Image Source: i.ytimg.com
How To Change Planet Fitness Membership: Your Guide
Yes, you can change your Planet Fitness membership plan, whether you want to upgrade to get more perks, downgrade to save money, or even cancel or freeze it temporarily. Changing your membership involves following specific steps, which often vary depending on the type of change you want to make. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about managing your Planet Fitness membership.
Grasping Planet Fitness Membership Options
Before you change your membership, it helps to know what options are usually available. Planet Fitness typically offers two main membership types. These come with different costs and different benefits. Knowing the difference helps you choose the right plan for you.
The Classic Membership
This is the basic and often cheapest plan. It gives you access to your “home club.” This is the one gym you signed up at. You can use the fitness equipment there. You get free fitness training help. That’s about it for this plan.
The Planet Fitness Black Card Membership
The Black Card is the premium plan. It costs more each month than the Classic membership. But it comes with many extra perks.
Black Card Perks Include:
- Access to Any Planet Fitness Club: You can visit any location in the chain, not just your home club. This is great if you travel or want to go to different gyms.
- Bring a Guest Anytime: You can bring one guest with you each time you visit. Your guest must stay with you.
- Use of Massage Chairs: Black Card members can relax in hydromassage beds and massage chairs.
- Use of Tanning: Access to tanning beds is included. (Availability may vary by location and state laws).
- Use of Total Body Enhancement: This is a light therapy booth.
- Discounts: You can get discounts on drinks and other items at Planet Fitness.
Both plans usually require an annual fee, charged once a year, and may have startup fees when you first join. The Planet Fitness membership fees can vary slightly by location or promotion.
Deciphering How to Upgrade Your Membership
Maybe you started with the Classic plan. Now you want the ability to go to any gym or bring a friend. This means you want to upgrade Planet Fitness membership. This is generally the easiest type of change to make.
Why People Upgrade
- They want to use more than one gym location.
- They want to work out with a friend or family member regularly.
- They want to use the extra perks like massage chairs or tanning.
- Their needs have changed since they first joined.
How to Upgrade
Upgrading your membership can often be done quickly. You usually don’t need to visit your home club to do this.
Steps to Upgrade:
- Log In Online: Go to the Planet Fitness website. Find the member login area. Put in your login details.
- Find Membership Info: Look for your account or membership details section.
- Choose to Upgrade: There should be an option to change or upgrade your plan. Click on it.
- Select Black Card: Choose the Black Card membership option.
- Confirm Changes: Review the new monthly cost and any immediate fees. Confirm the change.
Sometimes, you might have to visit your home club to upgrade. This depends on your specific club’s rules or if there are special promotions. But online is often the quickest way. The upgrade usually takes effect right away or at the start of your next billing cycle. Check the confirmation details.
When you upgrade, your monthly payment amount will go up. Make sure you know the new Planet Fitness membership fees. You might pay a pro-rated amount for the rest of the current billing cycle. Then the new, higher fee will be charged going forward.
Navigating How to Downgrade Your Membership
Sometimes, you might find you don’t use the extra benefits of the Black Card. Or maybe you need to cut back on expenses. In this case, you might want to downgrade Planet Fitness membership from Black Card to Classic.
Why People Downgrade
- They only use their home club.
- They don’t use the guest perk.
- They don’t use the massage chairs or tanning.
- They want to lower their monthly fitness cost.
- Their budget has changed.
How to Downgrade
Downgrading a Planet Fitness membership is often less flexible than upgrading. In most cases, you must visit your home club in person to make this change. You usually cannot downgrade online or over the phone.
Steps to Downgrade:
- Go to Your Home Club: Travel to the Planet Fitness location where you originally signed up. This is very important.
- Talk to Staff: Speak to a staff member at the front desk or the club manager.
- State Your Request: Clearly tell them you want to downgrade your Black Card membership to a Classic membership.
- Fill Out Paperwork: They will likely give you a form to fill out. This confirms your request to change plans.
