Celebrity Gossips

Planet Fitness Faces Backlash Following New FTC Rule on Easy Gym Membership Cancellations

4 weeks ago

Planet Fitness, one of the largest fitness franchises in the United States, found itself trending on social media after the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced new rules aimed at making subscription cancellations easier for consumers. The New Hampshire-based chain, known for its low-cost memberships and welcoming environment, became the target of widespread criticism due to its existing cancellation policies, which do not allow members to cancel their subscriptions online or over the phone.

The new FTC regulations, which were unveiled on Monday, mandate that companies must offer a one-click option for customers to cancel their subscriptions. This rule is part of a broader initiative to protect consumers from predatory business practices, particularly those that make it difficult to end a service. The regulations also propose that financial institutions provide real human representatives, rather than chatbots, for customer service interactions, particularly when handling sensitive tasks like credit card disputes.

As the news broke, social media was flooded with memes and posts ridiculing Planet Fitness for its cumbersome cancellation process. Many users shared humorous content highlighting the contrast between the ease of signing up for a Planet Fitness membership and the difficulty of canceling one.

“Planet Fitness once this law passes,” one Twitter user quipped, accompanied by a gif of someone frantically trying to solve a problem. Another user shared a clip with the caption, “Planet Fitness right now,” alluding to the panic the franchise might be experiencing in light of the new rules. Jordan Peele’s iconic sweating scene from the movie Key & Peele was also widely circulated, symbolizing the pressure on Planet Fitness to adapt to the impending changes.

The FTC’s new regulations are seen as a victory for consumers who have long struggled with complex and frustrating cancellation processes. According to the White House Domestic Policy Advisor, Neera Tanden, these rules aim to ensure that companies cannot unfairly retain customers’ money by making it overly difficult to end a service.

“For a lot of services, it takes one or two clicks on your phone to sign up. It should take one or two clicks on your phone to end the service,” Tanden stated, emphasizing the need for simplicity and fairness in subscription management. She also pointed out that many companies have used these complicated cancellation procedures to delay services or retain customers’ money longer than necessary, which ultimately harms consumers.

In addition to the new cancellation rules, the administration is also urging health insurance companies to accept online claims submissions, rather than requiring customers to print and mail forms. This move is part of a larger effort to modernize and streamline consumer interactions across various industries.

While the new FTC regulations will be implemented on different timelines, ranging from a few weeks to several months, the immediate impact on companies like Planet Fitness is already evident. The fitness chain, which operates over 2,400 clubs across the United States, may need to reevaluate its membership policies to comply with the new rules and avoid further backlash from customers.

As consumers become more empowered to cancel services with ease, businesses will need to focus on improving customer satisfaction and retention through positive experiences, rather than relying on cumbersome processes to keep customers locked in. For Planet Fitness and other companies with similar policies, the new FTC rules represent a significant shift in the balance of power between businesses and consumers.

Shivam Kumar

Hi, I’m Shivam Kumar. I’m pursuing Journalism honors from the IP University. I love the skill of writing and looking forward to learn more of it. Also I love traveling and experiencing new things every day….

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