Cancelling a gym membership can be a frustrating process. Many gyms make it difficult to cancel because they want to keep collecting your membership fees. Snap Fitness, in particular, has been criticized for putting up roadblocks to cancellation.
However, with some patience and perseverance, it is possible to cancel your Snap Fitness membership. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to cancel your Snap Fitness contract.
Can I cancel my Snap Fitness contract?
Yes, you can cancel your Snap Fitness contract. According to Snap Fitness’ membership agreement, you can cancel your membership at any time as long as you follow the proper cancellation procedure.
When you signed up for your Snap Fitness membership, you should have signed a membership agreement or contract. This contract outlines the terms and conditions of your membership, including the cancellation policy.
Snap Fitness requires written notice to cancel your membership. So you will need to submit a cancellation letter or cancellation form to the gym to officially cancel.
How do I cancel my Snap Fitness membership?
To cancel your Snap Fitness membership, follow these steps:
- Request a membership cancellation form from your Snap Fitness location. You can visit the gym in person or call the gym to have them email or mail you the form.
- Fill out the cancellation form completely. Make sure to include:
- Your full name
- Member number
- Home club location
- Cancellation date – This must be at least 30 days out from the day you submit the form.
- Reason for cancellation (optional)
Important: According to Snap Fitness’ membership agreement, you must provide written notice of cancellation at least 30 days prior to your next billing date. So make sure you submit the form with enough advance notice.
Does my Snap Fitness contract allow cancellation at any time?
Typically, Snap Fitness requires 30 days notice to cancel your membership contract. However, the ability to cancel at any time depends on the specific terms of your contract.
When you signed up, you should have been given a choice between:
- Month-to-month contract – This can be cancelled at any time with 30 days notice.
- Term contract – This commits you to a 6, 12, 18, or 24 month membership term. You can only cancel without penalty after the initial term.
If you have a term contract, cancelling before the term is up will result in an early termination fee. This is usually around $100-$200 for Snap Fitness contracts.
So check what kind of Snap Fitness membership contract you signed. If it is month-to-month, you can cancel at any time as long as you provide 30 days written notice.
Can I get out of my Snap Fitness contract early?
If you have a term contract with several months remaining, you may want to get out of your Snap Fitness contract early. Here are some options to consider:
Pay the early termination fee
You can choose to pay the termination penalty, which is typically around $100-$200 for Snap Fitness contracts. While costly, this will allow you to cancel immediately.
Transfer your membership
One way to get out of your Snap Fitness contract is to transfer it to someone else. You can sell or gift your existing contract to another person. However, that person must be approved by Snap Fitness and agree to assume your contract.
Prove relocation
Snap Fitness allows you to cancel your term contract early if you permanently relocate your residence more than 25 miles away from a Snap Fitness location. You will need to provide proof of new address.
File medical reason
In the case of disability or a medical reason that prevents exercise, you may be able to cancel your Snap Fitness contract early. You’ll need written proof from your doctor.
Make a legal case
In some cases, customers have been able to successfully get out of gym contracts by working with consumer protection agencies or taking legal action. But this option is time-consuming with an uncertain outcome.
How much does it cost to cancel Snap Fitness?
The cost to cancel your Snap Fitness membership depends on the type of contract you signed:
- Month-to-month contract – There is no cancellation fee if you provide 30 days notice.
- Term contract – You will need to pay an early termination fee if canceling before the term ends. This is usually around $100-$200.
Keep in mind you are still responsible for paying any remaining monthly fees during the 30 day cancellation period.
Can Snap Fitness charge a cancellation fee?
Yes, Snap Fitness can charge an early termination fee or cancellation fee if you signed a term contract and want to cancel before the term ends.
This cancellation fee is legal as long as it was disclosed in the original membership agreement you signed. Under most state laws, gyms can charge reasonable fees for early cancellation of a fixed term contract.
Make sure to check your membership agreement to confirm the cancellation policy and see if any cancellation fee amount was specified.
Why is cancelling Snap Fitness so difficult?
Snap Fitness makes it difficult to cancel for a few key reasons:
Cancellation requires written notice
You cannot cancel just by calling Snap Fitness. Cancellation requires submitting official written notice via a cancellation form. This extra step makes it more of a hassle to cancel.
30 day notice required
The 30 day advance notice requirement means you cannot simply cancel immediately. You have to plan ahead and continue paying for a month after giving notice.
Term contracts
By signing you up for a 6,12, 18, or 24 month term contract, Snap Fitness ensures they will receive months of fees before you can cancel penalty-free.
