A New York woman says her attempt to cancel a Pilates membership turned into a months-long billing nightmare after she discovered she had allegedly continued being charged despite believing the cancellation had gone through. She said she canceled through the studio’s app in March, but later discovered monthly charges had continued. The dispute has now drawn a large online reaction.
The story was shared on TikTok by Cece, whose account is @ceceonthescene, and received several hundred thousand views. Many viewers responded with anger and shared their own experiences with difficult membership cancellations.
In August, Cece said she noticed the Pilates studio had charged her credit card every month since April. She contacted the business to request refunds and explained that she had canceled through the app. According to her account, the studio said it had no record of the cancellation.
Cece said the studio later provided account information showing that no credits had been added to her account between February 15 and April 15. She also noted that the studio had stopped sending her the regular text messages she had previously received around the same time. Those details contributed to her belief that the membership was no longer active.
The dispute escalated on September 14, when the New York woman said she received an email claiming she had $342 in past-due charges, despite previously being told the membership would be canceled that day. She has since locked her credit card and opened a dispute with her credit card company while continuing to communicate with the studio.
New York Woman’s Pilates Nightmare Has Viewers Furious
The comments section quickly filled with advice and similar stories. One user wrote, “This should be illegal. Making canceling a subscription this hard should be illegal. (Looking at you, Disney.)”
Several viewers warned that replacing a credit card may not always stop recurring charges, saying they had experienced old subscriptions continuing after receiving new card numbers. Others encouraged Cece to contact her bank and specifically ask for the merchant to be blocked.
Some commenters suggested filing complaints with the Federal Trade Commission, her state attorney general and consumer protection agencies. Others mentioned laws in some states requiring companies to make cancellations as easy as signing up.
Viewers also stressed the importance of keeping screenshots, emails and cancellation confirmations. Some shared their own experiences with gyms and Pilates studios, including situations where they said they had to cancel their cards or visit a studio in person to end a membership.
Several commenters specifically mentioned Club Pilates, saying the situation sounded familiar. Others encouraged Cece to continue documenting her communications and pursue a refund.
For now, the $342 dispute remains unresolved, leaving the New York woman waiting for the studio and her credit card company to sort out what happened.
