Mamdani Administration Issues Citywide “Subscription Trap” Compliance Warning to Nearly 200 Gyms
February 19, 2026
Action targets hard-to-cancel memberships and deceptive advertising
NEW YORK – Today, Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani and the New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) launched a compliance blitz, sending warning notices to 187 gyms and health clubs across the city including PureGym, Planet Fitness and Equinox.
The letters urge businesses to comply with state law governing membership cancellations and with the city’s Consumer Protection law, which prohibits deceptive advertising, like bait-and-switch pricing, that makes cancellations intentionally difficult. This outreach follows Mayor Mamdani’s executive order directing DCWP to lead a citywide crackdown on hidden junk fees and subscription traps.
“New Yorkers shouldn’t need a personal trainer to cancel a gym membership,” said Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani. “If a company makes it easy to sign up but nearly impossible to walk away, we will enforce the law and protect your time and your money.”
“Going to the gym is good for your health, but having to jump through hoops to cancel an unwanted membership is a waste of your time and money,” said DCWP Commissioner Sam Levine. “Our citywide warning to gyms makes it clear that DCWP will not hesitate to take aggressive enforcement action against gyms using deceptive tactics that hurt consumers, as well as honest businesses playing by the rules.”
Gyms often force consumers through cumbersome and unnecessary hoops in order to cancel unwanted memberships. For example, a gym may offer a membership for free that turns out to be a bait-and-switch scheme where New Yorkers incur fees unexpectedly after enrollment. Others impose unnecessary hurdles without clear disclosure or burdensome administrative requirements before honoring cancellation requests. In 2025, the Department received dozens of complaints from consumers struggling to cancel their gym memberships.
Mayor Mamdani’s subscription traps executive order directs DCWP “to monitor, investigate, and enforce violations related to subscription tricks and traps,” including practices such as making cancellation of subscriptions or memberships intentionally difficult.
The NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) is the nation’s leading municipal enforcement agency charged with delivering economic justice. DCWP leverages its authority to bring New Yorkers real economic relief and protect them from predatory, deceptive, and unfair practices that violate their rights as consumers and workers. This includes pioneering cutting-edge protections, such as the City’s Consumer Protection Law, Protected Time Off Law, Fair Workweek Law, and Delivery Worker Laws, including the Minimum Pay Rate for delivery workers. Through licensing more than 45,000 businesses in over 45 industries, DCWP ensures fair competition and a level playing field for responsible small businesses that are integral to New York City’s vibrant communities. DCWP also provides essential services such as free tax preparation and financial counseling to ensure New Yorkers keep more of what they earn and can plan for their futures. DCWP is committed to making sure New York City is a fairer, more affordable place to live. For more information about DCWP and its work, call 311 or visit DCWP at nyc.gov/dcwp, sign up for its newsletter, or follow on its social media sites, X, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
Media Contact:
press@dcwp.nyc.gov
(212) 436-4977