I purchased a tanning package from Alicia on Thursday, Apr 21. She described a "level 3" tanning bed to me that had "much more UV screening and much safer tanning". She then set up my first tanning session for the maximum tan time of 12 minutes. I thought this was odd because other tanning places I've been in years past do not allow you to tan for the maximum amount until you have built up a tan - e.G. Max Tan will not let you tan for a full 20 minutes for several session - you start out with 10 minutes then work you way up. But I trusted attendant Alicia who sold me the $344 package that it was fine to tan for 12 minutes.
When done tanning, I mentioned to Alicia that it felt like I was burning. She replied "oh, just tan for less time next time." When I got home that evening, I started to realize the extent of my skin burn and was extremely alarmed. I was in significant pain as the burning was from on my back from my shoulders to below my buttocks. On the front of my body, I was severely burned from my breasts to my pubic bone. I was unable to shower or sleep and was in constant pain. When my boyfriend saw the burns for the first time the next day (Friday), he felt they were serious enough that I should consult a doctor but I did not since it was evening.
On Saturday morning, after a night of no sleep due to extreme pain from the burn, I called the Sun Palace Highlands location where I purchased/tanned and left a detailed reason as to my burn and asking a call back from the manager that same day. I did not receive a return call. The pain continue and I started to worry about long-term skin damage due to the severity of the burn.
On Monday, 4/25, with still no sleep and still in extreme pain, I went into the Highlands store at noon to speak with the manager. She attendant indicated the manager was not on premise and that she did not know anythign about my call to the manager on Saturday. I explained the situation and she was shocked that Alicia had allowed me to tan for 12 minutes. She wrote up an email to Alicia (she now confirmed that Alica who sold me the package was the manager), describing my burn, pain and urgent request for a call.
Today, 4/26, I sent two emails to the store email address that I found on their website, requesting a call back from the manager or owner (the attendant who I spoke with on Monday indicated that Alicia was the manager but "Tammy" was the owner, but 'she doesn't have anything to do with the stores.' In my emails, I did state that I would be filing a complaint with the Better Business Bureau if I did not receive a call back from the owner or manager.
I have left my phone number each time I have contacted Sun Palace and I have been gracious but now I am very concerned not only about my own skin health but those of other patrons.
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