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

So if it works for ANNE everyone thats ALL that matters. Frankly it worked for me TOO! At the reputable place I went before these people. But I decided to add other area and pay less. Big mistake. Bite me? Thats really mature, make sure you teach that sophistication to your kids. WTH does that mean? Dont answer its rhetorical. I dont care for your link, I wont open it and risk viruses. Not sure what it proves to share your myspace or whomever myspace it is, not sure what reason any of us have to see y0u? You dont belong here, this place is for people UN-SATISFIED with these losers. Everyone knows it takes forever to get results, I know I've been doing laser for years, none of the women on here expected results in one visit, you made that up. Get real lady. A reputable company would reply to us not ignore. But you dont work in the business world so perhaps you dont know that. If you can't help out, if you cant contribute something useful, dont come here because you are bored housewife. I'm independent, I work hard, I work for a living, so somehow losing this much money is too much. Go harass other victims, your devils advocacy doesnt belong here.

You've wasted enough of my time. You can reply all you want but you and I are done.

Well put Genevieve. I need to focus my energy on people who can help us in this situation. Clearly these 2 come here to cause trouble. They somehow feel special that things worked out for them so they feel the need to defend this worthless company. Look at ME, I'm on the side of the big powerful company, aren't I special! Not sure what made them think this was an editorial board. In daily life I wouldn't give them the time of day.

We are here to support each other, not be brought down further by trolls. I can honestly say, that if I read this before I got the burns, before I was diagnosed with 2 incurable auto immune diseases (burns came way before illness but illness now does not allow for further laser treatments at all, my bad Anne, I should have FORESEEN illness before signing the contract, damn), when life was just so much easier, I was healthy, my hair removal was going smoothly for years, I would STILL have empathy for everyone here and not assume it is their fault because after all, it worked for me! The hell with the rest. And I would fully expect that the company that I didn't have problems with, to do the right thing for people not so fortunate. I am being MORE than generous not asking for a full refund but simply a refund for work they wont do. Hey, I'd like to get paid to not work but thats not how it works!

So my question is, what should be my next step if the local place wont give me a copy of my contract, and no one at corporate will call me back. Not Piko not Eva. Not the regional manager. No one. And its been weeks. I will be sending in my complaint to the attorney general. Not sure what to do after that?

THANK YOU ALL! I just "won" a $300.00 coupon. I responded to the e-mail with my contact info and like 5 mins later I got a call on my work phone which was prob a bad idea to give them but anyways I scheduled a "free" consultation. What bs! Sounds like the 300 coupon is worthless! Thanks again, I will not go to my appt and will not sign up for anything. I am paying off enough debt for more to be added.

Yeah I won the $300 coupon also & my consultation was for tomorrow but now instead of driving to Austin, I will spend that time at the movies! I didn't know that was a $300 discount on a package. I will NOT be going to this place. Also, I knew there was something funny when the people contacted me so quickly.

I want to join the class action suit!

This is my story:

I got tired of shaving everyday and decided to look for a PERMANENT solution. I finally found out about American Laser Hair Removal and decided to go for a free consultation. I talked a girl (Sarah) my age and with a similar problem, HAIR! She showed me her flawlessly hair free arm and said that it was because of the service. No pain, permanent hair removal and works for almost everyone! She also said that the hair does NOT GROW BACK until maybe menopause. I believed her, she was wearing a white lab coat, she had personal experience and was very nice, although a bit pushy. Their Meqoun office is in a hospital and I assumed her to be credible. I signed up for Bikini, underarms, face and chest. So far I have had over 8 sessions, some by different woman and although really nice girls, all had different techniques. I started feeling a lot of pain, especially on my bikini area. I don't miss appointments and still barely any results. My face and chest have the same amount of hair, my bikini and underarms had some patches that were missing, and then GREW BACK!

Right before the patches of hair grew back, I had a very nice girl call me, Amy, who talked me into doing a full body at a discount. I thought she was giving me a good deal and since she was giving me only till 4pm to decided (she called me at 2pm), I went for it. After the patches of hair grew back, I decided to not do any more treatments until I saw some definite results and asked for a refund for just the full body. They refused! They showed me a piece of paper that I do not remember signing, that said "No refunds!"

