Planet Fitness is one of the most well-known gyms in the country. But is it really worth $500 in unknown fees?
Despite its popularity, Planet Fitness has had a rocky time on TikTok as of late. Employees have complained about working conditions, and other users have complained about how arbitrary the cancellation process is.
One TikToker was left gobsmacked when a manager told her she had $500 in unpaid fees—and didn’t even tell her what they were for. In her video, which has garnered 2.1 million views, Kate Hall Wilson (@katehallwilson) began by saying she was kicked out of Planet Fitness because they’re “scammers.”
What Happened At Planet Fitness?
It all started when she noticed a new woman at the front desk. As she went to scan to go to the gym, the woman stopped her. She told her she had a balance of $500 due, but didn’t say what for. Allegedly, the worker told Kate she could pay or leave. In response, Kate said she wasn’t going to pay if she didn’t know what it was for. The manager once again declined. At this point, Kate says she asked her why she had an attitude. The woman repeated that she could pay or leave.
This apparently devolved into a 15-minute back-and-forth. It culminated in Kate walking out, sitting in her car, before returning. She asks one more time, and the manager still refuses. So, she tells the manager to cancel her membership. The manager says she will sign for her, but Kate isn’t happy about this. She says she gives her no permission to sign. So, the woman asks her to wait.
So, she sat there, waited, and then signed everything to cancel her membership.
“If I knew her name, I would say it, but I don’t remember her name, so I guess today is her lucky day,” she said.
BroBible reached out to Kate and Planet Fitness via email.
People Share Their Own Horror Stories
Commenters shared their own stories of Planet Fitness.
“They wouldn’t cancel my membership. So I reported my debit card stolen and the bank cancelled and re-issued me a debit card,” one said. “They chased me for like over 19 years for like $10 dollars and they finally stopped.”
“My sister died on the 10th and they have been the biggest s—show with me trying to cancel her membership,” a second added.
While a third shared, “I canceled my membership 3 times over 4 years and was still charged monthly the whole time after I moved out of time after college until I could finally go into the original location I sign up in! They refused to refund any of the money charged over those 3 years.”
Other commenters encouraged Kate to take action.
“I’d be watching your bank account like a hawk, and also I’d be calling corporate or at the very least calling that branch’s manager,” a fourth commented.
And a fifth concurred, “Babe, I’m gonna need you to circle back and let us know when you called corporate and reported this woman. Please!!!!”
In the comments, the official Planet Fitness TikTok account wrote: “Hi Kate! We’d like to look into this further and better understand what happened. Please send us a DM with your full name, the club you visited, and any additional details so we can review this for you. Thank you!”
Is Planet Fitness Really A ‘Scam?’
Over on Reddit, several users have called out the gym for allegedly ‘scamming’ them. One user claimed that they were getting overcharged the agreed amount along with unfair late fees.
@katehallwilson She was the manager too. I took her care but lost it. #storytime #thatsmywhy #influencer #gymtok #trauma
A second user said the Black Card membership tempted them. This is because, allegedly, it was being advertised as “no commitment.” However, upon looking at the contract, it turns out it was a 12-month minimum membership. The purported contract also showed a $58 cancellation fee.
A third user, who claimed to be a worker at Planet Fitness, called their $10 membership a “scam.”
“If you don’t sign up for Planet Fitness with a $1 down ( this is only during certain promotions which chance every week) you will end up paying $110+ within two months, $58 enrolment fee, $10 prorate then two months later, an annual fee of $50,” they claimed.