Cancel a gym membership or subscription by mail
Gyms and subscription services that require written cancellation can be canceled with a mailed letter for $1.99 First-Class — or $12.99 Certified Mail when you want dated proof they received it.
Usually the right pick: Certified Mail · $12.99
Some contracts — gyms are the notorious example — still require cancellation "in writing by mail," precisely because it adds friction. The counter-move is simple: a two-paragraph letter with your name, member number, the cancellation request, and the effective date, mailed to the address in your contract.
Use Certified ($12.99) if the company has a reputation for "losing" cancellations or if you are inside a renewal window with real money at stake. The tracking record ends the "we never received it" conversation, and the date establishes when your notice period started — which determines your last billed month.
Check the contract for three things before sending: the required notice period (often 30 days), the exact cancellation address (often different from the club address), and any required details like member ID. Missing a required detail is the most common reason a cancellation gets rejected as incomplete.
After it is delivered, watch one more billing cycle. If a charge lands after your notice period expired, you now have delivery proof to attach to the card dispute — which is typically all it takes.
Common questions
Is First-Class enough to cancel a gym membership?
It satisfies "in writing by mail" for $1.99, but Certified ($12.99) is worth it when a renewal deadline or ongoing billing is at stake — you get proof of the delivery date.
What should the cancellation letter say?
Your full name, member/account number, a plain statement that you are canceling, the requested effective date, and a request for written confirmation. Short is fine; complete is what matters.
When does my notice period start?
Contracts vary — some count from mailing, some from receipt. Certified Mail documents both dates, so you are covered under either reading.