I feel utterly bamboozled out of money I do not have! I really wish to take further action against the company, but I need more women with similar results for a class action suit or at least as some form of “proof” for this company's bad dealings. I won't be taken advantage of anymore! If there are any women out there who agree, then please, please contact me at [protected].
Or email me at natisx21@yahoo.com.

If there are any women who've had this actually work for them, then please call me or email too, I really would like to know.

"That anyone who possesses power has a tendency to abuse it is an eternal truth.
They tend to go as far as the barriers will allow."

my email is natisx21@yahoo.com.

I signed up almost four years ago and paid $2400 and was told I was guaranteed to be hair free in 2yrs, yeah right! I know a friend who paid $6000 and stopped going because she didn't see results. I have seen some reduction in hair in the 3+ years I have been going but its has been ridiculous. I have to take time to go in for my treatments, almost always by different people and I am no way hair free. The turnover rate is through the roof, every 4 weeks I went back it was like a whole new staff was there.

I want at least a partial refund because the pitch was hair free or money back. I will be willing to join a lawsuit and contact the media if I don't get my money back. ALC needs to stop their deceptive practices and come clean. I mean really they tell you six treatments and hair free, how did they come up with that...

A lot of the American Laser Centers locations rent space or share office space with a group of physicians (maybe Cosmetic Surgeons). I'm sure you've been told by the American Laser Center clinic manager that they had to contact their medical staff (located in Detroit MI) and fill out a non responder form (or something like it). You will never get a refund this way. Sometimes threats to sue or contact the media will help but the best thing to do is contact the physician that American Laser Centers rents from locally. I am sure he/she will be very interested in hearing your complaints, and will not want the bad "press" coming into their office.

Another alternative may be to file a complaint with the state department of licensing against the person that treated you or sold you the treatment.

Good luck.

American Laser Centers is the #1 laser hair removal company in the United States. ALC is a HUGE company and like other HUGE companies, obviously there are going to be unhappy people. Google complaints on any other corporation and you'll see. Basically, there is NO scams at ALC. Everything is in black and white for you to read before signing. READ WHAT YOU ARE SIGNING! While you're also on Google why don't you look up all the satisfied clients from ALC! I can promise you that most people are thrilled with the company, but it's the people who don't read what they are signing that seem to be the dissatisfied ones! ALC employees care a lot about their clients and will do whatever it takes to make sure the client is happy! If you don't like the clinic you're currently at, they have 200 clinics across the US. TRANSFER! But, to all you $300 winners out there... it is business, (they're smart for allowing everyone to win) but DO go to the consultation and make your own decision. Going off what people are saying because they don't read the BOLD print on the bottom of the financial agreement isn't fair. Make your own decision and you WILL be happy! and I am a blond and I have been hairless from treatments I had at ALC from 3 years ago! It's been the best and I have been so happy ever since I won that same $300 gift certificate and went through with treatments. Being hair free is the best!

Wrong thumb sign above!

Jesus, you guys (most) are ridiculous. I mean seriously, do you not have anything better to do besides complain that you got shi**y service at YOUR location? It's the INTERNET, the place where people can flex their cyber-muscles and talk some serious trash. I'm a true, honest, normal 22 year old male. www.myspace.com/adamcooney before you start saying I'm some employee. Just like any franchise or corporation, people will be unhappy and tell you it's the WORST thing in the world... Just like people will also be 100% happy and tell you it's the BEST thing in the world... So no matter what you buy, get into, sell, hate, love, etc.; there will always be a positive and negative. For instance, do some reviews on the iPod. Before I purchased my black 80 gig iPod, I did research between that and the Creative Zen Vision M. It took me weeks before I could figure out what to get, because people were saying how crappy the iPod was and how horrible the sound was and controls and it broke and would put spells on your dog and all that other nonsense. Same with the Zen Vision M... So what was I to do? I went to the store and tried them out, felt them, messed around with them. Am I happy? Hell yeah, I haven't had a single problem with mine at all, it works flawlessly and I wouldn't give it up for anything.

