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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 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.
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
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I have done hair removing treatment by laser on my shoulders, chest and neck at the American Laser Center in different locations (such as in Florida-West Palm Beach, Miami-Aventura and South Carolina) for more than 2.5 but the result now is terrible my hair became more and tougher. I am very disappointed from them, they destroyed my body. It is bull of ### that the said laser help and the treatment will last about 6 month. I have done it 2.5 and now I don't know what to do. Please take a look on my picture and find out who they are exactly!
I have had similar experiences with ALC that are reported on this site. I 'won' a $300 discount. I was pressured to sign up the day I went in for a consultation. When I went home and discussed the price with my husband, we decided it was not something we could afford, so I called to cancel before I received any treatments and was told it was too late, I had already signed a contract and there was no refunds!
My most recent problems with this company started Jan. '08. I called 4 times in the beginning of Jan. to schedule an appointment, they never answer the phone it always goes directly to voice mail. I left 4 messages, on the 4th message I indicated I was upset and wanted someone to call me back. They finally called me back and we scheduled an appointment for Feb. 8th. On Feb. 7th at 5:26pm. they called me to cancel the appointment due to 'modifications' they were having. They said they would call back to reschedule. They never did. I called on Feb. 9th and 11th and left messages. They called me back on Feb. 12th and rescheduled me for Feb. 17th at their north location which was a location I had never been to. They gave me vague directions, but no address. I thought the address would be on their website, but it was not. So I called back to get the address of the north location, and left a message. They called me back and got my voice mail and said 'Sorry we missed you please try us again'. Why they could not leave the address on my voice mail is beyond me. So I called again, left another message. They called me back gave me the address. On Feb. 17th I went to the north location and waited 20 minutes in the lobby, finally the girl said she did not have me scheduled at that office. She said perhaps I was scheduled at another office. So I left, called the office that had made my appointment and they said yes, I was scheduled at their office not the north location! So now it is Feb. 19th and still no appointment. Whenever you call their offices, they NEVER answer the phone, their voice mail says this is due to a high volume of calls. I've called at every hour of the day, and I never get through, how can they have such high volume of calls at every hour of the day? How come it takes so much effort on my end and so many phone calls just to schedule an appointment! I feel they are avoiding me. I of course have already prepaid! They got my money, why bother helping me now?!
Hello Gerald,
I represent American Laser Centers and we apologize for the delayed response to your post. American Laser Centers recognizes there has been confusion regarding our sweepstakes and, based on feedback like yours, we want to be clear about what you won. You were chosen to be one of our third place prize winners. The prize you have received is a $300 coupon that you may use towards any of our laser hair removal, skin rejuvenation or cellulite reduction packages.
We hope this response is satisfactory and appreciate you voicing your concern.
If you have any additional problems or questions in the future, please contact our customer service team at [protected].
We are constantly looking at ways to improve our services and your feedback is important to us.
Thank you,
Allen
customerservice@alcpartner.com
www.americanlaser.com
Thanks for your post about your experience at American Laser Centers.
This is helpful, Allen. Thank you.
Dear everyone,
Anyone thinking of getting laser hair removal should not go to american laser center. all they care about is money ! I purchased a full body hair removal package for 4, 880 and i regret it to this day. Once i signed the paper and TRIED to make an appointment for my treatments they were completely booked and requested that i go to another clinic 32 miles away. What was the point in me going to their clinic in the first place? but supposedly my full body was such a great deal. my girlfriend had bought the same package for 6500. Their prices are never the same ! It is unfair to the public.
But one advise i need to give everyone is that if you do want to get a great discount always BUY at the end of the month. That is when these stupid little highschool "managers" need to make their quota. These managers will only keep their jobs for 3-6 months because they cannot make their quota. EVENTUALLY AMERICAN LASER CENTER gets rid of their managers... and you know what, these uneducated managers deserve it cause they swindle customers every day. I've been getting my treatments for a year and a half...and there is always a new manager offering me a great deal (always at the end of the month!) Unfortunately...i'm stuck with this company until my treatments are completely done. NEVER AGAIN! i will never sign up for anything new. AMERICAN LASER CENTER makes me sick to my stomach
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.
I had the exact same issue. FOUR hours after purchasing my very large package I called and said I didn't want the procedure because I was uncomfortable with the terrible reviews I read online after signing the papers along with having blonde hair. My husband was less than thrilled to say the least. They told me once I signed I was locked into the contract. I called Care Credit and they said only American Laser could issue the refund. Needless to say I have not used Care Credit since that day. I went ahead a month later and started treatments after several regional managers became involved and denied any type of refund. I was more than dissatisfied. I was told upon signing my contract that due to my blonde hair they would need to double-pass each visit. After my first, they said their new policy no longer allowed double-passing but my guarantee period would be enough to eliminate the hair fully. After my 6th appointment a disgruntled nurse told me their systems don't work and I'll still need to shave regularly and then proceeded to pull up her pant leg and show me her leg hair - which looked normal after having a full series of treatments! Once my guarantee period kicked in they were suddenly "booked" and in a two year period could only fit me in a couple times due to "office merging". My guarantee is now expired and they followed up with a phone call letting me know their schedule has cleared up with hiring some new staff and I can come in for my appointments at a discounted hourly rate - WOW. Really? This is legal business practice? Amazing.
FILE A COMPLAINT TO FTC + STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL + BBB
I went to this office for hair removal which I was uncomfortable about as have some white which they said wouldn't work on.Was told I would have to do a different treatment but could not cancel after just 1 treatment.Was talked into the Zerona to loose inches from stomach area which added another $1200. to what I already had a loan for.After my first treatment the office manager told me I had to finance another $100. thru another loan.I was to follow certain rules ie.excercise 30 min each day, drink 64 ozs. water daily, limit to 1 cup of coffee, eat raw foods & nuts, small 6 meals per day, brush my body from the feet upwards, & wear a constricting undergarment at nite.All of which I followed as I was determined to have this work & was paying a large financed bill to see results.I had each treatment every other day for 9 treatments.I lost maybe an inch which was told that is unheard of.Everyone losses 5-9 so the office will work something out for me.No one has contacted me, since my last treatment 3 weeks ago.I e-mailed the manager who told me to call her! I want something in writing as to compensation which I doubt this company cares to do.They just sucker people in & finance them a debt without results.They need shut down & I will contact the Better Business Bureau