Mma Gym Wants $1,500 To Cancel

Location: Southern CA

I signed up for an MMA gym membership for $219/month for 12 months, plus a $415 sign-up fee. I’ve paid three months so far, so I’ve already paid $1,072 total.

After a death in my family caused major changes with work and finances, I asked to cancel. Their website says cancellations should be submitted in writing with 30 days’ notice, so I followed that process. I was apologetic, acknowledged that I signed up for 12 months, and asked whether they could make a hardship exception.

They initially wanted $1,500 to cancel, then reduced it to $1,250 and asked if I had Zelle. When I explained I genuinely couldn’t afford that, management replied:

“We did been flexible, sorry for your loss we all go through tuff times and i completely understand you! But it’s how life goes with rules and policies, if you have a car payment you also gonna stop paying your car? Or you continue honor your agreement”

The bigger issue is that I was never given or emailed a copy of the membership agreement when I signed up. I’ve now asked them to send me the signed agreement and the section that supposedly requires a $1,500 cancellation payment, but they haven’t provided it yet.

My main legal question: if they refuse or fail to provide the contract, what are the legal risks if I tell my credit card company to block future $219 recurring charges? Could the gym still send the remaining balance or cancellation fee to collections, and if so, would they have to produce the actual signed agreement to enforce it?

I’m not claiming I never signed anything — I just don’t want to keep paying or send $1,250 through Zelle without even being shown the contract they say requires it.