- Confirm Changes: Ask when the change will take effect. It might be at the start of your next billing cycle. Make sure you understand the new monthly fee.
- Get Confirmation: Ask for a copy of the paperwork you signed. This is your proof of the downgrade request.
Downgrading might have specific rules based on your contract. Some contracts require a certain amount of time to pass before you can downgrade. Always check your membership agreement for details.
The effective date of the downgrade is key. If you downgrade close to your billing date, you might still be charged the higher Black Card fee for that month. The lower Classic fee would then start on the next billing cycle. Plan your visit to the club a bit before your billing date to ensure the change happens when you expect.
Fathoming How to Cancel Your Membership
Life changes. You might move far away, get injured, or find a different way to stay fit. If you no longer want to be a member, you will need to cancel Planet Fitness membership. This process has specific requirements that many members find frustrating, as you generally cannot cancel online or by phone.
Planet Fitness Cancellation Policy Explained
The policy states you must cancel in one of two ways:
1. In person at your home club.
2. By sending a certified letter to your home club.
Canceling by phone, email, fax, or through the corporate website or app is typically not allowed according to their policy. This is a common point of confusion for members.
There are also rules about when you can cancel. Most memberships require a minimum commitment period, often 12 months. If you cancel before this period is up, you might have to pay a cancellation fee. The exact fee amount depends on your contract. This is part of the Planet Fitness membership fees you agree to when joining.
Also, be aware of your billing date and the annual fee.
- Billing Date: Cancellations must usually be done before your billing date. Some sources say by the 10th of the month for billing around the 17th, but check with your club. Canceling after the cutoff means you will be charged for one more month.
- Annual Fee: Planet Fitness charges an annual fee once a year. If your cancellation request isn’t processed before this fee is due, you might be charged the full annual fee even if you are canceling soon after. Timing is important here.
How to Cancel Planet Fitness In Person
This is often seen as the more reliable method because you get direct confirmation.
Steps for In-Person Cancellation:
- Go to Your Home Club: You must go to the specific Planet Fitness location where you first joined. They cannot process cancellations from other locations.
- Speak to the Manager or Staff: Tell the staff member or manager at the front desk that you want to cancel your membership.
- Fill Out the Cancellation Form: They will give you a Planet Fitness cancellation form. You need to fill this out completely. Make sure all your details are correct.
- Sign the Form: Read the form carefully before signing. It should state that you are canceling your membership.
- Get Proof of Cancellation: This is the most critical step. Ask for a copy of the signed cancellation form or a written confirmation from the staff member showing the date you submitted the request. Without proof, you may have trouble if future charges appear.
- Confirm Effective Date: Ask when your membership will officially end and when your last payment will be.
Keep the copy of your cancellation form or confirmation letter in a safe place. Check your bank statements for the next couple of months to ensure you are no longer being charged Planet Fitness membership fees.
Cancel Planet Fitness By Mail
If you cannot visit your home club (e.g., you’ve moved far away), canceling by certified mail is the other option. This method requires careful attention to detail and timing.
Steps for Canceling By Mail:
- Write a Cancellation Letter: This letter must clearly state your intent to cancel your Planet Fitness membership.
- Include your full name.
- Include your membership ID number.
- Include your date of birth.
- State that you wish to cancel your membership.
- Include the date you are writing the letter.
- Consider the Planet Fitness Cancellation Form: While a letter is often accepted, some clubs prefer you use a specific Planet Fitness cancellation form. You might be able to get this form by visiting any Planet Fitness location and asking for it, or by calling your home club. If you can get the form, fill it out instead of or in addition to your letter.
- Send as Certified Mail: Go to the post office. Send your letter (and form, if applicable) using certified mail.
- Request Return Receipt: This is vital. Pay extra for a return receipt. This card will be signed by a staff member at the club when they receive your letter. This signed card is your official proof that they received your cancellation request.
- Send to Your Home Club’s Address: Make sure you have the correct mailing address for your specific Planet Fitness location. Do not send it to the corporate office.
