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American Laser Skincare

American Laser Skincare review: unprofessional, dangerous, painful and no refund! 609

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12:00 am EDT
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After being burned by their laser on 4/13/07, I have contacted their corporate office dozens of times with no response . The procedure was so painful, I had to stop stop the treatment. It left burns on my legs.

I had paid over $2,700 for a service package, but will no longer return to their clinic. It was the most painful, unprofessional experience I've gone through. I have demanded a refund on services not rendered but cannot get anyone to address my complaint. The customer service department has transferred my case to the "appropriate department," but I am still waiting to hear from them. I have called almost every day since 4/13/07 (today is 5/16/07), and am always transferred to an unidentified voicemail box. I have left a message every time.

Beware people!

Update by Anonymous
Jun 13, 2009 8:42 am EDT

Update on my original post on 5/16/07 - With no success after letters to my state's AG, the BBB, and ALC corporate headquarters, I was contacted by ALC on 10/15/08, after they saw my posting. Here is an excerpt from their email to me, "I was notified by our marketing department for American Laser Centers about your blog, and am currently a member of the Customer Service Team. As a result, of course I am familiar with the refunding policy changes and am responsible for screening eligible clients for refund. I notice in your case you had started treatments, and I am guessing that is why you were denied refund. It used to be only clients that had not received any treatments could be refunded. However, ALC has reviewed their policies under new ownership and are refunding treated clients the unused portions of their contracts if they still wish to cancel services. Since yours was the first posting that I saw online I thought I would contact you first in the hopes that you would want to work with me to get your matter resolved. "

On 10/21/08, the representative asked me for my Care Credit information so they could process a partial refund.

On 1/6/09, I asked for a status of my refund. On 1/23/09, their response was, "I apologize but this still has not been completed." Also, "Accounting has given us 12-16 weeks as timeframes but I know that those are only estimates and that we truly do apologize for this delay."

I checked in again on 6/10/09 - EIGHT months after they said they were issuing a refund. Their response was a request for photos of the injuries I suffered! I'm back to square one.

I'm not holding my breath; it's obvious they never started the refund process at all. The only recourse I have is to keep you all updated on this blog.

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The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.

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609 comments
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mhd
San Antonio, US
Dec 02, 2009 12:07 pm EST

I am yet another former customer of American Laser Center that has been ripped off and hurt in their process. I am trying to get a lawyer to sue them after my face and leg have been burnt. They said this was normal and should go away. They say that because they don't want to give me a refund! Not only have I've been going more than 2 years now (just got burnt this week), but also the treatment is NOT WORKING. How can I ensure that others do not go through this? I will do WHATEVER IT TAKES to bring this company down. I am sending first of all an email to my entire company (a fortune 500 company) to tell them NEVER TO GO TO THIS COMPANY. Worst experience ever!

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Nahrin Arsenos
, US
Nov 16, 2009 2:14 pm EST
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

On October 24, 2009 I entered a contract to receive services on laser hair removal. After the contract was signed I was told by the clinic manager that there will be a “test patch” done on me as a courtesy service to assure the desired skin response to the laser. She consistently referred to this as “test patch” and not a procedure. Other than the courtesy test patch, there has been no rendering of any services or procedures of any kind. I am canceling my contract as I informed the clinic manager on October 26, 2009 to not move forward with the contract and the appointments because I won’t be able to afford the procedure due to unforeseen financial difficulties. They are now harassing me to make appointments and go forth with it because I’ve already done the test patch and that obligates me to the entire $3300.00 contract. Do they obligate you to buy the very first car you take out for a test drive? What kind of business is this?

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nsfv
Irvine, US
Nov 01, 2009 2:26 pm EST

BEWARE! The worst company out there. Unprofessional, and ZERO customer service. I got burned and nobody will help me. I have called many times with a response of, "someone will get back to you". I want a refund and to never step foot there again.

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Lulu2000
Gaithersburg, US
Oct 30, 2009 1:42 pm EDT

I also had a horrible experience with this place. I "won" $500 towards a treatment, paid the difference, which was over $1000, and after 12 or so painful visits, no positive results. I actually have more ingrown hairs now. I have tried contacting them repeatedly and even filed a complaint with the BBB but still no response.

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DONT DO IT!
, US
Oct 14, 2009 3:56 pm EDT

Both clinics in Elk Grove and Sacramento SUCKS! Poor management, no customer service skills at all, its all about taking advantage of people's money. ALC is a total SCAM! If you're thinking about any form of laser treatment, DONT, its not worth throwing your money away or ruining your body with burns, scars, bruises, etc...BE AWARE!

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missjenn
, US
Oct 14, 2009 8:36 am EDT

I definatly agree never listen to staff, they are just trying to sell you stuff. Last time I went in they asked me if I was interested in botox or some laser skin rejuvination. My response: I'm only 22...I don't need those things.

