Gym-Avoiders Rejoice As New 'Click to Cancel' Rule Puts an
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Inactive gym members reluctant to embark upon an arduous membership cancellation quest can look forward to a less painful process thanks to the Federal Trade Commission's new "Click-to-Cancel" rule.

The rule requires businesses to offer consumers a cancellation process that is just as easy to complete as the sign-up process.

Currently, subscription cancellations often require phone calls where customers are bounced around from department to department and forced to argue their case to oppositional customer service representatives.

Health clubs often force members to jump through hoops to cancel a membership, necessitating an in-person appearance or certified letter, as is the case for Planet Fitness, an affordable nationwide gym with a notoriously difficult-to-cancel membership.

Shortly after the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announcement, Planet Fitness began trending on X, where users celebrated the promise of relief from the gym's complex and unforgiving cancellation requirements.

Discussion of the potential consequences for Planet Fitness ran rampant on social media, with tweets like, "Planet Fitness gonna go bankrupt," and "Planet Fitness execs are headbutting walls rn." Memes on the subject quickly gained traction.

The Planet Fitness hashtag also revealed horror stories of the lengths some members went to finally cancel their memberships.

The FTC tweet announcing the rule was met with an outpouring of gratitude, from frustrated Planet Fitness members as well as consumers plagued by other subscriptions.

"Too often, businesses make people jump through endless hoops just to cancel a subscription," said Commission Chair Lina M. Khan in the FTC statement. "The FTC's rule will end these tricks and traps, saving Americans time and money. Nobody should be stuck paying for a service they no longer want."

According to the statement, the final rule's provisions will go into effect 180 days after it's published.

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