Step-by-step process to dispute subscription charges you didn't authorize, including chargebacks, FCBA rights, and when to involve your bank. This guide applies specifically to Gold's Gym ($25-$40/mo) subscribers in California, citing applicable state and federal law.
California's Automatic Renewal Law (ARL) (Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 17600) gives you specific protections when dealing with Gold's Gym subscriptions:
Penalties: Consumers can recover actual damages plus $1,000 in statutory damages per violation
Applied to Gold's Gym (In-person or certified mail) in California
Identify the charge source
Find the exact merchant name on your statement. Subscription companies often bill under different names (e.g., 'AMZN Digital' for Amazon Prime). Search the billing descriptor online if unfamiliar.
California note: Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 17600 requires Gold's Gym to provide an easy cancellation mechanism.
Contact the company first
Call or email the subscription company and state you are disputing the charge. Get their response in writing. Many will refund rather than face a chargeback, which costs them $20–50 in fees.
File a chargeback with your card issuer
Call the number on the back of your card. Say: 'I want to dispute a recurring charge under the Fair Credit Billing Act. The charge was unauthorized / continued after cancellation.' They are required to investigate.
Submit your evidence
Provide your cancellation confirmation, the unauthorized charge dates, and any communication from the company. The card issuer will request a response from the merchant.
Request merchant blocking
Ask your card issuer to add the merchant to a block list. This prevents future charges from that specific merchant ID, even if they try to re-bill.
Method: In-person or certified mail · Difficulty: hard
Gold's Gym-specific tips
No refunds. 30-day notice applies.
Under Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 17600, you may be entitled to a full refund if Gold's Gym didn't properly disclose auto-renewal terms at signup.
These apply to Gold's Gym in every state, including California:
SubScrub auto-cites Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 17600 + sends legally-backed letters