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

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

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?

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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!

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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!

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.

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!

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.

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.

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?

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!

This place is so unprofessional, not only did my hair removal package not work, but they took no steps to assess or adrress the problem.
Now, they shut down the Denton location, and I lose my package unless I travel.
I only found out they relocated when I waited 30 minutes for an appointment, and then asked another receptionist about them, well she said they were no longer there!
I am so disapointed, and have put so much time and money to waste with them.
Now I fear to get it done anywhere, with my next contract I guess I will make them say I get a refund if they move! Horrible place!

Don't be fooled by the contest they say you won. That is how they get you sucked in! They lie to you and scam you out of a lot of money! There are no results because you have untrained people using the lasers. Don't waste your money, or risk your health! There are a lot of lawsuits and complaints for a reason. Unfortunately, I am one of them that found out the hard way!

I am a physician who was receiving treatments at American Laser Centers. I sustained burns after one of my treatments.
I have contacted, and encourage everyone else who has had a bad experience, to contact your state's
MEDICAL QUALITY ASSURANCE COMMISSION which is a branch of the DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.

When I contacted them, they stated that they have hear many complaints but many people do not bother to submit a formal complaint so that the commission could investigate them and enforce the laws.

I have been going to ALC since March 2008. I have received 9 treatments and have about 25% reduction. I am getting full legs, feet and toes, buttocks, full brazillian, naval, underarms.

I also was burned very badly. I couldn't drive my car, had body shakes, a high fever, and had to take a full day off work. The burns last about 2 weeks going from a light pink, into a dark brown, then turning into a blister and peeling off. I contacted ALC because i was concerned. The response i got was, " that is normal and will go away in the next couple of days". I thougth nothing of it because of their response until i found this website.

I have spent $4200( 10, 927 without any discounts or gift certificates). They make it seem like you are getting such a great deal for an amazing treatment. I am not getting the results that was promised to me.

During one of my sessions i had an ingrown hair on the back of my thigh. The day after my appointment i had a blistered form of herpes, due to their unsanitized equipment.

I do have real complaints. I have been reading this board for a while now to see what other people are going through. There are some pathetic comments, but I believe there are other people who have posted comments about real problems. I am going to call the number that "Allen" left. I can already report though that he is wrong to leave that comment because it is misleading clients to think that they will be helped if only they would just call this number he left. I have already called the "customer service" number and they will not, cannot help me. They say they cannot. If you call and you are one of the people who went to a privetly owned clinic, they will tell you to go to the owners and that there is nothing they can do. If Allen really worked with ALC customer service, he would know that. I am disgusted by the business practices of this company and I can't stand it anymore. They want me to take some their crappy products in place of five facial treatments that I don't want to use in place of a refund because remember, they don't do refunds! The last time I tried to call their customer service number I was told I wasn't even in their computers and the woman couldn't even look up my name and home address. i find that weird considering that i entered that contest and had to call back a customer service person to accept the prize. Hmmm. I told her that i had tried to get the contact info of the owners at the clinic I have been going to and that the manager refused to give me that info. She was a jerk to me. Upset that I wanted to put in a formal complaint about my experience with them. The woman told me that she would have to connect me through to a customer service manager and just when I thought I was getting some where nobody answered and I had to leave a message for this so called manager. Well, just like I expected nobody ever called me back and that was about a month ago. I have significant scarring from the facial treatment I had done and even though the manager at this place told me she saw it she has done nothing to go to the owners for me to see if I can have a refund. They won't give me my money back.

Hey, I am another victim of American Laser Center. I am willing to join any group to stop this deception and unprofessionalism. Please help me. I desperately need my money back and it seems it went into a black hole! I have never seen any such liars in my entire life (lived in 6 countries so you can imagine that I have seen quit a lot during my life time).

Is anyone organizing a collaborative and coordinated response. Please email me and I will join. They have to be stopped.

oh my gosh!.i saw one of their ads about winning a free consulation and signed up for it and i won.it only took 5 minutes for a call.that was when i knew something was fishy.i was schedule for an appointment but unfornately i never showed up.but after reading this reviews, i am just going to call them and tell them that i am no longer interested.i never signed any agreement.hopefully they should leave me alone..

I have been recieveing treatments since Nov 09. it seems as soon as you pay up all the customer service goes out the window. I am currently locked in to a financing agreement. Is there anything I can do to get out of it? Help!

I would have to disagree with all of you. I have been going to ALC and have recieved 4 treaments and couldn't be happier with the results. I don't think most of you pay attention in your consults to what they say. They clearly say hair reduction. No where do they ever say it will completely get rid of all hair. With all you unsatisfied people there is something you could do and that is provide pictures. Let the hair grow back and take a picture of it to show the results your actually getting. Sounds like you guys purchased something you knew you couldn't afford and have buyers remorse is all.

I just had my first treatment for laser rejuvenation and hair removal for bikini area. I signed up for a $2, 000 package. I am very skeptical after reading these postings and after feeling like the clinic is nothing but a sales scam. I became suspicious after the salesperson told me the credit card was zero percent interest, but then I received the credit paperwork in the mail and it showed 25%. I never would have signed up if it wasn't interest free. The salesperson even told me that if there was interest, then I should call the customer service number and they would fix it. I called them and the person on the phone said she never heard of zero-percent interest! That's when I knew I was completely scammed. I guess it's too late now! I will try to stick it out and maybe there will be results. I have a few sun spots on my face that they claim will flake off after a few treatments. I guess we'll see!

