Canceling 24 Hour Fitness Membership: Fees, Refunds & Simple Steps
Have you been sweating it out at 24 Hour Fitness for awhile now, but feel like it’s time to switch up your fitness routine or cancel your membership altogether? With over 300 locations across 11 states, 24 Hour Fitness is one of the largest gym chains around. But when you sign up for a gym membership, you typically commit to a specific contract term.
So what happens if you want to get out of your 24 Hour Fitness contract early and cancel? Does 24 Hour Fitness charge a cancellation fee?
The short answer is – it depends on your membership type and when you decide to cancel. Keep reading to learn all about 24 Hour Fitness’ cancellation policy, whether you can get a refund, and the simple steps to officially cancel your 24 hour fitness membership.
This in-depth guide covers everything you need to know, including:
- 24 Hour Fitness membership overview
- Cancellation fees and refund policies
- How to cancel at your local gym
- Canceling via phone and online
- What happens after cancellation
- Gym alternatives to consider
- FAQs on canceling 24 Hour Fitness
So if you’re ready to cancel your membership and move on from 24 Hour Fitness, let’s dig in!
Overview of 24 Hour Fitness Cancellation Policy
Before getting into the specifics on how to cancel, it’s important to understand 24 Hour Fitness’ underlying cancellation and refund policies.
Founded in 1983 in San Leandro, CA, 24 Hour Fitness now operates over 300 gyms in 11 states, serving nearly 4 million members. With affordable monthly pricing and convenient 24/7 access, it’s become one of the most popular gym chains in the country.
When you sign up for a 24 Hour Fitness membership, you agree to a specific membership contract based on the package you select. Some are month-to-month, while others require a 12 month commitment.
Here’s a quick overview of how 24 Hour Fitness’ cancellation and refund policies generally work:
- Cancellation Fees: 24 Hour Fitness does charge a $150 cancellation fee if you cancel before your full membership term is over. So if you joined on a year commitment, but want to cancel after 9 months, you’ll pay $150. For month-to-month agreements, no cancellation fees apply.
- Refunds: Whether you get a full or partial refund depends on the timing. If you cancel within the first 3-5 days after joining, 24 Hour Fitness offers a full refund. Beyond that window, any prepaid dues are non-refundable.
- How To Cancel: You can cancel online, in-person at your home gym, via phone, or by mail. 24 Hour Fitness does not offer email cancellation. We’ll cover the step-by-step process on how to cancel a bit later.
- Membership Terms: Your specific cancellation policy may vary so always refer to your membership agreement or confirm with a 24 Hour Fitness representative what applies for your membership package. Certain members may qualify for fee waivers.
Now that you know the basics around cancelling 24 Hour Fitness, let’s get into the step-by-step process to officially cancel your gym membership.
How to Cancel Your 24 Hour Fitness Membership
Ready to move on from 24 Hour Fitness? Here are all the ways you can officially cancel your 24 hour fitness membership:
Cancel at Local 24 Hour Fitness Gym
If there’s a 24 Hour Fitness location nearby, you can cancel in person at the gym by visiting the front desk and speaking to a membership representative:
- Confirm the gym address via the 24 Hour Fitness location finder on their website.
- Bring your membership card and a government ID to the front desk for verification. You may also need your membership agreement.
- Clearly state you want to cancel your membership and as of what date.
- Complete any cancellation forms required and submit necessary documentation.
- If you have a prepaid membership or cancellation fees apply, come prepared to pay any outstanding balance owed.
Tip: Visiting your gym allows you to confirm your cancellation in person and get any questions answered face to face with a knowledgeable rep. But gyms can also be quite busy so you may wait awhile or need to return at less peak times.
Cancel 24 Hour Fitness by Phone
You can also choose to cancel 24 Hour Fitness over the phone if getting to your local gym is not convenient:
- Find the 24 Hour Fitness customer service cancellation line by clicking “contact us” on their website or dialing 866-308-8179. This number should connect you with the membership management team.
- A representative will request your account details, membership number, and reason for wanting to cancel. Have this information handy before calling.
- Clearly request that you would like to cancel your membership effective immediately. State whether you have a prepaid membership if applicable.
- Confirm any final cancellation dates, deadlines for forms submission, or refunds owed to you. Ask for an email confirmation for your records if possible.
Note that 24 Hour Fitness phone reps can sometimes be pushy so stand firm that you want to proceed with canceling your membership. If needed, politely escalate your call to a supervisor or manager for assistance. But remain calm and persistent with your cancellation request.
Cancel Online via 24 Hour Fitness Website
Canceling online is often the easiest and most convenient route. Here is how to cancel 24 Hour Fitness via their website:
- Login to your account on the 24 Hour Fitness website under the “My Account” section.
- Navigate to the “Manage Membership” page from your account portal menu.
- Click on “Cancel Membership” and follow the prompts to confirm your intent to cancel.
- You’ll need to provide key details like membership number, cancellation date, and reason for wanting to cancel.
- Read all policy disclosures and terms related to online cancellation carefully before submitting the request.
- You should receive an email confirmation from 24 Hour Fitness indicating they have received and processed your cancellation notice.
Important: One caveat with the online method is prepaid annual members cannot cancel via the 24 Hour Fitness website currently. So you would need to cancel an annual pass in person or via phone. For all monthly members though, the website works great if you want a quick, no-contact cancellation route.
And there you have it – the key methods for how to cancel your 24 Hour Fitness gym membership! Whichever option fits your needs, the process is fairly straightforward if you come prepared with the necessary membership details.