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smsjor
Minneapolis, US
Oct 09, 2009 5:36 pm EDT

Liars and thieves is all I have to say.
They force you into paying them and do not give your money back, even when you haven't had any treatments!

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tigerlaw
Grapevine, US
Oct 09, 2009 4:03 pm EDT

I am a lawyer representing a former ALC client who was badly burned. If any of you are interested in visiting with me about your experience, or ALC's business practices in general, I would very much appreciate your insight.

steve.sdrlaw@verizon.net

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Nicole H. Paige
, US
Oct 08, 2009 6:20 pm EDT

This company needs to be shut down. And will. I'm joining the class action lawsuit... me and the scar they put on my chin (which is less than helpful for my on-camera acting career). American Laser has been giving me the run around for about 9 months now and it's time to resolve this. I spoke with Care Credit this morning and they are considering disassociating with them because of their sleazy business practices.

Additionally I want to point out that the women that work in the Santa Monica office are delightful and sweet people. They don’t make the policies or technology and this is nothing against them. But they should probably find new jobs because this company wont be open for very much longer if I have anything to do with it.

nhpaige@gmail.com

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misty915
Frederick, US
Oct 05, 2009 12:35 pm EDT

I have been going to the ALC in Frederick MD for 12 months. I purchased the package for the entire face (brow, chin, upper lip...and everywhere else on my face). It cost ~$1500. It HURTS. I use the numbing cream, but it still HURTS. Actually, I would say worse than child birth.

But...it works and I do not regret this at all. I am the ideal candidate with dark hair and pale skin. I have always had a unibrow and mustache that I have had to deal with since my teens. There was a noticable difference after the first treatment. With each treatment they bump up the power which increases the pain. Seriously, I call it the torture chamber. It only takes 15min for the face, but it is the worse 15min ever. The pain goes away within 1-3 hours.

Do not go expecting it to not hurt, because it will. If it doesn't hurt, I would assume something is wrong with the laser, or you have dark skin and they have to keep it on low...which means less results.

I would not recommend this for anyone with blonde hair or darker skin. I would not recommend this for just a few hairs. This is for us hairy people.

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lynzy44
Bend, US
Oct 02, 2009 4:20 am EDT

I went to ALC in Bend, Oregon June 2009 and I received over 150 2nd degree burns on both legs and had to go to the ER for treatment. Dermatologists have told me the scars are permanent.
If you have been a victim of ALC please report the incident to the Oregon Health dept. They have a simple one page form to fill out and do take action.
Any questions PLEASE email me lynzy44@aol.com

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Lindalue
Huntington, US
Sep 29, 2009 11:46 am EDT

Phil,

Somebody must of paid you for what you have posted! What did ALC offer you? A free package or something? As you can read from our compliants, we are not complaining of poor/no resluts after 1-2 treatments! We have gone to get our body parts lasererd (or should I say burned?) many times without getting the results that we were promised! I spent $4500.00 of my hard earned money on this and a year and a half later I am still shaving and have regrowth of the few and I mean very few hairs that did fall out.

I really dought that you "ENJOYED" your treatments as they are painful, leave you with burns and in my case white spots all over my legs! We can't be talking about the same laser hair removal center! Out of hundreds of posts I have read you are the only was that seems to be "HAPPY" and have "ENJOYED" your treatments...I find a that very hard to believe and think you just may be someone that is getting paid from ALC to post a good review of your expierence. What you wrote is total Bull!

Pissed and cheated!
Lindalue

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rhm
Pompano Beach, US
Sep 24, 2009 3:07 pm EDT

So sorry for the bad experiences, but mine has been surprisingly good. the results is better than i expected. but the staff and the atmosphere makes me cringe...it definitely feels shady, i hate doing business there. cant wait till its over.

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JennJenn8987
Northbrook, US
Sep 24, 2009 12:20 am EDT

I have had 4 treatments of the laser hair removal and have seen really good results HOWEVER I have naturally very dark hair and pale skin. Everytime I go in there the girl performing the procedure tells me I'm lucky cause my hair and skin color make me a perfect canidate for laser hair removal. If you are unclear as to how it works the laser is looking for a hair and then zaps it. As someone above mentioned no current laser works with blonde hair- it simply cant locate the hairs. I went to ALC based on recommendations from both my roommate and my dad's girlfriend. All three of us are Jewish girls with the natural pale skin and thick dark hair.

Sorry to hear all of your situations- they should have told you that it wasn't going to work. I got my arms, underarms, full face, and brazillian as my graduation presant. It cost almost $6, OOO and I would be livid if it didnt work.

wish you all the best of luck!

