> if your gym bills your credit card at the end of the month

does that actually happen? Most places make you pay up front, at least one month's worth, even if they subsequently bill at the end of the month.

In any case "No services rendered, no accrued charges." is actually the case I'm talking about. You pay a month's worth, then forget about the monthly renewals, and they love to keep billing you anyway, but surprise, surprise: the CC declines. At that point, you can decide if you want to keep paying or not. Which is how it should work.