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

I'm sure ALC works for some people without any problem. Clearly a business that has any degree of success provides adequate service for some portion of its clientele. The problem that is being addressed in this complaint board, however, is how ALC handles the people for whom their treatments or policies DON'T work out. Customer service is not about "working with the center." Customer service is about customer satisfaction, period. It's obvious that a number of people ended up less than satisfied, to the point that their frustrations are being successfully pursued in court. It's telling that you, Jeni, work at ALC and "wonder" about people for whom ALC doesn't work out. Your willingness to discredit your clients' legitimate complaints rather than addressing them seems to be the prevailing attitude of the company.

Just so you all know, EVERYONE "wins" when they enter these ALC contests. Whatever the discount is, I 'm sure that it will be added into your price anyway. So don't feel special that you "won", it's just a ploy to get you in the door and sign you up.

Another bit of advice-if you can't afford something, DON'T BUY IT! This isn't some sort of necessary medical procedure. Do some research and save up your money before you commit to anything.

wow thank you so much! because of this i canceled my appointment and hope to have nothing further to do with it.. I won their $300 gift certificate, and when i read above that somebody else did and they didn't let her use it i was completely turned off from the company.. these posts were a life saver!

I went to ALC 2 years ago and have been hair free since then. Funny how people who do not see immediate results always want to sue. I am sorry you are unhappy but not every clinic is nasty. The Clinic I went to is fabulous. I have never seen them be mean to anyone. If there was a complaint it was taken care of immediately. If you are unhappy with your clinic, go to another one, find one that will make you feel good about your treatments and your choice to spend your hard earned money.

Yes they did try to upsell me and yes I have care credit. But never was I forced to sign anything. If you signed paperwork without reading it... shame on you.

I am so glad that I found this webpage! I had entered a contest to win a free laser hair removal treatment. A couple of days ago, I received an email stating that I won their 3rd place prize which is a $300 gift certificate. I thought that it was very strange that they would just send me an email stating that I won. They requested that I send them my name and address and when I would like to set up my free consultation. I am going to respond that I did some research on their company and have found numerous complaints ranging from being burned, given false medical advice that can lead to major problems... ie allergies, and just generally ripping people off! If I really want to get this procedure done, my MEDICAL DOCTOR offers this in his office. I know that he is a licensed professional and will treat me correctly.

I wish everyone good luck with getting their money back and I hope that any physical damages that they have caused will heal with the correct medical treatment from an actual doctor or nurse and not just their freak employees that act like they are actually medically trained.

i won one of the gift certificates too. after reading all this, i feel slightly stupid for falling for it but also better that nothing more has happened. can they do anything with the personal info i gave them?

I had posted previously stating that I had received an email saying that I had won a $300 gift certificate. I emailed the woman back that I wasn't interested in having anything done at that company after reading tons and tons of complaints. I told her to please take my name off of their mailing list. I was quite surpirsed that another woman from ALC emailed me stating that I won a $300 gift certificate. What in the world is going on there? Has anyone had them email twice stating that they won from 2 different people?

This is sad that there are so many people out there that got scammed. Here is my story:

I was one of them I also "won" the 300 dollars gift and then another a week later. I was excited to see what they had to offer, I'm Italian so can you blame me? I've only ever heard of good things from them. I didn't do any research before I went in, and that was my biggest mistake. The clinic manger, Karen Giordano from Clinton Township MI, made everything sound so good and I bought every word of it. Just like the others have said the white coat, the used car sales approach it was all there and I didn't even see it. We went through all the paper work and I signed DON'T EVER SIGN! She said we can get you in at 3pm wanna come back and get your first session done I said sure! That was the first and only session I have ever had. I went home to then so my research and found all of this. Not only in Michigan but PA, Fl, Texas, New York you name it ladies/men they are a shady company. Now trying to get your money back after services not rendered comes into play there no refund policy. So I did what I'm sure everyone else did wrote a letter to the credit care company waited 2 months and finally got a response saying the dispute was not in your favor. And that was all the detail it gave. I went through all my paper work again to see what I could come up with and on everything there was this but with a 10% cancellation fee, now why would they put that 10% if they you couldn't give you your money back? Or give you ANY? I don't really understand that. Also none of my paper work other then the Care Credit response AFTER I put in my dispute did they send me paper work saying once you had something done your pretty much screwed. But never did they give detail to why or how or who. So now I'm kinda stuck, and I found this board I also found the numbers to the cooperate offices that the clinic refuses to give out. I found them at the Better business Bureau of New York. They do have the Michigan offices on them as well. This is such a horrible company I feel sorry for the people who got burned and have to deal with that I never had other then with money. If anyone else has any information on how things went with them please post it! I will be reading and updating what happens with me as well. If this does go any further then I will sue.

