How to Cancel Fitness First Australia (2026)

Fitness First has a 1.5-star rating on ProductReview from over 500 reviews. The most common complaint? Cancellation. That should tell you everything about what you're walking into.

You cannot cancel online. There is no cancel button, no self-service portal, no form. You have to call 1300 55 77 99 or go to your home club in person. And once you do, you'll need to survive the retention pitch before they'll process it.

Know your contract type first

Before you call, check your membership agreement. Fitness First runs three contract types, and the cancellation rules are different for each.

Ongoing (rolling) membership: No fixed term. You're paying week-to-week or fortnight-to-fortnight. You can cancel any time with the standard notice period (see below). No early termination fee.

Fixed Term (12 or 18 months): You're locked in. Cancelling before the minimum term ends triggers an early termination fee. After the term ends, it rolls over to an ongoing membership.

Upfront membership: Paid in full at the start. Generally can't be cancelled mid-term unless you qualify for a special circumstance exemption. If approved, you'll get a pro-rata refund minus fees.

If you're not sure what you're on, call 1300 55 77 99 and ask. Many members don't realise their fixed term ended months ago and they're already on a rolling membership that can be cancelled freely.

How to cancel

1. Call 1300 55 77 99 (Mon-Fri during business hours). Tell them you want to cancel your membership.
2. State your intention clearly. They will try to talk you out of it (see retention section below). Be direct.
3. Serve your notice period. You'll keep paying during this time (30 days in most states, 14 days in ACT and SA).
4. Get written confirmation. Do not hang up without an email or reference number confirming the cancellation date and your final payment.
5. Watch your bank account. Check that direct debits actually stop after the notice period. If they don't, contact your bank.

You can also visit your home club in person during staffed hours. Bring your membership number and ID.

Notice periods by state

State/Territory	Notice Period
NSW, VIC, QLD, WA, NT, TAS	30 days
ACT, SA	14 days

The notice period starts from the date Fitness First receives your cancellation request. Any payments that fall due during the notice period must be paid in full. Freeze or payment break time doesn't count toward your notice period.

Early termination fees

If you're still within your minimum contract term, Fitness First charges a tiered early termination fee based on how much time you have left.

Ask for the exact fee amount in writing before agreeing to anything. If you're close to the end of your contract, it's often cheaper to keep paying for the remaining weeks than to cop the termination fee.

Current membership pricing

For context, here's what Fitness First charges:

A 20% student discount is available on 3, 12, and 18-month memberships with a valid student ID.

The retention call

When you call to cancel, the person on the phone is trained to keep you. Common tactics:

"Can I ask why you're leaving?" They'll use your answer to pitch alternatives. You don't owe them a detailed reason.

"We can freeze your membership for up to 4 weeks." A freeze costs $5/week and pauses your payments but doesn't end the contract. You can't cancel during a freeze. This is a delay tactic, not a solution.

"Let me check if we can offer you a better rate." If you want to stay at a lower price, fine. If you want out, don't engage.

Special circumstance exemptions

You can exit early without the full termination fee in these situations:

Permanent illness or injury: You'll need a current medical certificate from a qualified practitioner stating you can't use the gym. Fitness First must release you from the remaining term.

Bankruptcy: You'll need to provide a Notification of Bankruptcy from the Australian Financial Security Authority (AFSA).

These exemptions are in the standard Fitness First terms and conditions (Section 18). If the club pushes back, reference the specific clause.

Cooling-off period

If you joined within the last 7 business days, you can cancel for a full refund of membership fees. Contact your home club directly. You'll need to return your access card and any merchandise within 7 days, or Fitness First will deduct an admin fee from your refund.

The cooling-off period applies to new memberships only. It doesn't apply to transfers or renewals.

If they refuse to cancel

1. Send a written cancellation request by email to your home club (find the specific club email on fitnessfirst.com.au). Reference Section 18 of their terms and conditions. This creates a paper trail with a date stamp.
2. Contact your state Fair Trading office. NSW Fair Trading, Consumer Affairs Victoria, QLD Office of Fair Trading, Consumer Protection WA, Consumer and Business Services SA.
3. Report to the ACCC at accc.gov.au. They won't resolve individual complaints but use reports to build enforcement cases.
4. Cancel the direct debit through your bank. If you've given proper notice and the notice period has passed, your bank can stop the payments. Keep all your correspondence in case the gym disputes it.

Worth knowing

• Fitness First is owned by Quadrant Private Equity, the same company that owns Goodlife. If you transfer to Goodlife thinking the grass is greener, you're dealing with the same parent company.
• The $59 admin fee is non-refundable, even during the cooling-off period (unless you return all merchandise within 7 days).
• Fitness First offers a free trial pass before you join. If you're reading this before signing up, use the trial first and read the full terms and conditions before committing.