Next up, let’s review what happens after you actually cancel…
What Happens After You Cancel 24 Hour Fitness
Wondering what goes down after you officially pull the plug on 24 Hour Fitness? Here’s an overview of what you can expect after membership cancellation:
- Effective Date: Your cancellation goes into effect either on the last day of the current billing month OR on whatever future cancellation date you provide to 24 Hour Fitness. So if you notify them on 1/15 that you want to cancel on 1/31, your access would end on 1/31.
- Final Bill: You will be billed as usual for your final month so the amount owed depends on your existing billing cycle. Use up any last prepaid services.
- Fees Due: Any applicable cancellation fees or outstanding account balances need to be paid such as annual membership fees or personal training sessions used.
- Refunds Processing: For qualifying refunds, it takes 14-21 days after your last bill date to receive owed money back, arriving via mailed check.
- Membership Access: Once cancelled, your membership key tags and accounts are deactivated so you can no longer enter 24 Hour Fitness locations.
- Rejoining Policy: If you do wish to rejoin 24 Hour Fitness in future, you may have to sign up as a new member and pay applicable registration fees depending on the rejoin window.
If you follow the proper cancellation procedures and meet all deadlines for forms or payments, getting out of your 24 Hour Fitness contract doesn’t have to be painful.
And if 24 Hour Fitness ends up not being a good fit long-term, explore what other gym options are now available in your area.
Alternatives Gyms to Consider
Here are some alternative gym options to consider if you decide to cancel your 24 Hour Fitness membership:
LA Fitness
LA Fitness is a popular national fitness chain similar to 24 Hour Fitness, with over 690+ clubs across the U.S. & Canada. Some key features include:
- Monthly fees starting at $29.99
- High-end amenities like pools, basketball courts, group fitness classes
- Free 3 day guest pass to try it out
- Option to freeze membership for $10/month for 3-6 months
The culture at LA Fitness locations aims to be motivating but not intimidating. So whether you’re just getting started or a gym rat, you can feel comfortable working out here solo or taking specialized classes like Zumba.
An LA Fitness membership gives you access to every location too so if you travel frequently for work or live between two areas, their multi-club access can be handy.
Overall LA Fitness tends to be pricier but offers premium features and more club locations spread across over 33 states.
Crunch Fitness
For a quality yet budget-friendly alternative, Crunch Fitness is another gym favorite, with locations spanning 30 states. A few reasons why you may like Crunch include:
- Low monthly rates starting as low as $9.95
- Hourly day passes available for $10 if you want to test it out
- High cleanliness standards
- Relaxed “No Judgments” atmosphere popular with millenials
- Signature group classes like Zumba, yoga, pilates
Given the lower pricing, Crunch clubs do tend to be smaller and have less amenities than premium chains. But you can typically find all the essentials from treadmills and weights to tanning beds (varies by location). Class availability also depends on membership level. But it’s worth checking out a Crunch near you.
Planet Fitness
Planet Fitness aims to take the intimidation factor out of gyms, catering to first-time gym goers. A few things that set them apart include:
- Extremely low monthly fees starting at just $10
- Option to pay-as-you-go for $22/month with no commitment
- Relaxed “Judgement Free Zone” policies
- Open 24/7 for whenever is most convenient
- Limited classes and amenities which helps keep costs down
So if affordability and accessibility are most important in your fitness journey, Planet Fitness removes key cost and convenience barriers with their budget, judgment-free mantra.
You give up some niceties found at higher-priced chains but can still access all core strength and cardio equipment you need to meet your goals. Classic offerings like free weights, ellipticals, treadmills and stair step machines are all available.
FAQs about Canceling 24 Hour Fitness
Have some other questions about ending your 24 Hour Fitness gym commitment? Here are answers to some frequently asked questions:
Is there a 24 Hour Fitness cancellation fee?
Yes, 24 Hour Fitness charges a $150 early termination fee if you cancel before completing your full membership term (ex: 12 month agreement). For month-to-month or prepaid agreements, there are no cancellation penalties.
When will my 24 Hour Fitness membership officially end?
Your membership and billing cycles end either on the last day of the current billing month OR whatever future cancellation date you provide to 24 Hour Fitness.
What happens if I have a prepaid membership?
You lose whatever prepaid term you have left since prepaid memberships are non-refundable. So no money owed back but 24 Hour Fitness keeps the remaining prepaid duration.
Can I get a refund if I cancel 24 Hour Fitness?
If you cancel within the first 3-5 days after joining, 24 Hour Fitness issues a full refund. Beyond that initial window, you cannot get prepaid fees refunded if cancelling early. But any annual fees charged during a cancellation month may be eligible for pro-rated refund.
Who can I contact for help cancelling my 24 Hour Fitness membership?
You have three options – visit your home gym location, call the 24 Hour Fitness membership management line at 1-866-308-8179, or reach out via 24 Hour Fitness website chat support.
Key Takeaways
Ready to take those first steps towards a fresh start without 24 Hour Fitness? Here are the key takeaways:
- Cancellation policies and fees depend on your specific 24 Hour Fitness membership agreement so review first
- Month-to-month members can cancel anytime; prepaid members can cancel but lose unused months
- Submit a cancellation form or provide written notice before your next billing cycle deadline
- Receive refunds within approximately 3 weeks and expect account deactivation
- Try popular alternatives like LA Fitness, Crunch, or Planet Fitness
Switching gyms or fitness regimens is very common on your journey towards better health. So whether 24 Hour Fitness no longer meets your needs or lifestyle, now you’re fully equipped to cancel your membership while making the most out of unused services.
Here’s to the next step in your fitness journey! What gym will you try next?