A branch of ALC in Des Moines, IA was cited..."In the order sent last week to American Laser Center, the board says the center was using unlicensed, and unqualified cosmetologists to perform medical procedures on patients." Read the full story here: http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/84595372.html.

This is the place I've been going for 2 years. I also "won" a $300 gift certificate and went in for a free consultation. I signed up for a package and since then they've tried roping me into many, many more. They've offered $1000-$1500 gift certificates, but thankfully I turned them down. I've seen minimal results. Most of the service was professional, but one tech did not seem to know what she was doing, and slightly burned my skin. That was the last time I was there. I had a conflict with my last scheduled appointment and rescheduled it. That appointment is in a couple of weeks, but I will never go back to this place. Since they're using unlicensed people, is there a chance that I could get my money back?

I agree, they are a big rip off. Signed up for laser skin tightening and rejuvenation and have seen no results. I called and complained and they gave me free microbrasion but no refund, which also didn't work. They are rude, dishonest and very unprofessional and need to be shut down. 3/05/2010

hi there Im interested in joining a class action law suit, im in orange county california and have sustained considerable burns on my back, by a RN, (at least she claims, she was), no one every followed up or anything, they gave a few measely ice packs and a bottle of $6 Aquaphor ointment.

I am so happy to have read these comments before proceeding on with my procedures. I went for a consultation appointment on last week, and also had the "test spot" preformed. I told the lady to give me a few days to make up my mind, but was pretty sure I would proceed on (due to the great price offered). Thank heavens I investigate a little before I give out money! There are way too many negative reviews on here for me to go further with this company. The way I see it, all these people aren't just making up lies, and a lot of your stories sounds so familiar to my own, such as: winning a $300 dollar certificate in like 5 minutes, the prices which are unbelievably too good to be true (got over 50% off the cost), and much more. In addition, I would like to say that I did detect a bad vibe while there. I am a very observant person and will say that the first alarm sounded right after my price was discounted from 2500 to 1200, I was left in the consultation room with patient files, and the technician wore no glasses while performing my "test spot" (even after reading "clear as day" on the door, that everyone in the room should wear glasses). I would like to say, Thanks guys for your reviews. Sounds like you've saved me from hell!

Hi! DO NOT have a procedure done by American Laser. I too "won" a $300 gift certificate, and was given a great price at the consultation. I was assured that I'd be hair-free after 6 treatments, even with my strawberry blonde hair and fair skin, but here I am 3 years later (6 treatments and at the end of my 2 year guarantee), and I've had 0% success. I've asked for a refund, but was told point blank that it is not corporate policy (even though there was nothing in the paperwork I signed agreeing to a "no refund policy"), and I was instead told that I can pay $50 a treatment to continue the process. 'H' NO. Beware. Do not be swayed by the prices, or sales pitch -- American Laser is a scam. I've been in contact with a local newscaster who is covering a story about their shady business practices. Also, I've filed a claim with a class action suit forming at a firm in Michigan -- please join in (NO MATTER WHAT YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH ALC - the firm is gathering info about false advertising, consumer protection violations, breach of contract, medical malpractice and credit card fraud)... the more people we have supporting the case the more likely we are to get our money back. Check out the site, and fill out the questionnaire that is emailed to you. Please feel free to contact me directly if you want more information, or have information on how we can bring this scam to light, and take this company down. Devon at dhoernsch@gmail.com. The class action suit is at: http://www.americanlasercentersclassaction.com/user/register

In March of 2007 I was told I'd "won" a $300 gift certificate for laser hair removal from American Laser Center. I went to the free consultation, and was offered almost 50% the normal price for a treatment on the bikini area. The package I purchased was for 6 treatments and I was told that even though I'm strawberry blond, it would work guaranteed. Beyond that, I was told, if hair did grow back at any time in the following 2 years after my 6th treatment I could return for further treatment at no cost. However here is 3 years later, I have one appointment left in my 2 year guarantee, and I've continued to be treated this entire time. I've seen 0% reduction! When I asked for a refund I was told it wasn't company policy (even though that's not specified in ANY of the paperwork I signed), but instead I could continue to be treated for $50/per 30 minute session. I feel completely helpless, and I'm totally out $1k. I've asked to speak to the Regional Manager, but was told that she would give me the same information. HELP! I've gotten on board with a class action suit forming in Michigan, but I want to do so much more to expose the scamming practices of this company. DO NOT BE TREATED HERE. (--Devon at dhoernsch@gmail.com)

Please check out other businesses that offer the service you are looking for. Do not lock yourself into their rip-off packages and be rushed through every treatment. I had laser hair removal done and everytime I went in there was a different girl doing it and I felt like I was rushed through and am so so sorry I wasted my money on them. I have been to other places and everyone I have talked to has met someone with the same wasted experience.

I would recommend they open up a drive through window.

This place is into me for $2, 000. The location I was going to in St. Charles, IL will cease to exist in a few days. I've been calling corp. but I'm chasing my tail trying to get help. Any news on a class action law suit? What should be my plan of action?