Basically, just don't give in to all the [censored] you read on the internet. Just like a few other posters put, people who complain, will complain to EVERYONE they know and post it everywhere just to get some stress off and try to feel better about their boring lives and how much they hate themselves. I just dropped $10,000 at A.L.C. earlier this week for a full body, head to toe, 6 session bonanza! Yeah it's a lot of money, but I'm 22 and live at home so have no bills so it's no biggy. I'm a research [censored], and researched a ton on laser before I finally got into doing it. I didn't bother researching on the company since after I went there I felt completely at-ease. Yeah I mean the whole sales pitch thing kinda sucks you in, especially since it would have be closer to 18,000 bucks, then with 35% off if I signed up that day plus she knocked off another 1,500 which brought me down to 10,000 bucks it was hard to say no. I've been through almost my whole body, just 1 session of each, and only have my chest/stomach/privates left to do which is scheduled for Friday November 23rd. The location of my office is in Latham, NY and they just opened up here in August. I've been asking the 1 lady Vanessa who's doing my laser a ton of questions regarding results, etc. and shes super nice to me, as well as the office manager Lisa. She's been an estician (spelling?) for just over 3 years and knows her stuff hardcore. Extremely knowledgeable. Plus they want to take pictures after each time I visit back for my next sessions to put in their personal portfolio they are building for future customers to see all the differences.

Obviously laser is real, read up about it anywhere and the different kinds. If you are getting burnt, maybe you lied on your sheet, or weren't paying any attention when you were checking off the different things to see what your skin type would be. I rated a skin type 2, just a few points higher than a 1. Basically I'm super pale with dark hair. I mean everybody's body will react different to laser, hence side affects, same with ANY sort of medication you will take. So if you take anvil, and you start bleeding from the mouth, are you saying it's a horrible drug? Obviously not since they're a multi-billion dollar company and it works fantastically for me. Or maybe the person doing your laser sucks and doesn't turn down the machine when they should or put it on "bone" around money areas or check the numbers to make sure it's not going over a certain amount. Yeah I learned all of this after only 4 times because my laser tech. is telling me every single step shes doing and what it means. So if I can bang out 6 sessions in 1 year, that gives me another 12 sessions in the next 2 years in case nothing works, but I don't foresee that happening at all. Take a look to read blogs from people who post about their positive responses, not just all the [censored] negative responses on a COMPLAINT board. So those who want to know more, please feel free to send me a message on MySpace, the link again is www.myspace.com/adamcooney and I'll tell you step-by-step my procedures I'm going through and how it's working out each time and I'll be honest about it, so you can feel a little more safe about going to get laser done.

So Sarah says its a big company and most are happy with their services. So lets say thats true, makes some sense, then its not a big deal for them to compensate the few that didnt have a good experience. Because if YOU are the one who has permanent burns that turned to scars, it really doesnt help to know that some others didnt. What is the point of that?!? Thats great you got results, but you have to think past your own self and realize that is not the case for ALL. And your talking about your great results and going on and on about it has no bearing on those who didn't have the same experience. It's like throwing it in their face, as if you are somehow better for getting results and every other client must clearly be lying about their poor results or have done something to screw it up. Posts that go on and on about how great the company is, serves no purpose but a slap in the face for those who weren't so fortunate. It helps no one and this IS in fact a complaint board so makes no sense for Adam to complain that we are complaining. Not to mention he types far too much for me to want to read anything but the first sentence of gibberish. Again, glad your scrotum, back, ###, neck & whatever lovely body part is hair free but we really don't care, this is NOT a board for PRAISING. DUH! We're trying to find ways to get compensated for this crap, if you can't contribute to that don't flaunt your restful to us. Have some sensitivity dude or go away.

http://www.hairfacts.com/medpubs/lasergen/overtreat2.html

The lady in the above link appears to have suffered even worse scarring than myself. Another facility but that is irrelevant. Lets hope that someone emails or calls her to let her know that they were lucky in that their experience not only didnt give them scars, but they are now hair free, you know... the way people with too much time on their hands do here. I am sure it would do a great deal for her mind and spirit to flaunt that in this poor womans face. To think that if the facilities compensate people when this happens and still make a killing off the majority for which is doesn't happen as is always claimed here, then we wouldn't even know about these incidences. I guess its somewhat good then that these laser places dont take responsibility because then no one will know.