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grekagodessgreka
,
Sep 19, 2009 12:06 am EDT

American Laser Centers are LIARS!

I'm from the New Tampa area and I started treatment with ALC since October 2007... It has been almost two years and still I DO NOT see the difference! I agree with some people in this blog that have said that their practices are very shady... Here is my story:

As I said before, I started treatments in October/November 2007 and I started with less than $2, 000 credit line. I was making large payments every month and honestly I was not seeing any results. As fellow ALC customers, you already know that you are not supposed to wax/bleach the hair nor got to the beach... I did all of that and still there was NO results! This is where it gets interesting... In May of 2008 I stayed the whole summer with my family in Puerto Rico because my grandfather was very ill. I had asked in the New Tampa office if I could transfer my appointments during that summer time to Puerto Rico. ACL Tampa office contacted the Puerto Rico office and transferred my appointments.

When I went to my appointment to the Puerto Rico office I was told that my treatment in the New Tampa office was no good and that I needed more treatments. They were telling me that I needed to purchase a full body treatment that usually costs $18, 000 now I had the "special offer" for $3, 800. I told them that I was a STUDENT and that it was IMPOSSIBLE for me at the time to do that. The MANAGER went into the room and told me that I was qualified to do this new Full Body treatment but I told her that I was a STUDENT and at the moment I could not afford the treatment. YOU know what she DOES?! She opens up my CARE CREDIT account and extends my credit line form $2, 000 to over $5, 000 without my permission! I was very upset at the moment... They did not let me leave from my room for OVER TWO HOURS so that I would get THE FULL BODY TREATMENT! They kept on nagging me and finally I told them to give me a good price and that I would think about it... They told me that I could make MONTHLY INSTALLMENTS OF $75 dollars and that was INCLUDING what I already owed which was not that much at the moment. I signed a paper but I asked them before I signed if I had changed my mind could I cancel it without any penalty and the EMPLOYEE and the MANAGER SAID YES! The next morning I call the Puerto Rico ACL office and spoke to the same employee and she told me that I COULD NOT CANCEL THE PURCHASE! I was very upset at the moment... I also would like to add that they never gave me my signed document where they had said that they had to MAIL it.

I few months went by and I returned to Tampa and I was very upset with this whole mess... The next statement I received on my CARE CREDIT BILL was over $200 DOLLARS! I called CARE CREDIT and I told them that was a mistake because the PR ACL office had negotiated with me $75 dollars per month. You know what CARE CREDIT told ME?! They said that I had to call the PR ACL office and discuss the issue with the MANAGER because SHE was the only one that could change the ERROR, Care Credit couldn't do that! I started calling the MANAGER from the Puerto Rico ACL office and she never responded to my messages that I left with the secretary for WEEKS! Then I went to the New Tampa ACL office and I spoke to the MANAGER there about the situation. From that moment on, the Tampa ACL MANAGER was the only one that was helping me solving this problem! She contacted the PR ACL office, she contacted the ACL Corporate office and there was no reply... Some time later she did get a reply and the DISTRICT MANAGER told her that all I had left to do was to get a refund for what I had not taken! I had sent even letters to the DISTRICT MANAGER and she did not REPLY ! I even called the PR office and asked for the DISTRICT MANAGERS PHONE NUMBER BUT THE PR ACL MANAGER DID NOT WANT TO GIVE IT TO ME! When the District Manager called the PR Manager, the PR Manager called me and TOLD ME THAT I WAS A LIAR! How can a person in this position treat people like this, with the up most disrespect!

After that, I tried to solve this issue with the Tampa ACL Manager but it was too late... They "Mysteriously" closed down that office. They had told me that there was another Tampa office but from where I live it was almost 1 and45 minutes away! When I went to this new office and spoke to the employees about the situation and asked for the manager they told me that she wasn't available and that I had to send her an email and also that they were not aware about my situation...

