Q: Should I pay for a renewal?

A: Without reading the contract terms and reviewing any consumer protection statutes that might apply to your situation, it is difficult to fully evaluate what legal rights you may have to contest the renewal directly. For instance, healthclub memberships are not allowed to contain automatic renewal clauses in Maryland for terms more than three months, "unless the agreement provides for a renewal option for continued membership which must be accepted by the buyer." MD Commercial Law Code, Section 14-12B-06(a). If this bootcamp can be characterized as a form of healthclub then this clause may be successfully challenged under that law. Per the statute, " “Health club services” includes health spa, figure salon, weight reduction center, self defense school, or other physical culture service enterprises offering facilities for the preservation, maintenance, encouragement, or development of physical fitness or physical well-being." MD Comm'l Law Code, Section 14-12B-01(d)(2). There may be other types of consumer contracts that the law prohibits or restricts from containing such renewal clauses, but this section appears to apply to a bootcamp. You should contest the charge with your credit card company, and state the charge is not authorized, violates the law, and that you never agreed to it nor was given the opportunity to reject it as required by the aforementioned statute, and then let the bootcamp try and pursue the matter further, either through your credit card company or by attempting a collection action against you in court. Under Section 14-12B-08 of the aforementioned Code, you may both file a complaint with the Maryland AG's Office, who may pursue civil fines and issue cease and desist orders, and separately you may file a private civil claim under the Maryland Consumer Protection Act for damages plus a separate ward for your attorney's fees in pursuing the action, because an automatic renewal term in a healthclub contract that does not require an affirmative opt-in by the consumer is defined as an "unfair or deceptive trade practice" by law. Jane Santoni, Esquire, in Towson, Marland, handles consumer protection claims, if you would like a referral.