Legal & Money · free generator
Contract Cancellation Letter
You've been trying to cancel for weeks - the phone line loops, the front desk says corporate handles that, and another $49.99 just left your checking account. Gyms, alarm companies, and storage facilities count on cancellation being annoying enough that you give up. A written cancellation letter changes the math: it invokes the contract's own cancellation clause, revokes your payment authorization in writing, and starts a paper trail your bank will honor if the charges keep coming. It also demands written confirmation within 14 days, so "we never received it" stops working. Fill in the company, your account number, and two dates below, then send it by certified mail. The auto-drafts stop being their decision and start being yours.
[Date]
[Company name]
Attn: Member Services / Cancellation Department
To Whom It May Concern,
Please accept this letter as my formal notice of cancellation of my contract with [Company name], entered into on [Date you signed the contract], under account number [Account or member number]. I request that the cancellation take effect on [Requested cancellation date], or on the earliest date permitted under the cancellation provisions of the agreement, whichever is earlier.
I am exercising the cancellation rights provided in the contract itself. Effective as of the cancellation date, I revoke any authorization for automatic payments, electronic funds transfers, or card charges connected to this account. Do not draft or charge any further payments after that date. Any charge processed after cancellation will be disputed with my bank or card issuer as unauthorized.
Please send me written confirmation of this cancellation within 14 days of receiving this letter. The confirmation should state the effective date of cancellation and confirm that the account is closed with no further obligations. If any final prorated amount is owed under the terms of the contract, provide a written itemization before processing any charge.
This letter constitutes complete notice of cancellation. No telephone call is required to process this request.
Sincerely,
[Your full name]
Three tips before you send
- Send it by certified mail with return receipt requested, addressed exactly as the contract specifies. Many gym contracts require notice to a specific corporate address - handing it to the front desk doesn't count.
- Reread the cancellation clause before you send: many contracts require 30 days' notice before the next billing date, so set your cancellation date to clear that window and avoid one more draft.
- If a charge lands after your effective date, dispute it with your bank or card issuer immediately and attach this letter plus your delivery receipt - that combination usually wins the dispute.
Questions people ask
Can the company keep charging me after I cancel?
Not once cancellation is effective under the contract's own terms, but many keep drafting anyway. That's why this letter revokes your payment authorization in writing. If a charge lands afterward, dispute it with your bank or card issuer and provide the letter plus your delivery receipt. Federal rules on electronic transfers also let you stop preauthorized drafts by notifying your bank directly.
The contract says I can only cancel in person or by phone. Is that enforceable?
Frequently yes, which is why you should do both: follow the stated method and send this letter by certified mail as your written record. Many states also have health club statutes that guarantee cancellation by mail regardless of what the contract says - check yours. Never rely on a phone call alone; you can't prove it happened.
Don't I have three days to cancel any contract?
No - that's a common myth. The FTC's Cooling-Off Rule applies only in limited situations, mainly sales of $25 or more made at your home, or $130 or more at temporary locations like hotel ballrooms or fairgrounds. It generally doesn't cover gym contracts signed at the gym, cars, or online purchases. Some states add short cancellation windows for health clubs specifically, so check your state law.
Related letters
Subscription Cancellation Letter →
Revokes billing authorization in writing and demands confirmation - dispute-ready.
Refund Request Letter →
States the defect, cites the order, sets a 14-day deadline - refund request done right.
Complaint Letter for Poor Service →
Names the incident, asks for a specific remedy, and puts a response deadline on record.