IT IS SEPT 2009 and my issue is still not resolved... I have tried to contact the ACL Corporate office and all they do is change me to from one person to another and from one voice mail to the next... I would like to add that due to personal reasons I had to move back to Puerto Rico this summer and to my great misfortune, I am going to the Puerto Rico ACL office! Honestly they treat me lower than a customer and they are always busy with other customers. THE LAST DRAW was a couple of weeks ago where I was going for a treatment. Before going to my treatment I was taking my mother to the Doctor's Office at the Hospital because she was having SEVERE pains in her arm... I called ACL that I was going to be late for 5 minutes because of my mothers emergency... What they told me was incredible, cruel and unjust. They told me in verbatim that they did not care for any situation that I was late and if I showed up late that they would charge me a $75.00 FEE! I was very upset at this reply and told them that was impossible because when I signed up is was a $30 or $35 FEE. When I arrived at the office I was very upset at what they had told me on the phone... When I went inside my treatment room the employee told me that I had to SIGN a paper that made me accept the new $75 cancellation policy and of course I WILL NEVER SIGN ANOTHER DOCUMENT FROM ACL, I REFUSED TO SIGN IT. 5 minutes went by and the PR ACL MANAGER stormed in into the room and brought the same paper with a duplicate copy. She asked me to sign the DOCUMENT and I RESPECTFULLY REFUSED REPLYING THAT I WILL NEVER SIGN ANYTHING AGAIN FROM THEIR COMPANY! YOU KNOW WHAT SHE DID?! SHE THREW THE PAPER COPY ON THE TABLE NEXT TO ME AND SAID THAT SHE DOESN'T CARE AND THAT IT DOESN'T MATTER BECAUSE THE POLICY CHANGED AND THAT I CANT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT! IN MY FACE, SHE EDITED THE CONTRACT SCRATCHING OFF THE $30 OR 35 dollar fee and wrote the $75 dollar fee!

I would also like to add that ACL CLAIMS at the beginning that the staff if well trained and that even Nurses are the ones that do the Laser treatment as well as a DOCTOR comes in weekly to check up! This is false! That day where the PR MANAGER threw the paper at me I asked her WHERE WAS THE BEAUTY/SKIN TECHNICIAN LICENCES OF EACH EMPLOYEE and she replied THAT THEIR LICENCES WERE AT HOME! How can you say this?! All they have on the walls is their ACL certification... I think that by law you have to keep a BEAUTY LICENSE in order to do your job... Manicurists and Massage technicians have it why doesn't ACL EMPLOYEES?!

I would also like to add that PR office MANAGER did not want me to see my file. When I tried to pick it up she ripped it off my hands! I asked for copies of all of the documents inside and she said that there was no problem... WHY COULDN'T I SEE MY OWN FILE!

SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS! HONESTLY ALL THAT I HAVE BEEN GETTING FROM THEM IS WRONG TREATMENTS AND DISRESPECT! I AM LOOKING FOR A LAWYER THAT CAN SOLVE THIS ISSUE AND I WOULD LIKE TO ADD DAMAGES TO THIS LAWSUIT!

I HAVE ALL THE DOCUMENTATION WITH ME PROVING THAT I HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM (E-MAILS SENT TO ACL).
Can someone PLEASE CONTACT ME ABOUT THIS!

Sincerely,

Isabel
grekagodessgreka@gmail.com

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Got Ripped Off In Denver
Denver, US
Sep 09, 2009 12:59 pm EDT

I'm in Denver and signed up at the Cherry Creek clinic for hair removal on my back (I'm a guy). After almost 10 sessions, the removal is spoty at best. The staff is poorly trained and there is a very high turn-over. Some of the girls working there were former strippers, hair stylists, or secretaries. No medical or spa experience at all. As for their lasers, I'm beginning to think they are pretty worthless. I have been burned a couple times too. I'm just trying to get my money's worth, about $2500 I paid. Big Mistake! In Denver there are medical offices that do laser hair removal which would certainly be more professional and effective. I hope someone out there learns from my mistake. I went with an easy location. I also thought they would be able to schedule me in quicker - WRONG! They also gouge you if you are late or miss an appointment. Get this, they turned me away one day because they were too busy, but when I missed one appointment, they charged me $75 just to reschedule. Can you say RIP-OFF ! I would NOT recommend this company to anyone! Thanks

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D. James80
Boston, US
Aug 27, 2009 9:47 am EDT

I live in Boston, MA and I would be thrilled to join a class action suit if anyone is working on that.
I have a permanent scar on my face from going there and have not seen signifigant results in almost 2 years. It is also very frusterating when they say you need to come in every 6-8 weeks, but then they dont have any appointments available until 10 weeks. And god forbid you ever need to reschedule an appointment because they wont have any openings for weeks which will "void the contract gaurantee".
I also noticed that they seemed to have simultaneously raise the no show fee to $75 at the same time they stopped giving appointment reminder calls.
deedeejms80@yahoo.com

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Mel36
Mt. Royal, US
Aug 26, 2009 6:00 pm EDT

I was an ALC customer for 3 years, until I got 1st and 2nd degree burns on my face and neck in June of this year. I guess I should have realized that the laser was not working for me, but I wanted the hair on my face to go away permanently. I am in the process of repairing the damage done to my face and neck, and trying to deal with the depression of having my face scarred. What I want to know if anyone has filed a lawsuit against this company and what was the result. Please e-mail me at macroft01@yahoo.com

Mel 08/26/09

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anonyMiss
San Diego, US
Aug 07, 2009 11:17 pm EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

You realize electrolysis is supllimental to laser hair removal and strongly recommended after laser for any lingering hairs right?