I would like someone informed to please tell me about this requirement for a doctor or at least RN to be on staff. Because there certainly is not at the place I went to. There was at the previous one but not at this one... Also I would like to know which state agency licenses the technicians and the facility? is this the same board that licenses hairdressers? Cosmetologist health board? Thanks.

To Adam whose trying to look like a little boy by removing all his body hair, not only did I not lie about my skin type, they can see your color after all, hello?! But I dont take any medications, dont stay out in the sun, dont do anything to compromise my health during treatments and to get the best possible results. Yet still got burned and am dealing with scars. I resent the fact that you are blaming the victims here just because you got your weird pubes cant boy pre puberty results. You simply lucked out with a better technician. That's it.

To Alc Sux - Look up the state web page. Find the department that licenses Aestheticians (may be under cosmetology and barbering?). You might be able to look up individuals also on this page. Facility licenses are different in all states. I would ask to see the licenses of the persons performing the treatments along with their training certificates for the devices used at the specific establishment. Ask about continuing education requirements (not company required but state required). Ask to see the establishments license and speak with the MD on staff. Most states require services be performed under the supervision of a licensed MD (this can be any kind of MD - so BEWARE). This does not mean that the MD is actually in the room with you during the treatments, some states only requirement is that the MD be within 120 miles of the clinic!

Visit the FDA's website - look up laser hair removal there. All medical devices must have registration with the FDA - devices used for hair removal etc. are medical devices. Find out who manufactures the equipment. American Laser Center's equipment manufactured by Syneron (I think) uses Intense Pulsed Light (technically not a laser). Ask ALC about the difference.

As for skin type, this refers to Fitzpatrick scale. You will find this on the web also. It is a scale of 1 to 6 based on a series of questions regarding ethnic background and your response to sun exposure.

I know that laser hair REDUCTION using intense pulsed light devices performed on light skinned people with dark hair works well. If you happen to have dark skin, are tan, tan easily, or have red, blonde, white, or hair lighter than your skin color you might not see the results promised by ALC.

Persons with dark skin and dark hair are best treated using a NdYag laser.

Persons with red/white/gray hair are best treated with electrolysis.

A lot of ALC locations use deceptive sales tactics.

Hope this helps you.

Hi there licensed esthetician. Thanks for your advice. I have already contacted the board days ago and now waiting for a response. I wish they responded in a more timely manner. The owner is ignoring me and refuses to look at my pics and read my letter I sent him. He didnt sign for it so it's sitting at the post office. Nice. And I have not called him since the ridiculous screaming match weeks ago. So I cant ask them about the difference between their pulsed light and laser because nothing they have told me has been honest. The technician took a personal item of mine which later she said she accidentally threw away, despite the fact that days earlier she was to return it to me.

My laser results the first place I went to were great, I wasn't done though & when their rates skyrocketed when they got a new MD owner, I moved on to ALC. I will always recommend laser hair removal, it was ONCE the best thing I did... but the key is to go... not to ALC. The first place used a different type of laser (Alexandria?) and it didn't touch the skin, this place uses an instrument that touches the skin. I know they are suppose to clean it each time, and I see them using a little cloth thing with perhaps alcohol on it but its a little risky... I mean what if they forget? I would hate them to do someones Brazilian & ### and then forget to clean it and then use it on my face or something. Also the first place covered your lips with an emery board so the laser doest potentially distort your natural lip line. ALC laughed at me when I made such request.

As far as my hair, it is super dark. My skin super light. I am the perfect candidate and my results are nothing to complain about. It's the new areas I began at ALC that are not remotely close to done. It scares me to think what happens to some with darker skin than myself (like the poor woman in the link above) in the hands of a young giggly unprofessional not well trained technician who demands tips, such as the one I have.

