Tan Factory Tan Factory LLC security issues at night while tanning, robbery possibility, lack of security, threatening owner, false police reports Peoria, Arizona
I had requested that they quit charging my debit card in August 2009, but since they did not, I went to see what was happening at this store and use the facility I was paying for.
When I arrived, it was evening, darkness, and no one was at the counter but the store was open. A womens purse was lying on the counter and there appeared to be no one in the store, but there also appeared to be tanning machines on.
After approx 6 minutes of standing there alone, I talked to two young women who were apparently in charge. I explained that because of the state of the economy and how busy this store appears to be they were setting themselves and their customers up to potential robbery or worse. ( A tanning salon not more than two miles from this location had a man go in and kill himself right in the store.)
It was at this time that I chose to use the facility and on the way out I reminded them of the precautions that would make me feel safer using this facility.
In about 45 minutes from this time, I receive a phone call from my wife telling me that the "owner" of the Tanning Salon "Steven" called. I was at a store shopping.
I called "Steven" who appeared civil at
first. I explained and expressed my
concerns and at some point he became very hostile and aggressive, threatening
me on the phone with potential bodily harm, all kinds of expletives, and then
threatened to make a (fraudulent) police report claiming that I harassed his
employees in some way. I hung up and called my wife and went to another area
that I intended to go in the first place. (Rio
On or about 8:15 pm 28 October, I received a phone call from the Peoria Police Department telling me that they were "trespassing" me from this store and I was not to go to this location or I would be arrested.
I am claiming two things. (1) I requested that they STOP charging my card in August. They continued until October. Number (2) I was concerned for MY safety and the safety of other customers while lying (naked) in tanning machines with zero security at the door and no attending person at the counter for as long as 5 to 10 minutes.
So far, because they have not quit charging my credit (debit) card, they created an overdraft in October that I had to pay 27 dollars for, plus the 29.95 that they charge for their tanning services. I would like my money from August refunded and them to pay my overdraft fee. (I have filed a BBB complaint to start this action and have notified the fraud dept of my bank).
Also, I am considering filing a civil action based on the fraudulent police report and may seek legal action on a criminal level knowing full well that making a false police report is a crime.
1 Updates & Rebuttals
Tan Factory AZ
Peoria,Arizona,
United States of America
Correct Action Taken at the Tan Factory - Peoria
#2REBUTTAL Owner of company
Wed, November 04, 2009
It's very simple, if an 18 year old employee of yours calls hysterically crying saying that a man is harassing and threatening and making lude, agressive comments toward her you call the police. This is 'exactly' what happened, and yes, it's that simple. Actions speak louder than words and Aaron Ridgeway broke the confidence of not just this employee but all of my employees at different points in his 4-month experience in my salon. I'm just disappointed that my girls did not inform me of this creep before it came to this. My salons are outfitted with surveillance equipment in all the common areas, panic buttons in multiple points of my salons and other security features that are more advanced than most retail locations and yes, we are very safe for our customers and our staff. Having gathered detailed accounts of similar actions of our ex-customer, Aaron Ridgeway, it was a simple decision - get this creep out of my salons for good.
For somebody that is so concerned about the safety of my staff and fellow customers he felt it necessary to point out the atrocities that they would experience firsthand, like "rape and murder" (some of the language Aaron used), wouldn't I be doing them an injustice and compromise their health and well being by not reporting an incident of this nature to the proper authorities?
Regarding "unauthorized use of debit/credit card for tanning membership". Aaron tanned with us at least 5-8 times for the 4 months he had his membership with us. We have a form that needs to be filled out and signed in order to become a member and a form that needs to be signed in order to cancel a membership with us (common practice). A form was never filled out and after speaking with each of my employees I have learned that he's merely using this excuse to post a lame diatribe about the Tan Factory overcharging him, when all he is trying to do is make a statement - a very poor and distastful statement at that.
I don't feel any further comments are necessary.
(Owner - Tan Factory, AZ)