yeah, I won the $300 thing and I am going to call and cancel my apt. This is ridiculous business and I don't want anything to do with it.

Thanks to all of you for posting. You saved me alot of time and money.

I also "won" the $300 coupon. My appointment is tomorrow morning. I am definitely not going after reading all of this. I am very thankful that I have found this site. I have also researched it further and found nothing good about this company.

Thank you all for your comments, I received a phone call thismorning stating that I had won the "3rd place, $300 gift certificate", and not thinking that it wasnt legitimate, I called back. I had no intention of purchasing anything over a couple hundred bucks over the certificate amount, but I thought I would just see what the place had to offer, since I had heard that at most places microdermabrasion was mildly affordable.
Long story short, I thought something was up when I agreed to the consultation, and the woman asked what state I was calling from, and what office I would like to make the appointment at, seeing as that info was on the card that I filled out at the bridal show. She then told me that if I came in within the next 2 days I would receive another $100 coupon to make sure that I had treatment before the end of the month. I felt really weird at this point but she had already scheduled the consultation. I asked for the phone number and address of the local clinic, did a quick search of their services online, and immediately called to cancel the consultation. When asked to reschedule I told them I didn't see that happening soon. Not to mention that the "specialist" that I was told would be doing my consult was also the one that answered the phone, that is a red flag right there.

Your posts saved me a tank of gas and a lot of frustration considering I wasn't in the market for the services anyway, I just thought I had "won" something.

Great way to conduct business, resort to trickery instead of actually providing a quality service at a competitive price.

I went for the consultation, gave them a check for $1650. I called the next day and said we had a financial issue, dont cash my check, i cant do the treatment. She said fine. When I called on Monday to confirm, they had cashed my check and said "oh well." I have been fighting for a refund on a procedure I never recieved since June 30th. It turns out that the manager was fired for being shady and that clinic has all kinds of problems because of her. I have called corporate and their cusomter service hotline at least a 100 times. I want my money back, and apparently according to their legal department there is a refund for no treatments used. Five weeks ago they called and said i should see it soon. I am still waiting and it is September 28th. I needed that money back because I got married last week. This is a joke!

Omg i'm sooo stupid i signed up and paid for the treatment before i did a search online. i don't know why i did that cause i'm normally really careful about these things and always do my research. i guess i'm one of the lucky ones cause my treatment is only 1000 bucks compared to some of you but it's still an awful alot of money. one question though did all of you use the payment plan they offered or you paid by credit card/checks? i called my credit card company and they said that if the company doesn't refund me the correct amount then i can dispute it through them. i'm gonna wait a bit and if no money received then i'll send emails to all news channels and even report them to the police. even though i knew i was paying more than other places i didn't care because they seem nice at first. i hate getting scammed and would never scam anyone myself so when it happens i really hate it. it's sad that such a big company would go so low as to deceive their customers for money. will update later on the situation.