I went in for a free consultation with American Laser Centers in October of 2006. While I was at the Brookline location, the clinical manager stated she would like to know if I qualify for a credit card. She also stated that this does not mean that I am obligated to a purchase. So I let her proceed because I felt as if no was not an option with this hasty women. I was approved for a care credit card, but I told her I would like to think the situation over and talk with my mother. After all they weren't guaranteeing that microderm abrasion would be successful on an African Americans skin type, so why pay for something they only THINK will help fade my dark spots... The manager said that she wanted me to sign some papers guaranteeing privacy etc. Come to find out, I was manipulated into signing a paper for a charge of $1200. I was not aware that it was a receipt for an unauthorized transaction. When I realized what she had done, I asked the manager to give me a refund and she replied, "we do not give refunds." I have called the complaint line about 233444 times and my issue has not been resolved up to this day. American Laser Centers is a very unprofessional and deceptive company and something has to be done.

To Alc Sux

I think you mean Alexandrite laser (most likely manufactured by Cynosure).
The instrument they used to shield your lip was a tongue blade or tongue depressor. Also used to spread the layer of cold ultrasound gel sometimes. This is a common technique and works well to shield lips and brows from the laser if you have permanent makeup.

Common cleaners are medical grade disinfectant wipes, have them show you what they use and wipe down the entire handpiece, cradle, the entire top of the laser in front of you. How do you know that the person before you did not have Hepatitis? AIDS? People do not have to disclose this. Even to ALC.

I am not sure how many treatments you have had on the new areas with ALC?
How many weeks apart are (were) they treating you?
Where Who did you send the registered letter to?
Who owns the building that the ALC office you visit(ed)? Can you contact them?
Contact the MD ( if there is one available) and ask them why you are not getting the results you were promised?
If you are still going for treatments at ALC talk to other clients waiting for treatments and see if they are satisfied, maybe get together to contact the local media and ask for them to be investigated.

If you end up looking for another place to continue your treatments you can call around or look on the web for another clinic that has a Cynosure or a Cutera or a LightSheer machine. You will get better results that with ALC's equipment. It is not serviced often and if a machine breaks down the clinic manager can not contact the manufacturer directly. They have go through a "chain of command" similar to the refund policy runaround you all have experienced. Clinics have to treat people with a broken machine, cancel patients, whatever.

Once you sign on the dotted line with them they could care less if you got results. The pressure to sell and up-sell is tremendous. It gets worse if the clinic has not made their bonus towards the end of the month.
Another complaint is that the ALC employees are forced to call people at home to offer them deals on additional body areas or services. I feel that this violates your privacy...especially if they leave a message. Hi this is creep at ALC and I have great news...you were interested upgrading from bikini to brazillian and we can do that for you for half price. Meanwhile all your kids hear your message EWWWW.

I think it against ALC's policy to accept tips. (let alone demand them).
Is it to late to contact the police and file a report of theft by the tech?

Anyone can be burned by a laser or intense pulsed light device, even in the hands of an experienced MD, RN or Aesthetician. I believe ALC's Syneron equipment is not as "effective" for lack of a better word so that the techs are less apt to burn someone.

I am so glad I read all this! I won the contest as well for $300 (3rd place) and they also told me if I came in before a certain date I'd get another $100. I made the appointment but in reading this I cancelled it and said that there is way too much bad press to trust them, not to mention that their prices seem very high. Thank God for the internet and I hope this class action suit works out for all of you. What ###!

Check this out, a news report about the scammers!

http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=7on_your_side&id=4188921

I am really glad to find this site. I signed up with ALC and before any treatment found myself pregnant. I talked to the manager who signed me up to check whether they provide a refund, this was year ago. Till today I didn't receive my refund. I kept calling ALC and they kept telling someone will contact me. But no one has contacted me yet. Yes, beware!

Hey guys I just wanted to let you guys know what I did when I had an issue getting back my refund! I didnt get any services done and they REFUSED to give me back a refund. They said they basically couldn't give me back a penny. So I disputed the claim with my credit card company. The dispute went back and forth for about 3 months and eventually they tried to keep a 10% fee which apparently is their "policy" for refunds. Even though they NEVER gave me that option. So for those of you who paid with credit cards try that... I basically wrote a long letter explaining how they scam people and how i was afraid of going through with the treatment bc of what people have suffered from. But I ended up getting every single penny back from those scammers!

