fee depends on a few things:
- Your Membership Type: Some promotional memberships might have specific terms.
- How Long You’ve Been a Member: If you signed up for a contract that required you to be a member for a certain amount of time (like 12 months), and you cancel before that time is up, you might have to pay a fee. This is often called an early termination fee.
- The Date You Cancel: If you cancel close to your annual fee date, you might be charged that fee before your cancellation takes effect. Canceling right after the annual fee is charged means you have paid for the next year, but you can still cancel so you are not charged the year after that. Canceling right before the annual fee date is ideal if you want to avoid that large charge.
Checking for a Fee:
- Look at Your Membership Agreement: This document will clearly state if an early termination fee applies and how much it is.
- Ask the Staff: When canceling in person, ask the staff if there are any fees you need to pay.
- Check Your Bank Statements: After you cancel, keep an eye on your bank or credit card statements for a month or two to make sure no unexpected charges appear.
If you fulfill the terms of your membership agreement (like staying for the minimum required time), you should not owe an early cancellation fee. You might still owe the monthly fee for the next billing cycle if you cancel after the monthly deadline.
Tips for a Smooth Cancellation
Canceling can seem tricky, but following these tips can make it easier:
- Know Your Home Club: Double-check the location where you signed up.
- Check Your Agreement: Find your Planet Fitness membership agreement to know the specific rules and dates (especially the annual fee date).
- Note the Monthly Deadline: Aim to cancel before the 10th of the month to avoid the next month’s bill.
- Use Certified Mail for Letters: Never just use regular mail for a cancellation letter. Certified mail is your protection.
- Get and Keep Proof: Whether you cancel in person or by mail, get something in writing that shows you canceled. This proof is essential if there is a dispute later.
- Be Polite but Firm: When talking to staff, be polite but clear about your intention to cancel.
- Check Your Bank Account: Watch your account for a month or two after canceling to make sure payments have stopped.
What Happens After You Cancel?
Once you have successfully canceled your membership, here is what should happen:
- Access Stops: You will no longer be able to use Planet Fitness facilities after your cancellation date.
- Billing Stops: Future monthly and annual fees should no longer be charged to your account.
- Potential Final Charge: Depending on when you canceled relative to your billing cycle and the monthly deadline, you might have one final monthly charge.
- No More Benefits: If you had a Black Card, you lose access to guest privileges, tanning, hydromassage, and access to other clubs.
If you see charges after your confirmed cancellation date (beyond a potential final prorated month), contact Planet Fitness customer service or your home club immediately and provide your proof of cancellation.
Contacting Planet Fitness Customer Service
If you have questions about your membership, the cancellation process, or if there is an issue after you try to cancel, you can contact Planet Fitness customer service.
- Phone: You can find a general customer service number or contact your specific home club directly by phone.
- Website: The Planet Fitness website has a contact section, though direct membership cancellation is not done through this portal.
- In Person: The staff at your home club can often answer questions about your account and the cancellation process.
Remember that general customer service might not be able to process the cancellation itself, as it usually requires going through the home club either in person or via certified mail. However, they can provide information about the Planet Fitness cancellation policy or help you find the contact information for your home club.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Here are answers to some common questions about canceling a Planet Fitness membership.
Q: Can I cancel my Planet Fitness membership over the phone?
A: No, generally Planet Fitness requires you to cancel in person at your home club or by sending a certified mail letter to your home club. Phone calls are typically not accepted for cancellation.
Q: Is there a Planet Fitness cancellation form I need to fill out?
A: Yes, if you cancel in person at your home club, you will be given a physical Planet Fitness cancellation form to fill out. If you cancel by mail, your letter acts as your formal request.
Q: How much is the Planet Fitness cancellation fee?
A: A cancellation fee usually only applies if you cancel a term membership (like a 12-month contract) before the required term is finished. The exact fee amount will be stated in your Planet Fitness membership agreement. If you’ve finished your contract period, you usually do not pay an early cancellation fee. You might still owe a final monthly payment depending on when you cancel.
Q: Do I need to send my cancellation letter via Planet Fitness certified mail?
A: Yes, Planet Fitness requires cancellation letters to be sent via certified mail. This is important because it provides you with proof that the club received your cancellation request. Without this proof, it can be difficult to resolve disputes later.
Q: What is my home club and why is it important?
A: Your home club is the specific Planet Fitness location where you originally signed up for your membership. It’s important because you must cancel your membership either in person at this specific club or by sending a certified mail letter to this specific club’s address.
Q: How long does it take for the cancellation to be effective?
A: The cancellation is usually effective after your next billing cycle, provided you cancel before the monthly deadline (often the 10th of the month). If you cancel after the deadline, you will likely be charged for the next month, and the cancellation will take effect after that payment covers the month.
Q: I moved far away from my home club. What should I do?
A: If you cannot cancel in person, you must use the certified mail method. Send a certified letter with your cancellation request, membership details, and new address to the address of your original home club.
Q: I lost my membership agreement. How can I find the cancellation rules?
A: You can contact your home club directly. They should be able to look up your membership details and inform you about the specific cancellation requirements and any potential fees based on your agreement.
Q: Can I pause my membership instead of canceling?
A: Planet Fitness does offer a membership freeze option for certain reasons (like medical need) for a limited time. The rules vary by location and membership type. You would need to contact your home club to inquire about their freeze policy.
Wrapping Up
Canceling your Planet Fitness membership requires following their specific rules: either visiting your home club in person and filling out a form, or sending a certified letter to your home club. You generally cannot cancel online or by phone.
Make sure you know your home club, understand your Planet Fitness membership agreement and cancellation policy, and are aware of any potential Planet Fitness cancellation fee based on your contract term. Always get and keep proof of your cancellation. By following these steps, you can navigate the process smoothly and stop future payments. If you have any doubts, contacting Planet Fitness customer service or your home club directly for clarification is always a good idea.