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anonyMiss
San Diego, US
Jun 09, 2016 4:33 am EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

Despite the management problems, you really don't feel that a full body package costing under $5000 is a good deal?

If they were overbooked, you could always ask them to split up your treatments...arms and legs one day, face another, etc.

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anonyMiss
San Diego, US
Jun 07, 2016 5:07 am EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

All true, no laser center guarantees the results. However, all the new laser technology seems like BS!

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barbiegirl
Skokie, US
Aug 01, 2009 3:51 pm EDT

I worked at American Laser for a while. This is the worst company to work for. They are very unprofessional and unethical. They tell you to do anything to get a sale. If you are a tech there, you are required to make "upsales" to current clients and they are always threating to fire you if you do not sell sell sell !They treat their employees like crap. They do not pay you over time, you do not get a lunch break and if for any reason you complain about something you get a call from the crazy crack head regional manager Jen yelling at you threatning to fire you. The techs are way over worked and the schedules are way overbooked. we had to rush through treatments in order to get people in. All I heard all day were complaints from clients . How are we suppose to sell clients more treatments when they are unhappy with their current services ? We also would run out of supplies and would send e-mails to our regional manget Jen to approve the order. Her e-mail back to us would say dont think about supplies you have to get your sales up. Our manager had to spend her own money to go out and buy gloves, tonges, and sani-wipes in order for us to do our treatments because the regional did not want our clinic to go over "budget".
I have no idea how this company is still open. This is the worst company ever ! About traning its a lie! we are not throughly trained. I had to do treatments the day after I started training. The manager forced me to do treatments because they were so under staff . I had no idea what i was doing ! I dont blame her, what was she suppose to do everyone who works there quits. Its a revolving door for employees . I should of run the other way when I realize this ! i stuck it out for almost two years and let me tell you it was the worst 2 years of my life. I have so many horror stories to tell, that I think most people would not even believe me . I have about ten employees that i worked with that could back me up. Never ever work for this company and never ever spend any of your money on this company. Take it from someone who worked there none of these treatments work and they will lie and promise you the world in order to get you to buy. All they want is your money! Please take it from a x-employee this company should have been shut down a very long time ago.

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brightstarr
Portland, US
Jul 29, 2009 9:50 pm EDT

Oh man. Called the main customer service number today to complain only to be told that the clinic where I was treated is a privately owned location and that I have to contact the owner if I want to put in a complaint. Wha? I was browsing the internet when I came across the ad for their so called contest that says enter to win $300 off any laser or skin treatment. I had always wanted laser hair removal, so I entered. They called me from the main customer service which was also the number I had to call to claim the so called prize. Never did they bother to tell me that the location that THEY were sending ME too was privately owned and because of being privately owned, this location does not have to adhere to ALC corporate policies and procedures! And the same with every other location across the country that has an owner. I can't believe that these same customer service people who sent me to this location will now do nothing to help me when they are screwing around with me at this place. I can't believe that ALC's doesn't think that they have to tell people that when they call to claim their "prize". Why would any person want to go to a place to have stuff like this done when they are not protected by those policies/procedures? That's why companies put those into place is for the protection and benefit of the client! That also means that we have nobody backing us up when we need help because we are being screwed over. I thought I had this big corporate and customer service support backing me up and now I found out I don't! Also, a contest is not a contest if everybody wins! Really, that ad they have out that says to enter their contest is always on the internet on various sites and there are way too many people who talk about having "won". In a contest there are only a few lucky winners. It's a ploy to drag people in, false advertising. Get people to come in and then don't take care of them once they are there and lie about half of what is going on. I highly doubt I will ever get my money back now that I have to go through whoever the pimps are that own the "clinic" I have been going to. If the whole privately owned bs is included in the fine print of the papers (although I do not remember that) it is still up the manager who does the consultation to mention it and make sure that we understand what that means. My understanding is that ALC's as a whole does not give a s#$% what this place does to me. Anybody?

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zozo
Bethesda, US
Jul 27, 2009 3:23 pm EDT

I m so unsatisfied with ALC, I called the main number and told them I wanted to complain about the bad service, but they told me to call the same place that Im having treatment at.
I wish I had never signed on to this place as they are only doing spot treatments! Im so upset that I don't know what to do..and when I told her that it usually takes 15 minutes to do my face and she only took 4 minutes.. she said''I don't DO spot treatments''

I only found you today and Im sure they will not give me my money back, what can I do? Please contact e at [protected]

Thanks,
zoe

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zozo
Bethesda, US
Jul 27, 2009 3:19 pm EDT

I wish that I had known, I only found all these complaints just as I am so upset with ALC. I have called the main number to complain about the horrible customer service, they have been doing spot treatments on me(when I have paid for an entire area) just today I told the nurse that she only took 4 minutes to do what normally takes 15 minutes! and she said''OH I don't do spot treatments!'' I was so upset as there are soo many places that she didn't laser...ugg,
there is no where for me to complain, and while searching found this page. Is it too late for me? or can I get my money back?

