[bluGill]

Depends on the type of gym. The cheap ones only can pay the bills if most people are paying but not actually going. So they have to make it hard to end the contract.

There are a few gyms that don't, but these tend to be based on personal training or snall group classes. That personal attention means they are more likely to end your contract for you if you are not attending as they need a good reputation to justify the high price they have to charge everyone.

If you know what your are doing in the gym you don't need the services of the more expensive ones, so canceling will be hard.

[_puk]

Even if it is easy to end the contract (just ask to terminate it option), it is quite common that you have to give X months notice.

They rely on the fact many members will go less and less each month before reviewing and cancelling, so they get paid for 5-6 months.