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American Laser Centers Complaints - Fraudulent and deceptive practices!

Review all American Laser Centers complaints

American Laser Centers

Posted: 2007-05-31 by Angela [send email]
Fraudulent and deceptive practices!
Complaint Rating:  91 % with 11 votes
I went to the Pittsburgh branch in November 2006, for a "free" consultation. Dawn Stellabotte, the clinic manager, manipulated and tricked me into signing paperwork. She said I was signing privacy and medical paperwork regarding the free consultation. She also offered me a free credit check to see if I could afford any of the procedures. I was curious to see if my credit would allow it so I said OK. Instead, she opened up an $8300 line of credit in my name. I never received any treatments, and ALC refuses to refund the money because of their "No Refund" policy. I am already up to $110,000 in debt from student loans (I'm a recent graduate), and I can't afford this $8300 charge. Especially since I never knew I was signing up for it. They have also already sent the debt to a collection agency. So now I am fighting two battles. This whole experience has been so humiliating and I lie awake at night wondering how I will ever escape this fraudulent debt. I can't afford legal fees, so I am going to try other options. I will be contacting a number of consumer advocacy agencies as well as the media so I can get some attention to this. But I need help for other people. I know there are more people like us out there, but they are embarrassed and ashamed to come forward. If I put my self out there, I know they will also come forward. This company operates on manipulation of women with low self-esteem and they continually subscribe to fraudulent and deceptive practices, and should be forced to stop. Please call the ALC on my behalf and tell them what they are doing is wrong. Their main number is 1-877-252-8922. Their main corporate office number is 248-426-8250.
Comments United States Health & Beauty
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Comments

496 days ago by Kim [send email]
Dear Angela,

Seriously sweetie, nobody signs their name to something that they don't read, and if you do deserve it. No one can force another person to do something they don't want to, so stop playing the victim, and take responsibility for what you did, and don't blame the company. There is nothing worse then a person messing up in life and blaming everyone but themselves.
458 days ago by Alison Ruge [send email]
I've gotten 3 laser treatments on my legs and chin so far, and seen no effect. They keep saying, "just wait" but since they won't refund my money, I'm kind of locked in.

Also, their Berkeley office wouldn't call me back to schedule an appointment after I'd called 3 times over the course of a 2-week period. What's strange is that the one time they did answer the phone during the day, the admin said she would call me right back, but never did.

What I hate most is that they test the laser on your throat! They push down hard on your throat bones and zap you five times in increasing intensity to check that you're not too sensitive for the treatment. It hurts! And they say they have to test there because that's where they are told to test. CHOKE

The employee turnover is pretty high, too. I don't know why. Everyone acts like their on edge and they seem to be pushed hard by management to deliver new clients all the time, but they leave soon. Perhaps they can't face themselves in the mirror...

