A Pittsburg, Pa., Planet Fitness member tried to cancel after discovering a potentially unsanitary tanning bed. However, she couldn’t believe the hoops she had to jump through to end her membership.
In a video with over 154,000 views, TikToker Kelly Cakes (@_kcakes_) drives to a Planet Fitness, tagging the location in Palm Coast, Fla. However, in a comment, she later notes that the location is in Pittsburgh, Pa.
She says she ultimately made the decision after her previous video, in which she believes she found dried skin and sweat caked to the tanning bed she planned to use at the gym chain.
In the clip, she scrapes a thin, brownish stain off the acrylic tanning bed. In the caption, she notes that she tried to reach out to corporate about her concerns but never heard back.
“As you know, it’s nearly impossible to cancel your membership because you have to show face to the cult leaders that you don’t want to be a part of them anymore,” she remarks.
What Happened When She Tried To Cancel?
She discreetly films herself as she speaks with a Planet Fitness worker about canceling her membership. She’s shocked when the man tells her she’ll be charged for another month.
The man says, “OK, so since it’s on the 10th, just a heads up, you’re going to be billed on the 17th.”
She asks why, and he explains that if she had canceled a day earlier, the gym wouldn’t have billed her for an extra month.
“Over a day? There’s no warning of that? Just bad luck?” she continues.
Then the worker suggests she call the manager the following Monday to ask for an exception.
As she leaves, she laments that Planet Fitness doesn’t allow members to cancel online or over the phone.
“I even got charged the annual fee so I will be contacting because I want refunded for everything,” she writes in the caption. “As they’ll see, I never use my membership, and I should not be getting charged. If they’re gonna make it this impossible, they better have some flexibility.”
What Is Planet Fitness’s Cancellation Policy?
Planet Fitness is known for its low-cost membership. However, some members pay with their precious time later when they try to cancel due to the chain’s strict policy.
At most Planet Fitnesses, members have to show up in person at the location where they first signed up. Some may allow members to send in a certified letter, too. According to Rocket Money, members may also face a $58 buyout fee and additional costs depending on when in the month they cancel.
Planet Fitness doesn’t provide much information on its website, as cancelation policies may vary by location.
On the r/planetfitnessmembers subreddit, ex-members shared the annoying process of canceling their memberships.
An ex-member says they tried to cancel in person per the chain’s policy but were initially turned away.
“I went to my PF home gym to cancel today, and they told me they couldn’t cancel because the manager was not present. Straight up. They told me to come back tomorrow. How manipulative is this?” they lamented.
One member even suggested that the issue didn’t end after they cancelled.
They wrote, “Planet Fitness refused to reimburse my partner after charging them for over a YEAR after they had cancelled their membership. My partner had to make many attempts to have their membership cancelled. The first time was in person, then they emailed them five times when they continued to charge us, none of which we got responses to.”
Viewers Empathize With The TikToker
In the comments, viewers said they’ve dealt with similar frustrations at Planet Fitness.
“My daughter just cancelled and we were billed an extra month,” a commenter wrote.
Another said, “My boyfriend tried canceling for 3 months! Funny thing is with them is, you can’t go in if you don’t pay but they kept billing him!”
Some suggested how the TikToker could prevent further charges in the meantime. However, depending on the gym’s contract, she still may be liable for the money she owes it.
“I would call your bank and tell them to not authorize any further payments from planet fitness and that you’ve canceled your membership,” one suggested.
A second said, “Yea its easier to just get a new bank card. They will keep billing you.”
@_kcakes_ Planet fitness is grimy inside and out. I’ve tried to get in touch with like corporate or someone about the tanning bed situation for my other video haven’t heard back. I can’t get in contact with anyone and I’ve been trying to cancel my membership. I even got charged the annual fee so I will be contacting because I want refunded for everything as they’ll see, I never use my membership and I should not be getting charged and if they’re gonna make it this impossible they better have some flexibility.. #planetfitness #exposed #fyp #cancelled @Planet Fitness
BroBible reached out to Kelly Cakes via Instagram and TikTok direct message and to Planet Fitness via email for further comment. We will update the story when they respond.