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Frustrated1912
Taylor, US
Jul 19, 2009 10:32 am EDT

I've spend thousands and have been going for over 2 years now and according to them when I signed up the hair removal was virtually painless and would take only 5 - 8 proceedures unless you are extreamly hairy. Well I'm not hairy at all and I can't count how many times I've went. As for pain? Well YES it hurts! Alot! I have a piercing and a tattoo and it hurts more! I'm done with being tortured and want it done. Well my last proceedure there as a new girl an it hurt more than ever...so bad I was shaking and told her to stop. Well she wanted to do a bit more and I let her and now I have burn marks all over my bikini line and some on my under arms. I was in the sun and I told her that but she asked if I had a bathing suit on and I said yes. Well she as going to stay in my tan lines and she didn't and now I have burns all over my bikini area even where I had my bathing suit on but where she went into the tanned area I have dark burn marks. Am I going to scar? As of this point I'm frustrated and feel ripped off! I'll never give them another dollar. As for the Vella smooth did work after going through serious pain and bad bruising. I could only go once a weeek cause the bruising was so bad. That was almost impossible to tolerate. But as soon as you quit it all comes back! Rip off unless you have money to blow and it's not painful. Anyhow I'm going to try to get some kind of compensation but we'll see.

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Erica Herwig
White Cloud, US
Jul 14, 2009 2:48 pm EDT

I sent this to ALC today...I guess I will see if I ever get a response!

I have been having Laser Hair Removal done on my lip and chin at your location on Cascade Rd in Grand Rapids, MI.

I started treatment in February 2008 with the understanding that this treatment was so good most if not all of my hair would be removed before my wedding day in November 2008. Well it wasn't, I had to shave my face on my wedding day! Imagine my humiliation! Because this treatment has been paid off since at least April 2008, I decided to continue with treatment and hope it got better.

Around January 2009, I was put onto a new laser and was told that if I didn't notice a difference within 4 treatments I would get to consult with a nurse, on my fourth treatment, I mentioned to the technician that nothing had changed and that next appointment I would like to see the nurse as promised, she then informed me that the former technicians had only noted I had the new laser twice, which is wrong, I know that the same laser was used on me all 3 times to that point. She continued to tell me that I was wrong. So she noted my account that I was only to have the new laser. I have been getting treatments every 4 weeks since and have not seen any improvement (nor have I talked with a nurse), in fact a year and a half after starting treatment, I have new growth! Also, the technicians would ask me how much improvement I had seen, some would ask over the whole course of treatment, so I would say about 10-20%, they would then write down that it was only since my last treatment, making it appear as if I had improvement in 4 weeks, which was never the case!

I drive 2 hours roundtrip for my 10 minute appointments and can no longer justify it for not having seen a single result in about 11 months!

I am asking for a partial if not full refund, I still have black hairs on my face, that have been treated over and over again and have not improved, my face is constantly broke out from new hair growth (and every sore has a hair in the middle of it, that I can't get rid of, so they stay forever), I now have scars all over my chin from all of the acne.

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ruffriders23
Rio Rancho, US
Jul 13, 2009 8:25 pm EDT

You can cancel ANY contract within 3 days of agreement. I'd call Care Credit or whoever you got financed through and tell them you have not received any medical treatments and would like a "rescission of contract for services not rendered". If you have not received any treatments and asked for the contract to be terminated, you are entitled to it by law. Call the credit card place and stop dealing with ALC... it is the card company you need to deal with, not them.

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Lilv
, US
Jul 13, 2009 1:58 pm EDT

I completely agree that American Laser Center you should shut down or change their deceitful ways! I went for a free consultation at the La Jolla, CA center and a couple days later scheduled and appointment. I then called a few days before my first appointment because I had to cancel due to some financial problems and was told by the manager that i couldn't cancel because I had already been financed! She was very rude and said she would call me back the next day because she was on her way out. She never did call. I was not aware I was signing up for a credit card...I soon found out when I received it in the mail! I am being charged for treatments I never received or plan to receive. What makes me more upset is that after complaining to customer care, the office manager calls me and tries to blame me for not "understanding" what the terms and conditions were! She never once told me she was signing me up for a credit card and I assumed I would review paperwork and sign once I went to my first appointment, which I never did.

Stay away from American Laser Centers!

If anyone has any advice please comment on this, I am still being charged even though I sent an refund request form a month ago!

