LA Tan canceled membership 2 years ago, just got sent to collections for $159.92??? Rockford Illinois

My wife and I signed up for a membership around June 2005 because we were going on an anniversary trip to jamaica. We tanned for 2 months and took our trip in August. When we returned home, we both went into La Tan and canceled our membership.

I have not heard from or even set foot into that business in 2 years. Yesterday I received a COLLECTIONS notice for $159.92. You can imagine my surprise. I called the local store and was told (by what I assume was a 15 year old girl) that I never canceled my membership and was being charged for the entire 2 years.

Now, I never received a bill from them, nor a phone call, and now they have went and blemished my credit report by sending me to collections???

The 15 year old girl gave me a number to call for the corporate office which is 1-877-GO-LATAN. I have called this number 4 times now, and wouldn't ya know it, nobody answers. not even a recording... nothing!

As you can imagine, I have no paperwork to show I canceled my membership (I never received any) and I'm trying to understand why I was sent to collections, but find it odd that my wife has not when we canceled the same day.

I should have known not to do business with this tanning salon, when there are plenty of salons around Rockford that do not automatically renew your membership.

Brian
Rockford, Illinois
U.S.A.