Zohran Mamdani targets gym membership practices with new city crackdown

A push to fix gym cancel hassles

Ever tried to cancel a gym membership and felt stuck in a maze of forms, calls, and hidden steps? New York City’s new mayor says that frustration should not be part of staying fit.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani is launching a crackdown on gym and health club practices that make it easy to sign up but hard to leave. His goal is to protect consumers’ time and money.

Warning notices sent citywide

City officials have sent warning notices to 187 gyms and health clubs across New York City. The notices remind operators to follow local consumer protection laws.

Major brands like Equinox, Planet Fitness, and PureGym were among those contacted. The city says all clubs must avoid deceptive or unfair membership practices.

Focus on consumer protection law

The crackdown centers on New York City’s Consumer Protection law, a regulation designed to protect consumers from misleading business practices. This law bans deceptive, unfair practices and requires companies to be honest and transparent.

Practices such as “bait-and-switch” pricing are strictly prohibited. This means gyms and other service providers cannot lure customers with one advertised offer and later charge hidden or unexpected fees that were not clearly explained upfront.

The problem with subscription traps

City leaders say many consumers face “subscription traps.” These happen when companies design signups to be simple but cancellations to be confusing or time-consuming.

Members may be asked to mail letters, appear in person, or follow unclear steps. Officials argue that these barriers waste people’s time and create unnecessary stress.

An executive order to enforce rules

Mayor Mamdani signed an executive order directing the New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection to step up enforcement. The order tells the agency to monitor and investigate complaints about subscription tricks.

The department can take action if it finds violations. Officials say the message is clear: follow the law or face consequences.

Dozens of complaints in 2025

The Department of Consumer and Worker Protection reported receiving dozens of complaints in 2025, many of which involved members struggling to cancel their gym subscriptions.

These complaints helped spark the broader citywide warning. City leaders say honest businesses should not be unfairly undercut by competitors using questionable or deceptive tactics.

A recent settlement with Equinox

Last year, Letitia James reached a settlement with Equinox Group. The company was found to have made it difficult for members to cancel.

Under the agreement, Equinox paid $600,000 in penalties and refunded customers who tried to cancel but could not. The case highlighted how costly these practices can become.

What counts as bait and switch

One common tactic involves offering a free or low-cost membership at first. After enrollment, customers may discover additional fees that were not clearly disclosed.

This approach is known as bait-and-switch. City officials say gyms must clearly explain all costs upfront so members know exactly what they are signing up for.

Hidden hurdles at cancellation

Another issue involves unnecessarily complicated cancellation steps. Some gyms require in-person visits, notarized letters, or multiple phone calls before fully processing a membership cancellation request.

The city says such burdens can violate consumer protection rules if they are not clearly disclosed at signup. Officials want cancellation to be straightforward and transparent.

National rule struck down

Efforts to address subscription issues have faced challenges beyond New York. Last summer, a United States appeals court struck down a “click-to-cancel” rule from the Federal Trade Commission.

That rule would have required companies to make cancellation as easy as signing up. Its reversal left many consumer protections to states and cities.

Little-known fact: New York City has ordered 187 major gyms and health clubs, including Planet Fitness and Equinox, to clean up “subscription traps” that make canceling memberships unnecessarily difficult.

Industry response to the ruling

The Health & Fitness Association praised the court’s recent decision, calling it a major victory for the fitness industry and a positive step toward fair competition.

Industry leaders argue that many gyms already follow fair, transparent, and customer-friendly practices. Still, City officials stress that ongoing oversight is needed to protect consumers and ensure fair business practices.

A broader fight against junk fees

The gym crackdown is part of a wider effort by Mayor Mamdani to reduce hidden junk fees. He has said subscription traps and unclear charges harm everyday New Yorkers.

By targeting gyms first, the city hopes to set a strong example. Officials believe clearer rules can build trust between businesses and customers.

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What this means for gym members

If enforcement increases, members could see simpler cancellation options and clearer pricing. That may reduce frustration for people who want to change or end their memberships.

For now, gyms have been warned to review their policies carefully. The city says protecting consumers is not optional, and businesses must make it just as easy to walk away as it is to sign up.

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What do you think about this crackdown on gym memberships? Share your views in the comments and join the discussion.

This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.

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