Company information:
American Laser Center
Troy, Michigan
United States
www.americanlaser.com
I won the $300 coupon from American Laser Center's website after entering their contest. After some high pressure sales tactics such as, "this offer is only good for today, " I went in for my free consultation, and was strongly pressured to sign up for their laser services. First, the lady I met with told me everything would cost an exaggerated amount of $15, 000 if I did everything separately. She said if I signed up for the package to do everything together, it would only cost $5, 000 (4, 600 after the coupon). This still seemed like a lot of money to me, but she kept saying things like "Oh it's worth it, you'll absolutely love it once all that hair is gone!" She proceeded to tell me about monthly payment plans for a couple hundred a month. This seemed like a good idea at the time, considering she kept saying things like "Oh we'll help you out, and make it easy for you to pay!" She ran a credit check and said I was impressed that I was approved for $5, 000 and asked me if I wanted to start the paperwork right away.
Being 21 years old, and a full-time student, working part-time at the time, I told her I wanted to go home and discuss everything with my parents before I decide anything, since they would be helping me pay for this, and again to pressure me; she basically said she will wait outside so I can call my mom. My mom was very confused and hesistant about this as I told her on the phone, but I felt convinced and urged by the saleswoman to just go ahead and start laser. She immediately brought the papers and simply told me what laser treatments I would be starting, and told me to sign. She never explained to me or told me to read over ANYTHING ELSE on that paper. I later realized that she opened a credit line for $4, 600 with Care Credit (GE Money). I showed my parents everything when I got home and they immediately knew this was something we couldn't afford to do, and they weren't going to help me pay for it.
I called the ALC office to cancel approximately one hour after my consultation and no one answered. I called three times the next day during regular business hours and no one answered so I left a voicemail telling the saleswoman I needed to cancel everything. She finally called me back and started lowering the prices of the monthly payments to try to convince me not to cancel. I told her there was no way I could do it right now because my parents and I can't afford it. She got upset and told me I would have to pay a 10% cancelation fee because I signed a contract, and I told her there is no way I am paying $460 for absolutely nothing. I told her she never explained that to me, nor told me to read over that part in the contract, which is very misleading. I called the very same day to cancel, I have not received any laser treatments, and now was being told I have to pay them. I asked her if she could do something about this, and in a very rude tone of voice she told me she will talk to her regionale manager and one of them will call me back. I waited patiently and receieved no phone call, so I went there in person to return the lotions she gave me and to see why she didn't call me back. She immediately told me calm down right when i walked in, even though i hadn't said anything yet, and I was calm. She said her regional manager was very busy and she will call me when she acn; she also told me to hold on to everything including the lotions she gave me- which I still have, unopened. Even in person, she proceeded to try to lower the prices and tell me I could afford this. I left the office very frustrated. I called GE money and closed my account the same day, and later they sent me a letter saying my account has been successfully closed. A month later I received a bill from them saying I still have a balance of $4, 600 with American Laser and my first monthly payment is due. I called the saleswoman and told her I received this bill for laser treatments that I never started, and asked her why no one had called me in over a month to settle this problem. She acted surprised that her regional didn't call me, and she told me she will have her call me to take care of this asap. It's been about 2 weeks and still no phone call. I never thought canceling a service that I never even started would be so difficult and this whole process has been very frustrating and overwhelming to myself and my family!!!