- Track Your Mail: Use the tracking number from the post office to confirm when the letter was delivered.
- Keep Everything: Keep copies of the letter you sent, the certified mail receipt, the tracking information, and the signed return receipt when you get it back. These are your proof of attempting to cancel.
Allow plenty of time for the letter to arrive before your billing date. Mail can take several days. The club also needs time to process the request after receiving it. Sending the letter at least 7-10 days before your billing date is a good idea, maybe even earlier to be safe, especially around holidays.
What to Do If You Have Problems Canceling
If you follow these steps and still have issues, like being charged after you expected cancellation:
- Contact your home club with your proof (copy of form, certified mail receipt).
- Contact Planet Fitness corporate customer service, providing all your details and proof.
- If the issue isn’t resolved, you may need to dispute the charge with your bank or credit card company and provide your cancellation proof.
Canceling a gym membership can be difficult with many gyms, and Planet Fitness’s policy requiring in-person or certified mail cancellation is designed to ensure requests are handled officially, but it also places a burden on the member. Following the steps exactly and keeping proof is key.
Interpreting How to Freeze Your Membership
What if you don’t want to cancel permanently, but need a break? Maybe you have a medical issue, travel, or other reason. In some cases, you can freeze Planet Fitness membership. This puts your membership on hold temporarily. You won’t be charged your monthly fees during the freeze period.
Why People Freeze Their Membership
- Medical reasons (injury, illness, surgery).
- Temporary relocation (like for school or seasonal work).
- Travel for an extended period.
- Other personal emergencies that prevent gym use.
How to Freeze
Planet Fitness’s policy on freezing memberships is often specific. They typically allow freezes for medical reasons. Some clubs might allow it for other reasons like military deployment, but this varies. Personal travel might not always be an accepted reason.
Steps to Freeze:
- Visit Your Home Club: Freezing your membership usually requires an in-person visit to your home club. You likely cannot do this online or over the phone.
- Speak to Staff: Explain that you need to freeze your membership. State the reason.
- Provide Documentation: If freezing for medical reasons, you will likely need to provide a doctor’s note. The note should state you cannot use the gym and for how long.
- Fill Out Paperwork: You will probably need to fill out a form to request the freeze.
- Confirm Freeze Details: Ask for how long the freeze will last. Confirm that you will not be charged during this time. Ask when your payments will restart.
- Get Confirmation: Get a copy of the freeze request form or a written confirmation from the club.
A typical freeze period might be for up to 3 months. After the freeze period ends, your membership will automatically become active again, and billing will restart. If you need a longer freeze, you might need to submit a new request with updated documentation.
Make sure you understand the terms of the freeze. Will the annual fee still be charged if it falls within your freeze period? Clarify this with the staff when you request the freeze. Keeping documentation is important for freezes too, in case there are billing errors.
Key Points About Membership Changes
Managing your gym membership involves more than just knowing the steps. Here are some other important things to keep in mind:
The Role of Your Home Club
Your “home club” is the location where you originally signed up. For downgrading, canceling, and usually freezing your membership, you must go to or contact this specific location. Other Planet Fitness gyms cannot process these changes for you. This is a crucial point and a common source of confusion. If you moved, this is why canceling by certified mail becomes the necessary option.
Annual Fees and When They Apply
Planet Fitness charges an annual fee, often around $39, once a year. This fee is in addition to your monthly dues. The date this fee is charged is based on when you joined.
* If you plan to cancel, make sure your cancellation request is processed before your annual fee date. If the fee is charged before the cancellation is complete, you will likely still have to pay it.
* If you are freezing your membership, ask if the annual fee will still be charged during the freeze period or if it will be moved to a later date.
Knowing your annual fee date is important for timing any potential cancellation or change. You can usually find this date in your membership agreement or by asking staff at your home club.
Billing Cycles and Timing Your Changes
Planet Fitness typically charges monthly fees around the 17th of each month. There is usually a cutoff date for making changes (like canceling or downgrading) that will affect the next billing cycle. This cutoff is often around the 10th of the month.