High cancellation penalties
For term contracts, the early termination fee of around $100-$200 discourages people from cancelling early.
No online cancellation
Snap Fitness does not allow you to cancel your membership entirely online. You cannot cancel via email either. The requirement to physically go to the gym or mail a cancellation form is an extra obstacle.
Delayed confirmation
Even after submitting cancellation notice, Snap Fitness typically does not send any confirmation. You have to proactively follow up to confirm your membership is cancelled after the requested date.
What steps can I take if Snap Fitness won’t let me cancel?
If you are struggling to cancel your Snap Fitness membership even after following the proper cancellation process, here are some additional steps you can take:
- Complain to gym management – Speak to the gym’s manager or owner and nicely but firmly demand they cancel your membership.
- Submit cancellation again – Try sending the cancellation notice again via certified mail. Keep copies for proof of your attempt to cancel.
- Cancel payment – Cancel any credit card or bank account payments to Snap Fitness to prevent future charges.
- Report to consumer protection agencies – File complaints with groups like your state Attorney General’s office and the Better Business Bureau.
- Leave bad reviews – Leave online reviews describing your negative cancellation experience to warn others. This may motivate Snap Fitness to fix their practices.
- Threaten or take legal action – If necessary, consult a lawyer about sending a formal demand letter or taking legal action to get out of your gym contract.
With some determination, you can get Snap Fitness to cancel your membership even if they stonewall your initial cancellation request.
Does canceling Snap Fitness require certified mail?
Snap Fitness does not specifically require sending your membership cancellation by certified mail. However, using certified mail is highly recommended when cancelling your Snap Fitness contract.
The advantages of certified mail include:
- Proof of receipt – Certified mail provides documentation that your letter was received and the date it was delivered.
- Increased urgency – Certified mail flags the letter as important and requiring a signature.
- Accountability – It ensures the cancellation notice gets into the right hands at Snap Fitness corporate or the local gym.
- Peace of mind – Certified mail gives you confidence that Snap Fitness received your cancellation request.
While more expensive than regular mail, the few extra dollars for certified mail is worth it for the delivery confirmation and added urgency certified mail provides when cancelling an important contract like a gym membership.
Can Snap Fitness collect fees after I cancel?
Snap Fitness cannot continue to collect membership fees after your cancellation date. However, they can collect any payments still owed up through the cancellation date.
So if you provide 30 days notice to cancel on April 1st, Snap Fitness can still charge you for the full month of April, but cannot charge any monthly fees beyond April.
It is quite common for gyms like Snap Fitness to try to improperly collect extra months of fees after a membership is cancelled. Be sure to check your bank statements after cancellation to ensure they are not deducting any monthly fees beyond what you owe.
If Snap Fitness does try to illegally charge you after your contract ends, you can dispute the charges through your bank or credit card company.
Will Snap Fitness collections affect my credit score?
If Snap Fitness sends your cancelled account to collections, it could negatively impact your credit score. Collections typically damage credit scores because they signal you are delinquent on a bill.
To avoid potential collections from Snap Fitness:
- Pay all fees owed during the 30 day cancellation period after giving notice.
- Review bank/card statements to ensure Snap Fitness does not charge you after contract termination.
- If an improper charge occurs, immediately dispute it with your bank or card issuer.
- If sent to collections, dispute the account and request verification it is valid. Provide proof of your membership cancellation date.
As long as you properly cancel and pay anything contractually owed, Snap Fitness collections should not affect your credit. But be proactive in watching for erroneous charges or collections from Snap Fitness after cancellation.
Should I avoid Snap Fitness contracts?
Due to numerous complaints about difficult cancellations, you may want to think twice before signing any contract with Snap Fitness.
Instead, look for gyms that offer easier cancellation processes, such as:
- Month-to-month membership
- No long term contracts
- Online account management
- Reasonable cancellation terms
- No early termination fees
Avoiding contracts completely prevents getting stuck in long, difficult-to-cancel gym memberships. Seek out gyms that do not require term commitments.
If you do sign a Snap Fitness contract, make sure to carefully note cancellation policies and immediately submit proper cancellation notice when ready to quit the gym.
Conclusion
Cancelling a Snap Fitness membership can certainly be a headache. With their tough cancellation requirements, early termination fees, and lack of responsiveness to cancellation requests, quitting Snap Fitness is purposefully difficult.
However, with patience and by following the tips outlined here, you can exercise your right to cancel your Snap Fitness contract. Be prepared for some persistence to be required. Do not let Snap Fitness continue charging you after you have formally requested cancellation.