(Reuters) -The U.S. Federal Trade Commission sued the operators of gym chain LA Fitness and other gyms on Wednesday, saying they have made it exceedingly difficult to cancel memberships.

Irvine, California-based Fitness International and Fitness & Sports Clubs, which operate hundreds of gym locations under brands including Esporta Fitness, City Sports Club and Club Studio, forced members to use complicated methods such as speaking to specific managers who were often unavailable, the FTC said in a lawsuit filed in California federal court.