Those SOBs screwed me over too. I signed that form that said I could cancel the package and only pay 10% of the entire cost. I ended up having one treatment and realized I shouldn't be spending that kind of money, but when I tried to cancel they wouldn't let me. They claimed it was their policy to not cancel the package once treatment has begun. That girl COMPLETELY misled me. I fought them on it for a while, calling constantly and driving them nutz. Finally like a month and half later I finally spoke to someone the manager claimed was her lawer. I told him if that's your policy why wasn't it written on the form I signed. I kept saying that's not what I signed for. But they still wouldn't let me out. Is there anything else I can do?

Please help,
Lindsey
linz_spur@msn.com

Ladies, just threaten legal action. that will always get you your money back. believe me- i used to work there. call [protected] and ask for Kevin Piceuh (priounounced Pee-Koo). Tell him you are suing and he will be scared and work sometihing out with you!

For unhappy clients and unfairly treated employees, past and present: please send an email with your story to:

Debra.Lawson@FoxTV.com

Their shady practices will be aired on the news!

Good luck and keep those stories coming!

Detroits investigative news team is willing to do a story on the fraudelent company known as AMerican Laser Centers. Please email your stories to Heather at:

hcatallo@wxyz.com

They are not gonna scam or hurt people anymore!

I see all of these complaints but its hard to feel properly warned by them because most of you haven't had the 12 treatments.

I was looking for people who HAVE had 12 or so treatments, so I could see if they had success or not, specifically people with really light skin and dark hair.

I did try that stupid Lucy Peters type of electrolysis and it didn't work.. they went out of business before I even got all of my treatments. My only other option before agreeing to just suffer with this stupid hair problem is to try laser treatment.

So I went to the ALC, and I'm going to give it a try. If people who are complaining can say they went to ANOTHER laser place and had successful treatments, then I'll cancel and go there instead... but right now I feel like I'm just left to try it and see if it turns out okay.

Lol you can't just "cancel" with American Laser Centers...Once you start treatment with them, your stuck! They do not give refunds!

So of course I "won" the 3rd place $300 coupon and went in to the NY office before month end. I have already had 5 treatments from my dermatologist about 3 years ago and told the manager that I had a hormone problem and that Im taking certain pills for the hair. The manager said, " Cases like yours are our #1 clients". I proceeded to go in for my first visit. A 19 yr old girl who wasnt even a certified laser technician performed the procedure on me which hurt in a lot of places and other places you didnt even feel anything. For my first visit, I was very dissappointed and scared. What would have happened if I needed a doctor? It was late at night and she was the only one there? Did she clean the areas before treatment? No. Did she clean the machine in front of me? Absolutely not. When I asked her if she cleaned it... she said yes. She didn't shave any of the areas I wanted to be treated and felt EXTREMELY uncomfortable. It was majorly shady and deceiving.
When I asked her if she was supposed to take my makeup off or deoderant? she said no. I feel used and absued and for a total body treatment, which I planned to pay $5000 I am extrememly depressed. I started crying in the office and well as all the way home. During my consultation, I was promised no more hair and that is was guranteed. Never was I told a no refund policy. WHen I called today to cancel she said I would get my money back but she would have to talk to the manager, regional manager and corporate. If regular hairy people are not getting their hair removed why should I believe that someone like me, with a hormone imbalance, it should work any differently. i called and said I want to stop my account and want to be reimbursed and do not want to continue further treatments with them or any other clinic. She told me she would call me back and I wil get my money back for my dissatisfication... but who is to say is she is telling the truth. My prayers are with all of you and myself. This should not happen. I will not even hesitate to take legal action or report them to the Better Business bureau.

sorry everyone I meant to put the thumb down... way down. this place should be closed ASAP.

I am having problems with American Laser Center in Lee's Summit, Mo. They also told me I was a winner of a $300 gift certificate. They convinced me to come in just to "talk about what it was and pricing." Melissa, the manager, said we could just see if I could get approved and told me the papers I was signing was for hippa and privacy things. Well now I am in "contract" they say and even though I've had zero procedures done, they say too bad. No refunds. Can anyone help?