* If you make a change after the cutoff date in a given month, the change likely won’t take effect until the following billing cycle.
* For example, if your billing is on the 17th and the cutoff is the 10th, and you try to cancel on June 12th, you will still be charged on June 17th. Your membership would then end, and you would not be charged on July 17th.
* Timing is everything to avoid an extra month’s fees or the annual fee. Plan your visit or mail your letter well in advance of the cutoff date and your annual fee date.
Checking Your Contract
Your specific membership contract holds all the details about your plan, fees, minimum term, and cancellation rules. When you sign up, you receive a copy (or access to an electronic copy). It’s wise to review this document if you’re considering changes, especially canceling or downgrading within the first year. This will clarify any potential early cancellation fees or other specific terms related to your agreement.
Why Is Cancellation Difficult?
Many gyms, including Planet Fitness, make joining very easy (often online or with minimal paperwork). However, canceling often requires more effort, like visiting in person or sending certified mail. There are business reasons for this; it requires a clear, documented request to stop the service, preventing fraudulent cancellations and giving the gym a chance to potentially keep the member. While standard practice in the industry, it requires members to be prepared and follow the steps precisely.
FAQ Section
Here are answers to common questions about changing your Planet Fitness membership.
h4: Can I cancel my Planet Fitness membership online or by phone?
No, according to the standard Planet Fitness cancellation policy, you cannot cancel online or by phone. You must either visit your home club in person or send a written request via certified mail to your home club.
h4: Is there a fee to cancel my Planet Fitness membership?
It depends on your contract. If you are within the initial commitment period (often 12 months), you may have to pay an early cancellation fee. If you are outside your commitment period, you usually do not pay a cancellation fee, but you must cancel before your billing date and annual fee date to avoid those charges. Check your specific contract for details.
h4: How long does it take for cancellation to be effective?
If you cancel before your club’s monthly cutoff date (usually around the 10th of the month), your membership will typically end before the next billing cycle (usually around the 17th). If you cancel after the cutoff, you will be billed for one more month.
h4: Can I get a Planet Fitness cancellation form online?
Generally, the official Planet Fitness cancellation form is provided by the club when you cancel in person or might be sent to you if you inquire about canceling by mail. It’s not typically available for download from the public website. You might need to visit a club or call your home club to get it.
h4: What should I include in my certified mail cancellation letter?
Include your full name, membership ID number, date of birth, and a clear statement that you wish to cancel your membership. Send it to your home club’s address via certified mail with a return receipt requested.
h4: How long can I freeze my Planet Fitness membership?
Membership freezes are usually allowed for medical reasons and often last for up to 3 months. You typically need to provide documentation like a doctor’s note. The exact duration and reasons allowed can vary by club and contract.
h4: Can I upgrade from Classic to Black Card at any club?
Yes, upgrading can often be done online or at any club location, not just your home club. Downgrading, however, usually requires visiting your home club.
h4: Will I be charged the annual fee if my membership is frozen?
This can vary. You need to clarify this with the staff when you request the freeze and check your contract. Sometimes the annual fee is paused, other times it might still be charged if it falls within the freeze period.
h4: What happens if I move away from my home club?
If you move more than a certain distance (often 25 miles) from your home club, you might be able to transfer your membership to a new location. If there isn’t a club nearby, you can cancel your membership by sending a certified letter to your original home club, even if you can’t visit in person. You might need to provide proof of your new address.
In Summary
Changing your Planet Fitness membership is possible, but it requires knowing the specific steps for each type of change. Upgrading is usually simple and can often be done online. Downgrading, freezing, and especially canceling your membership are more formal processes that typically require visiting your home club in person or using certified mail.
Be sure to understand the Planet Fitness cancellation policy, check your contract for details on fees and minimum terms, and pay close attention to billing dates and the annual fee. By following the correct procedures and keeping records of your requests, you can manage your Planet Fitness membership effectively. Don’t hesitate to speak directly with the staff at your home club for clarity on your specific situation and contract terms.