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shari1976
Palo Alto, US
Jul 09, 2009 2:42 am EDT

if anyone know of a class action lawsuit agains ALC please let me know too.
They have burned my skin...no results and I am out of over $9000.
Could anyone help us?

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Cattoline
Ferndale, US
Jul 03, 2009 10:08 pm EDT

GREAT NEWS! Today I FINALLY received a letter from MedChoice (credit card company for American Laser Centers) stating that "there was a mistake" and that the entire $1, 440.00 that ALC charged me for services not performed have been REVERSED and my balance is now $0.00.

To read about the steps I took to fight this charge see my original comments "Here's My Story" (56 days ago) and the "Update to Here's My Story" (43 days ago).

1. Putting in the dispute with MedChoice worked.
2. I never received any response or communication by email or otherwise from ALC
3. I believe that filing a complaint with the BBB was a very good thing. The BBB contacted ALC and the BBB forwarded an email response from ALC telling me that I would receive a FULL refund. I printed out the email and sent it to MedChoice with a letter. When I hadn't received a refund from ALC I contacted BBB again and notified that I hadn't received the refund and still wanted action. They contacted ALC again and the BBB forwarded me another email response from ALC stating that I would get the refund but that it was processing in their system. I printed out that email message, wrote another letter and sent it to MedChoice. I wanted MedChoice to know that ALC had told the BBB twice that they would give me the refund.
4. I didn't get any action from the FTC after filing a complaint with them, but perhaps they too contacted ALC and put on some heat.
5. I didn't receive much attention from the WA State Atty. General's office but they DID call ALC several times and perhaps this put ALC on edge.
6. I never received a response from Ken Quat at kquat@quatlaw.com
7. Although ALC did NOT have a physician or physician's assistant on site as required by WA State law, my complaint with WA State Dept. of Health, Quality Assurance Commission went nowhere. Perhaps their contacting ALC on my behalf put more heat on them, but this commission sent me a letter stating that ALC was in compliance and the case was closed.

So my advice is to fight the good fight. It worked for me. If you don't have the patience to contact as many agencies as I did, at least DISPUTE the charges with your credit card company and contact the BBB of Detroit & Eastern Michigan (a BBB complaint online automatically directs you to the correct BBB).

Good Luck Everyone!

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marvster
Wilton Manors, US
Jun 25, 2009 5:28 pm EDT

I just got screwed for the umteenth time by this fraudulent company. I bought a package three years ago for $3500. At the time it was described as unlimited treatements for my back until I was satisfied. The first two years I got almost no results and the technicians were horrible. One of them zapped the tattoo on my arm causing severe pain, burning on my arm, and a disfigurement of my tattoo. When I complained I was ignored. After two years of this rotten service they finally had a competent medical professional evaluate my chart and tell me that they were using the wrong type of laser for me. They changed me to another laser a year ago and finally I started getting results. I probably only need a few more treatments to get the results that they promised me but today a new manager who has never met me called me into her office after my treatment and without any introduction told me with attitude : "your treatment plan has expired." I was shocked and tried to discuss it with her but she just interrupted me and said that they only guarenteed me for two years and that I had gone well beyond that. I told her that was not what I was told and she snapped at me that I should pay more attention to what I sign. It was unreal. I then tried to tell her that I received two years of treatment from the wrong laser and she interrupted me again and said that she was not here then so could not discuss it and that I had just received my last treatment. Then she walked out of the door. I could not believe how rudely and dismissively I was treated. Bottome line is that I gave them $3500 and they did not deliver what they promised me and then just told me to get out. I was really a sucker to give them that much money when what I received from them was two years of painful treatments from the wrong laser, a burned arm, and then a rude brush off from an arrogant woman before they got it together and furnished the product that I had bought from them. DO NOT BE THEIR NEXT VICTIM!

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Megera
Westminster, US
Jun 11, 2009 4:12 pm EDT

I'm also interested in joining the class action lawsuit. I've lost count of my treatments, but my two-year guarantee is up in September. Maybe 40% hair loss AT BEST. I don't even necessarily want a refund: they can just give another hair removal company my $2800 to remove the hair that ALC failed to remove.

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Amy
Biloxi, US
Jun 09, 2009 12:04 pm EDT

How do I join this class action lawsuit? I've had laser hair removal done by them for almost 2 years and about 2, 500 dollars and alot of discomfort later with not much results !

Thanks,
Amy

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Brandae
Fairfax, US
Jun 04, 2009 10:11 pm EDT

Im a little confused, If you knew there was a no refund policy why did you sign up? I would not invest my money in something that I was not sure of?