I "won" a $400 drawing! Yeah me! Right? No! When I went in to do a consultation and they told me their prices I was somewhat persuaded but they kept giving me these "deals." They could either charge me a lot and let me use my $400 prize money or give some great "deal" and wouldn't let me use my prize money. When I shopped around their prices either way were about the same as the market. I didn't win anything but a waste of my time during the "consultation." Shady. Scammers.

I had a conversation with an ALC rep on the phone, went in for a CONSULTATION, didn't sign any paperwork, but ended up getting a $5500 LOC notice and a $2000 bill from Care Credit this week. I am all for class action if this company can't get its act together. AGAIN - I have not received any treatments or signed any paperwork but they felt at liberty to take my info and open a LOC and charge the ALC fees without my sign off. UNACCEPTABLE! not to mention illegal! I also think Care Credit has a big legal issue on the horizon in dealing with this company (ALC).

I totally agree, this company American Laser Center is fradulant. I was burnt few months back.
I asked for their insuarance, they said they did not need to provide it unless I sued them. I called their
main company, they only have license in Chicago? They even told me they did not need a license to operate laser in NY! Their altitude is "Oh well, sorry you got burnt. Come back to finish your treatment." I have never seen a company has so many compliants in every state. Beware!

I paid $1800 for photo facial laser removal (50% discount-so they said) for roseacia and age spots. It did not reduce the redness or any of the brown spots after 6 laser and 6 micrcroderm abrasion treatments, but the rubbing increased the size of my pours. One red spot increased threefold into an irregular shaped spot and I'm scared to death it's skin cancer now. They actually wanted me to sign up for 6 more treatments and assured me the redness would go away. They did say that I would be amazed at my skin within the first 3 treatment, and many other promises.

I got the break because I paid full for my hands and underarms ($1400). Black underarms are spotty hands are still hairy-no difference whatsoever. My mom would kill me if she knew I did this.

I did have hair removal on my upper lip and chin and it was successful. So now I am doing the skin tightening, foto-facial treatment, and microdermabrasion and do not see any results whatsoever. I have about 4 treatments to go, but I doubt if anything will change. Please include me on the class action suit if is still in process. Thanks.

This company is the biggest joke I payed for my face to get done and before I got finished with I bought another package and was told by the manager that if I did not want it in 30day and no services were done on that package I could get a refund and have called and called and disputed the charges for the last 6 months and no help yet and it dont work I have had it done time and time again and no results if anyone can help please e-mail me @ lizweir@bellsouth.net

I can't even begin to explain how furious I am w/ ALC. I have a friend who works for them and she referred me. My friend is so embarassed of this whole situation and says she will never refer someone to her own company because of things "like this". I was interested in laser hair removal and recieved a fax of quotes. They asked me to come in for a consult and was told I could even being my treatment afterwards. I went in 2 days later for a consult with the manager. I have been going to the dermatologist for the last 10years... so when I learned about microderms/fotofacials during the consult, of course I was intrigued. The lady knew I was iffy about it because of the prices. She was a great seller, let me tell ya! I fell for the sale pitch and signed a "contract" for laser hair removal on 3 different areas along with the fotofacial. I signed SO many papers. After the consult, I recieved my first laser hair treatment in 2 of the areas. Later I got home and realized how non realistic it was for me to do the fotofacial b/c of finances. I notified the center the NEXT day and never heard back. My friend left a note for the mgr to call but i never heard from her. I called 4 days later and the mgr told me "deal with it on Wed" when I came in. Of course, a new mgr was there then and she was the one who told me since I had began my laser tx, I was unable to be refunded for the fotofacial (which I hadnt even BEGAN!). I only began the laser hair removal. I was FURIOUS. I got home and realized I never even recieved a copy of the financial agreement. The lady who did my consult stated she "forgot to mention it b/c there were so many things to cover" RIIGHT! how do forget to mention the most important thing? It was SO decieving. I called corporate this evening but havent heard back and after reading other reviews, I have a feeling I wont be refunded and i could kick myself for not researching reviews b/c I am shocked how many others this has happened too. It is all about $ to them, from the second you walk in the door. If an employee doesnt recommend their company to their friends, what does that say about ALC? I am wanting help in this manor, PLEASE email me at gurlie2301@aol.com if you have any advice.. they take advantage of people and are very decieving.. I have never in my life seen a business take advantage of people in the way they have. I have only recieved my 1st laser treatment and after reading the reviews, i am scared it wont work for me and then i will be even more furiuos!

