If you’ve noticed an STC Wellness City charge on credit card and aren’t sure where it came from, you’re in good company.
This charge points to a real, well-known business, and it’s almost always tied to a recurring membership rather than anything mysterious.
This guide explains what the charge means, why it shows up, how to verify it, and how to cancel or dispute it if needed.
Table of Contents
What Is the STC Wellness City Charge?
The company: Sun Tan City is a Kentucky-based tanning salon chain with locations across the United States. Wellness City is its branded membership program that bundles tanning, red light therapy, cryotherapy, spray tans, and other spa services.
The billing descriptor: On your statement, this typically appears as “STC WELLNESS CITY,” though you may also see “SUN TAN CITY,” “WELLNESS CITY,” or a variation that includes your specific salon location.
What it means: If you signed up for a Wellness City membership at a Sun Tan City location, this is your recurring monthly fee. Membership pricing varies by location, with plans advertised around $79.99 a month for full VIP access, though your specific rate depends on the salon and membership tier you chose.
Why it appears this way: Sun Tan City uses “STC” as a shorthand for its own name on billing statements, paired with “Wellness City” to identify which membership program the charge belongs to.
A note on billing patterns: According to complaints filed with the Better Business Bureau, some customers have reported being charged the full membership rate after an initial discounted promotional rate ended, and others have reported being charged even while their account was supposed to be frozen.
These appear to be customer service and billing issues reported by individual members rather than a confirmed company-wide practice, so it’s worth checking your own account status directly if something looks off.
Statement variations you might see:
- STC WELLNESS CITY
- SUN TAN CITY
- WELLNESS CITY
- STC WELLNESS [location code]
Why Did This Charge Appear?
- Subscription renewal. This is the most common reason. Wellness City memberships renew automatically each month unless you cancel or freeze your account.
- Promotional rate ending. Some members sign up at a discounted introductory rate that later increases to the standard monthly price, which can look like a surprise charge if you weren’t expecting the change.
- One-time purchase. You may have bought a single tanning session, spray tan, or package rather than a recurring membership.
- Family member purchase. Someone else in your household may have signed up for a membership or made a purchase using a card linked to your account.
- Payment processor routing. Sun Tan City, like most salon chains, processes card payments through a third-party payment processor, which is why the descriptor may look slightly different from the salon’s public name.
- Duplicate or unexpected billing. Some customers have reported being charged despite believing their membership was frozen or canceled. If this happens to you, contact the company directly and keep records of any confirmation you received.
- Authorization hold. A small temporary hold may appear before a membership charge fully settles.
- International transaction. This is unlikely for Wellness City, since it’s a US-based salon chain, but double-check with your bank if you see an international flag on the charge.
How to Verify the Charge
- Check whether you or a family member has an active Wellness City or Sun Tan City membership.
- Look for a welcome email or membership confirmation from Sun Tan City.
- Log into your Sun Tan City app or online account to review your membership status and billing history.
- Compare the charge amount to your known membership rate or any promotional pricing you signed up for.
- If you believe your account was supposed to be frozen or canceled, check your account status directly rather than assuming it was processed.
- If nothing matches, contact Wellness City or Sun Tan City customer support directly to ask about the specific charge.
Is It Legitimate or Fraud?
Common legitimate scenarios include an active monthly membership renewing, a promotional rate increasing to the standard price, or a family member’s membership billed to a shared card.
Warning signs include no memory of ever visiting a Sun Tan City or Wellness City location, no account showing up when you check the app or website, or a charge amount far outside typical membership pricing.
Contact your bank if you’ve confirmed there’s no account tied to your name or card and no record of ever signing up for a membership.
How to Cancel
According to Wellness City’s published terms, memberships are billed monthly and can be canceled at any time, though you’re required to complete one full monthly payment before canceling or freezing your account. Here’s how to proceed:
- Check your Sun Tan City app or online account for a cancellation or account management option.
- Call Wellness City’s customer service line at 270.765.7400 to request cancellation or a freeze.
- If phone support doesn’t resolve it, visit your home salon in person to cancel your membership directly, since some customers report this is more reliable than phone or chat support.