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Caroline
Ferndale, US
May 21, 2009 7:07 pm EDT

Update on "Here's My Story" posted 13 days prior to this one. I'm still waiting for a reversal of charges to my MedChoice card.
Here's what I have done to take action against ALC so far:

1. I put in a dispute with MedChoice (by phone 5/4/09 & by certified mail on 5/5/09) over the charges. I was told & received a letter from MedChoice stating I do not have to pay while the matter is in dispute.
2. I sent an email message to "customerservice@americanlaser.com" on 5/13/09 & have NOT yet received a reply. (As you may have already guessed, ther is NO customer service from ALC).
3. I filed a complaint with the BBB on 5/15. It got forwarded to the BBB of Detroit & Eastern Michigan where the corporate office for ALC is. I received an email acknowledgement of my complaint & notification they have contacted ALC for their response. Their email states most complaints are resolved within 30 days. If you go to the BBB website and type in American Laser Centers, you will see that they are NOT a reputable company.
4. I filed a complaint with the FTC on 5/14/09 & I received an email acknowledgement of my complaint.
5. I filed a complaint with the Attorney General of WA State on 5/14/09. That same day I received a personal email response stating that they have contacted the business & requested a response to my complaint within 21 days. However, they note that normal complaint processint time is approximately 6-8 weeds due to the number & complexity of complaints received.
6. I emailed Ken Quat (kquat@quatlaw.com), the attorney who's website states he is handling the ALC class action lawsuit. Unfortunately I have not received a reply so I don't know what the status of the class action lawsuit is or if I would qualify to join the lawsuit. It may be best to call him at [protected]. His website is: http://www.quatlaw.com/class_action.html
Look under class action lawsuits and you will see that ALC is listed there.
7. I filed a written complaint (sent by fax & mail) with the WA State Dept. of Health, Quality Assurance Commission regarding ALC not following WA State laws by practicing medicine w/o a license (must have exam by MD or PA prior to recommendation for laser treatment & must have MD or PA on site for 1st treatment). I have not received a response yet.

I know it is a real pain to have to do all of these things. But, we can't let ALC get away with ripping us all off. We must take action and fight for our rights. I'll post an update later after I hear back from the above agencies.

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hate_ALC
, US
May 21, 2009 3:18 pm EDT

I had horrible experiences with American Laser Centers (ALC)and want to sue. I am in Los Angeles, CA. The clinic I went to has now shut down. They burned me and I never signed a consent form before the treatment. They said they'd fix if but of course they didn't. Anyone with any info about suing them and or a class action suit against them please e-mail me.

shantilly9@yahoo.com

Thanks.

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WBroman
Elgin, US
May 20, 2009 11:27 pm EDT

Less than a year ago, I decided that after having a baby, I would do something nice for myself. So, I started looking into Laser hair removal. Long story- Short... I signed up with American Laser Center in Columbia, SC.
I lived in Elgin but a 15 minute drive is not bad at all! They convinced me to open a care credit account. So, I charged $1700 to the care credit account. 2 weeks later, I found out that I was pregnant- AGAIN. OOPS.
They told me that they couldn't treat me until after having the baby. I had my son on April 2nd, and talked to someone in Customer Service last week... they pulled up my file and told me that I could start treatments ASAP, BUT- the Columbia office is no longer open. She then informed me that I could drive to the office in Mt. Pleasant, SC, 137 miles from my house; the Charlotte, NC office, 92.4 miles; or I could drive to the Greenville, SC office which is 115 miles away. So, I asked what I needed to do to break the contract and get a refund. I have NEVER had the 1st treatment! She told me that I have to drive to one of their offices to fill out the proper paper work, pay a $300 fee, and then wait 12 weeks or more for them to send the money back to Care Credit.
This is BS! I don't agree with any of what they are doing! Why should I have to drive 2 hours (EACH WAY) just to fill out paper work? And, why should I have to pay a $300 fee when they closed their office- and never even notified me?! What can I do about this?!

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miffed
Fort Worth, US
May 20, 2009 3:02 pm EDT

7 treatments on upper lip. NO results. now they say i have baby-fine (vellum) hair that can't be removed. Too bad they didn't tell me that $500 and six months before. I'm not done with them.

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Kelley1
Richmond, US
May 20, 2009 2:08 pm EDT

I charged my $2300.00 treatment on my America Express Card. America Express has a policy, that you have to be satisfied. So now, my America Express is fighting with ALC. I don't have to pay them. After 3 visits, which they were never on schedule or professional. They would be bull [censored]ing on phone for 20 minutes. My 3rd visit no one even showed up. I got there about 30 minutes early, thinking maybe I could get in and out sooner. I waited at the front door for another 30 minutes. Somebody finally showed up, with no key. She said she'd talked to someone and they'd be there with the key in about an hour. I said forget it, I've been standing here for an hour, I'm gone. The place sucks...

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