In all, this place has turned out to be a very suspicious company with questionable integrity. I do NOT recommend them.
445 days ago by Padu Alimchandani [send email]
I went to American Laser to get my upper lip treated. The managet their talked me into doing my whole face & she will give me a discount. I didn't have much hair onmy face but got temted with the discount.
Well, instead of getting rid of the hair i was getting more hair on my face.
They give you 3 years guarntee after the last treatment. Now they refuse to do so even though I hae a written agreement from them.
437 days ago by Desirae Seales [send email]
I entered my name in a drawing for $300 off any package. They called me and said I won. I went in and signed up for the chin/lip for a certain amount. A few days later a friend went in and got the same price as me. I called and asked why I didn't get the $300 off. They said I did and that others are getting a "promotional" price. Me being a 3rd place winner was just a gimmick to get me in. Then they made me pay $30 for a bottle of lotion that does nothing more than a $3 bottle at Wal-mart. In addition, I just had my 4th treatment and instead of it getting better it is 30 times worse now.
408 days ago by Losll [send email]
It is illegal to give out the corporate phone #!
388 days ago by Jenn [send email]
American laser centers claims they are professional however they take peoples money and all their services are trial and error with each patient they keep changing their protocol on all patients!
337 days ago by Refuse To Say [send email]
there is a high turnover rate because the tech DO feel they are in a legit business. Its a matter of time that you quickly begin to see somethings not right. Shoving clinets in to be lasered which makes techs rush so treatments are not done satisfactory. Each clinci needs to hit a certain dollar amount(generally 100,00 ) in order to bonus. You never have the same client so its hard to know what all is going on with each individual untill you have treated them yourself several times. The one thing i couldnt understand is the client demand to be fitted in IMMEDIATLEY when they would no show their last appointment. Some clinics from what i understand are runnning till 10 pm or later just to treat clients!!! ill tell you..MANAGMENT is completly responsiable for the confusion,lies and lack of customer service. MAnagment has to report daily to their supervisor for the region and they too are encouraging the lies. TEchs do the ebst they can, techs report unhappy customers , do turn over clients files who are NOT seing results and its managment who passes the buck....
291 days ago by Lola Franks [send email]
Thats funny... first time care credit applicants can only be approved for $6500. I've done their treatments and they've done wonders for me.
283 days ago by Mike [send email]
I'm a guy that started going to American Laser exactly 4 years ago to get some hair removed from my front neck because i'd always get rash/ ingrown hairs, etc. So I went there and the manager sold me a 6 treatment package for $1100 with a guarantee for 2 years after the last treatment. The manager at the time was Karen at the Grosse Pointe location. She said I was a perfect candidate, so I agreed. Well on my third treatment she offered me the deal of a lifetime and had me doing other parts of my body; Upper back, chest, abdomen and the 5 or 6 hairs between my eyebrows for additional 2500 which was about 50% off she claimed. Well after about 15 treatments on all areas, almost all my neck hair is still present and about 50% loss everywhere else except the 5 or 6 hairs that STILL exist between my brows. And by the way, I have so many uneven patches all over my chest and abdomen now I look like a sick Chia Pet. So I had an appointment today and I complained about my neck, which the 2 year guarantee ended 9 months ago. Karen, who's at the Macomb office now, looked at it and said it was patchy. I responded " I didn't pay 1100 to look patchy." She said she had to make sure I made every single appointment and said all they can do for me is redo my neck for 1/3 the non discounted price which was about 500. I said that its no use because your services are not working, even though they informed me that I'm a perfect candidate with light skin and dark hair, i'm a brown hair, blue eyed caucasion male. I told her I would like a refund and she said there's no way corporate will do that. I then informed her that if necessary I will be taking them to small claims. I mean, all a judge has to do it look at my neck and see the massive amount of hair left. I think its time to start a class action lawsuit against these CROOKS.
271 days ago by Nicole [send email]
Hello Anglea and Posters,

I'm sorry to hear about your refund and treatment issues. I represent American Laser Centers and we apologize for the delayed response to your request for assistance. American Laser Centers has recently changed ownership and we would like to ask you to please contact our newly expanded customer service department regarding your issue at (877) 252-2010. If you’d like us to contact you instead, please provide your contact information to my email below and we will contact you at a time and day of your convenience.

American Laser Centers’ customer service center will be happy to personally help you with your needs and will provide a swift response to your concern.

Thank you,

Nicole
customerservice@alcpartner.com
www.americanlaser.com
255 days ago by Olivia [send email]
You're right, they do scam you but just to let everyone know...they now offer a refund if you haven't begun treatments. It seems the company realized that they legally CANNOT keep money for services that were not rendered.
255 days ago by Olivia [send email]
Please also be aware that the apology letter postings are bogus and are not from actual employees in the customer service department of American Laser Centers. I have a good friend who works in the corporate office and stated to me that those people are non-existant.
245 days ago by Allen [send email]
Hello Olivia,

I work with the executive team at American Laser Centers and as part of the new management team’s goal, we’re working hard to decrease the disconnect between customers and the company. Please be assured that I am real and do represent ALC. I’m more than happy to contact you directly if you’d like discuss this further.

-Allen
217 days ago by Crys [send email]
Im dealing with a similar situation and i'm just wondering if they refunded your money and did you had to pay a 10% cancelation fee? Because I tried to cancel everything and they said I still had to pay a fee because its in the "contract" I am still fighting this.
168 days ago by Sidnee [send email]
Angela,
You must not be too smart with your money or pay attention to what you are signing. If you are $100, 000 in debt that pretty much speaks for it self. No body signs paper work without reading the fine print or ALL of the print as to what you are signing and in agreement to. If you go into a consultation as a prospective consumer/buyer and the consultant asks to run your credit, then the next minute you are signing all these papers...you would think COMMON SENSE would pop in your head that you should probably READ what it is YOU are SIGNING. Some poeple lack common sense and are naive then it bites them and they pass the buck.
This goes to everyone who signs things without first reading, with any company or any situation.

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