This company is horrible. They're completely unprofessional and their procedures give NO RESULTS! Luckily I only spent $1,500 but I've been receiving treatments for a year and a half with no hair loss. They're so grimy... they're constantly calling and trying to sell packages and when I tell them that I'm not interested because they produce no results, they claim that it's because they're using the "wrong machine"... what the hell! I wish I had never involved myself with them... that was money down the drain. I would love to find a way to get my money back. Although they told me that complete hair loss is not promised, they led me to believe that I would experience noticeable results but a year and a half later, I haven't.

I'm wondering if someone could give me a general idea of their cost, ie, bikini line laser hair removal, how much per treatment. I received a call today stating I won some contest for $300.00 worth of free treatments and because I am responding right away I'm receiving an addt'l $100.00. Basically $400.00 worth of free treatments is this enough for several bikini laser treatments?

Please respond.

Sincerely, Linda.

I was notified that I had won a $500 gift certificate to American Laser Center at 1250 N Germantown Parkway Cordova, TN 38016. I entered a drawing at the Peabody Rooftop party in Memphis, TN. I was notified later that I had won, and that I could come in for a free consultation. I called and scheduled my appointment to see what it was all about. I went to the appointment and a woman sat down to discuss what services they provided. She said that she needed me to fill out an application with Care Credit to see what I could get approved for, so that we can see what I could afford. A few moments later the woman came back and said that I was approved. She sold me all these services, and before I knew it, I was out the door. The woman was very high pressure, and I thought that I could just say yes, I was interested, but then call and cancel when I felt more comfortable. I was brought into a private room with a VERY PUSHY saleswoman and I didn't feel comfortable. As soon as I left, I called them back from my car and said that I decided to cancel, I did not have the money to pay for any of these services. The woman advised that I couldn't cancel. After I hung up with her, I called Care Credit to cancel my account. I thought that surely I had some type of provision where I had a certain amount of time to cancel, and I was calling them not even 10 minutes after I walked out. When Care Credit advised that my account was closed, I assumed that everything was taken care of. UNTIL, last week I started receiving collection calls from Care Credit. I have repeatedly called American Laser Center in Cordova demanding copies of my paperwork that I signed there, and no one will fax them to me or call me back.

It is not reasonable to charge someone almost $4,000 for services that I have NOT had, nor WANT to have done. I have already filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau and contacted a local news station with my story.

I was also burnt on my upper lip in New York a few weeks before my wedding by a new employee who I later learned was let go two weeks after my incident. The staff was uncaring and unmoved by the fact that I had a rather large white bubble on my upper lip. I was never refunded my money nor shown an ounce of concern from these people.

as a ex employee..think about this..although we had to use antidisinfectant on the laser heads after treatment...is it really CLEAN?i mean you have a laser that 7 out of 10 treatments are laser peoples groin/crotch area then the same laser head is being used on the next client who is getting there lip or legs done...GROSS! As far as i know, i was the only tech that would make sure there were 2 laser heads to avoid that grossness...as a medical student, i can tell you...viruse(herpes,warts,etc) can live for hours even days depending on what it is and no cleaning will remove that...

MILITARY BEWARE! The American Laser Center in Vacaville, CA has asked me several times to provide them numbers to the base newspaper and other advertising forums on Travis Air Force Base. Thank God I never did. This place told me that they work very close with military clients since it is a huge client base for them. They said they work well with accommodating military members during deployments, PCS, TDY, etc. I became pregnant and then there was talk of my husband getting orders so I called to cancel the remaining treatments left but would pay for what I had received. THE ONLY THING THEY WILL DO IS POUT YOUR ACCOUNT ON HOLD. EVEN IF THAT MEANS FOR 4 YEARS WHILE YOU ARE AT AN OVERSEAS BASE WHILE THEY RECEIVE PAYMENT FOR YOUR UNUSED TREATMENTS!They are deceptive, manipulative, and I have YET to be contacted by the regional manager. I was told that the regional manager had a "cold" and "could not talk". This was 3 weeks ago! So I am going to pay over $2,000 for services not rendered. They will tell you anything you want to hear to get your money. Please keep in mind... they are actively seeking advertisement on military instillations. PLEASE DO NOT GIVE YOUR HARD EARNED MONEY TO THIS DECEITFUL COMPANY.

