**Three unauthorized charges in two days**
I haven't been into the tanning salon since February because of COVID and because I've been very sick since early March with a five-month attack of an autoimmune disorder that affects my skin. I haven't been able to tan for months, and won't be able to tan for the foreseeable future.
On August 18, I checked my bank balance and saw that I had a charge from Sol Spa on the 17th for $76.99 and two charges on the 18th, both for $81.99. Now, remember that I haven't been in since February... I went into the spa to see what was going on and the employee was on the phone with someone who had the exact same issue. She got off the phone and looked at my account. She said she wasn't authorized to do refunds, so she called the owner. She explained to him the situation and he asked to talk to me. I got on the phone with him and explained that I hadn't been in for months (he could see this on my account), and that I didn't understand why I had three charges in two days. I told him that I needed a refund. He said that he would give me $180 in store credit. I told him that I couldn't use store credit because I won't be able to tan for the foreseeable future and that I just need a refund. He said that Planet Fitness wouldn't give me a refund. I told him I didn't understand what Planet Fitness had to do with the situation, and that I just needed a refund for a service that I hadn't use and for three debits that I hadn't authorized. He said that he would give me store credit and I told him again that because of medical conditions, I wouldn't be able to use store credit. He told me that if I gave him documentation of my condition from my doctor, he would think about writing me a check for a refund and mailing it to my home. I told him that asking for my medical information was a HIPAA violation and that him "thinking about mailing a check to my home" was not an acceptable resolution because I had no guarantee of ever hearing from him or getting a refund.
I was on the phone for 20 minutes while this guy yelled at me, told me not to "talk to him like that" called me names, and threatened to call the police on me. I remained calm and just kept repeating that I had not used this service for months, would not be able to use it for the foreseeable future, had not authorized three charges in two days, and that I needed a refund rather than an unusable store credit.
After 20 minutes on the phone, I still have no resolution. I have been forced to cancel my debit card to prevent unauthorized charges. This has been a huge hassle that has taken up a large amount of time and mental energy.
I'm not sure how many people have experienced this issue, but I know that there was at least one more because I heard the employee talking to them. The employees at the store have always been helpful and kind; it's just the owner who I had trouble with today.
I don't recommend giving this business your debit information because it has the potential to be misused without an acceptable resolution. Also, being called names and being threatened is super not cool... read more