- Request written confirmation of your cancellation or freeze, such as an email or text confirmation, and keep it for your records.
- Continue monitoring your statement for one to two billing cycles to confirm the charges have actually stopped.
Can You Get a Refund?
We could not confirm a specific, published refund policy for Wellness City memberships. Based on how the membership is structured, refunds are more likely for genuine billing errors, such as being charged after a confirmed cancellation, than for simply changing your mind about an active membership.
Start by contacting Wellness City or Sun Tan City directly and requesting a refund in writing. If the company doesn’t resolve the issue, you can dispute the charge with your card issuer under the Fair Credit Billing Act, especially if you have documentation showing your account should have been canceled or frozen.
What to Do If the Charge Is Unauthorized
- Check for an account first, since a family member’s membership is a common explanation.
- Contact Wellness City directly and ask them to explain the charge using your card’s last four digits and the transaction date.
- Request cancellation and written confirmation if you find an active membership you don’t want.
- Call the number on the back of your card if the charge still doesn’t make sense.
- File a formal dispute with your card issuer if you believe the charge was never authorized.
- Keep records of every call, email, or chat related to the charge in case you need them later.
Prevention Tips
- Read the fine print on promotional membership rates before signing up, especially the renewal price.
- Set a calendar reminder before any discounted rate is set to expire.
- Check your membership status directly through the app rather than assuming a freeze or cancellation went through.
- Always get written confirmation of any cancellation or freeze request.
- Use transaction alerts through your bank or card app.
- Review your statement line by line each month, especially for recurring memberships.
- Keep a simple list of active memberships and review it periodically.
Helpful Tables
Charge Type vs. Meaning
| Charge Type | What It Usually Means |
|---|---|
| Recurring monthly charge | Active Wellness City membership |
| Charge that increased over time | Promotional rate ended, standard pricing applied |
| One-time charge | Single tanning session or package purchase |
| Charge despite a freeze request | Possible billing error, worth disputing |
Typical Refund Timeline
| Step | General Timeframe |
|---|---|
| Company review | A few business days to a few weeks |
| Refund processing | Varies by company policy |
| Funds back on statement | One to two billing cycles |
Typical Dispute Timeline
| Step | General Timeframe |
|---|---|
| File dispute with bank | As soon as possible, ideally within 60 days |
| Bank investigation | Up to 90 days under federal rules |
| Provisional credit | Often within 10 business days |
Common Descriptor Variations
| Descriptor | Likely Source |
|---|---|
| STC WELLNESS CITY | Standard membership renewal charge |
| SUN TAN CITY | Parent company descriptor |
| WELLNESS CITY | Membership or service charge |
| STC WELLNESS [location code] | Charge tied to a specific salon location |
FAQs: STC Wellness City Charge on Credit Card
Q. What does STC stand for on my credit card statement?
A. STC stands for Sun Tan City, the parent company behind the Wellness City membership program.
Q. Is Wellness City the same as Sun Tan City?
A. Yes. Wellness City is Sun Tan City’s branded membership program that includes tanning, red light therapy, cryotherapy, and other wellness spa services offered at Sun Tan City locations.
Q. Why was I charged even though I thought my membership was frozen or canceled?
A. Some customers have reported this issue in complaints filed with the Better Business Bureau. If this happens to you, contact Wellness City directly, provide any confirmation you received, and request a refund in writing.
Q. How do I cancel my Wellness City membership?
A. You can try canceling through the Sun Tan City app or account portal, by calling 270.765.7400, or by visiting your home salon in person. Always request written confirmation once your cancellation is processed.
Conclusion
An STC Wellness City charge on credit card almost always ties back to a Sun Tan City membership, whether that’s a standard monthly renewal or a promotional rate that increased over time.
Checking your account status directly is the fastest way to confirm it. If you run into billing issues, especially around a freeze or cancellation, keep detailed records and don’t hesitate to escalate to your card issuer if the company doesn’t resolve it.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or legal advice. Always verify charges directly with the merchant and your financial institution, and consult a qualified professional for guidance specific to your situation.
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