I went there the other week, and I signed up for the Credit Care card, but told them I wanted to think over having the treatment. It all seemed pretty sketchy to me, that all they did was tell me the price of the package without explaining the procedure to me or anything (I too went in for a consultation just cause I won a 300$ gift certificate).

My question is... is this going to ruin my credit to sign up for this card?

THANKS.

I have been getting underarms hair removal treatments for two and half years (over 19 sessions) and I have very minimum results. The center where I was getting the treatment agreed that I have no results and recommended that I should get my money back. The paperwork was started a month a go, but still have no resolution. I keep calling the corporate office and leaving messages, but have not heard back from them. I also keep calling the center where I was getting the treatment and they tell me that they can't do anything. I just have to wait. Now I am being told that they have to reprocess my request for refund without any explaintion as to why. And they want me to come in again to take pictures.

All I keep getting is voice messages and people saying that I can't help you.

Do not ever use American Laser for any of their services.

Okay, sign me up as well. I wanted to do the Amerismooth treatments and they got me in for $2500.00. After 3 treatments I could no longer continue because it was so painful and left huge bruises on my thighs. I called the manager at the Tempe, Arizona clinic and asked for a refund. I told her that I could not continue on with the treatments and that there were not any other services I wanted done. She absolutely refused and told me I would have to spend it on buying their skin products instead. I haven't talked to them or gone their since. I have a huge credit sitting there because of course they charged out the whole $2500 to my CareCredit card (GE) which I am now having trouble paying because I lost my job. So if anyone is in Arizona let me know.. and wants to join. Thanks!

Is there anyone here from Oregon or Washington? PLEASE respond, very important.

Ok, I am an employee of the alc. And I have a lot to say.
NO not everyone that burns someone is fired.
It depends on who you are in the clinic.
Maybe you are some pathetic kiss ### that makes alot of money for the clinic but you are a little aggressive, and think you know what you are doing and the client gets burned. I have seen it happen to different clients and the girl was NOT fired.
Not all employees are created equal. Some, like me, do care and are very careful, have an education that is worth something and have common sense.
If you have signed the contract, you must have wanted the hair removal or whatever it was that you signed up for. If you are not happy with the treatment, by all means, speak up! Tell us your issues. Let us know how you are dissatisfied.
I know for me, I want to make my clients happy.
Sadly, no the lasers do not work on grey, red or blonde hair UNLESS the hair has a dark root.

I went through a horrible time trying to get a refund 2 years ago and am glad to see maybe there will be action to close the place down! At least I'd love to see a news station expose them...20/20 or 60 minutes would be great. Good luck on the class action suit. I did, eventually, get my $1300. back only because I went to a dermatologist in the same hospital and she wrote a letter confirming that with my history of skin cancer (I'm also blond) that I would be a very poor candidate (I had not started treatment and STILL had to fight like heck to get a refund! ) Also, to get the ALC employees attention, I made sure the doctor they shared an office with (a legitimate doctor in the hospital) knew what was going on. As he walked by her room, I stopped him and asked if he knew about their scams and explained what was going on. He agreed with me that it was not ethical, and he said it right in front of the ALC manager. I'm sure that helped get the attention of the home office but I still had to get a dermatologist report to make it official. People should not have to go to that trouble when they have not started treatment! That is SO unethical. I called many other laser treatment offices in my area and they all said they give refunds even if the treatment is started! Please go after these people and good luck! Oh, and for those of you defending ALC, yes people might listen to you and go to them anyway.. but those people have been warned by us victims, so if they get burned (money or skin) they can't say they havent been warned.