After reading all these complaints, I decided not to start treatment, even after I have signed up and paid with Care Credit. I looked at the paperwork I had signed and the wording is really funny, "As of the date of signing this agreement, I understand that all fees paid to American Laser Centers are non-refundable. Cancellation of this will result in a 10% cancellation fee." What does the mean? It sounds like they are saying you can't get your money back, but then suddenly you can if you cancel, minus 10 percent. I'm completely confused.

What do you think the odds are of actually getting my money back? There's no way I want to use them after I've heard how low they stoop to get people in and their under-trained staff. I'm glad I read this before my appointment today, or I'd have been very sorry!

I agree 100% I paid roughly $2000.00 for facial hair removal. I signed up Dec.2005 and its now October 2007 and I have half the hair on my face still. I had 14 sessions already! Not to mention if for any reason you have to cancel and reschedule an appointment you have to wait like 3 weeks till the next one. I am so dissatisfied with the results! Trust me Im with all you on complaining, and getting a refund of some sort etc. I already have a complaint letter ready to go, just unsure of who to send it to get results.
P.S. I know someone who was getting their chest done and after 8 sessions no results, paid in full, like myself and he decided to stop going.

At first I was really steamed to find out that so many people were taken for a ride, but now I look at it as learning a big big lesson...

I "Won" $330 + $100 dollars. I went in for a consult at a Central Coast, CA location. She went on with her shpeal and I stopped an asked when they would grant a refund. "If we harm/hurt you...or you become pregnant...we just do not want to be held liable...a child is at stake..." I went on to open Care Credit...spent $2211...went home.

I talked to my boyfriend (he wanted to know what I would expect, was i excited). I explain everything in detail and he printout that 12 treatments is a long time (since I have dark skin). "What if we wanted to get pregnant?" I thought about and simply did not want to start something I could not finish. The next day I went back into the office...and was told what a lot of you were told "I will have to get authorization for a manager...I will call you by Friday". I let it be known that it does not make sense that she can charge people but not refund...but i wasn't too worry because I knew I had just opened the account and had NOT started any treatment. I then decided to go home and look these guys up...bad reviews.

The next day the clinician calls with a propsition. "Pay half...freeze my cost, and when I have the baby, start again. I was disgusted and asked nicely that she refund my money. The next day she called formy account info and I thought i was in the clear.

Long story short I havetalk to two persons, no results. My first bill in in the mail. Do your research! Scams are out there...and it is not likei have the money for this believe me, but I dont havetime for the run around others have been experiencing. Better Business will be hearing for me and I will be writing letters to the company, but I am going to move on.

I totally agree and would join if it does not affect me negatively in any way. the company is very deceptive. Very big turnover of employees, especially professionals. Its the administrators, managers, sales people that stay the most. they make bonuses on the backs of the professionals. They do not like hiring mid level providers like nurse practitioners, physician assistants. I have many dreams needs your money and you can help me. They prefer lower paid aesteticians, depilating persons.

Training is only 2 days. They wanted me to start on patients after 2 days, before full evaluation..because they booked patients. not professional. I was lied to several times, degraded by unprofessional people. And was told they do to refund. They try to get other parts worked on. Even though in their protocol they say refund if 6 treatments and 25% no improvement. I reality the sales person/ manager sold a package to someone for a face part with baby hair/peach fuzz/vermilion hair which is white and does not in any way react to laser ( as per protocol).

What i wrote only scratches the surface. If this is possible...people need to know, because these are astronomical prices to not be refunded. ad or burned.

It is a money driven business.
The trainer deviates a lot from protocol. Then disrespects student when asked why.

This is strange and funny. The advertisements on the left include American laser for raffle to win $5000 dollars for laser treatment. Why? Are we actually inadvertently advertising for them?

Although I haven't completed my treatments yet... actually I've only had one and am having my second one next week, I have to say that I have had results. I have been self conscious of my facial hair for years. It actually is cause for a lot of scarring on my face. I have light skin but I have course dark hair that tends to become ingrown and causes rashes and infections. I have also had sensitive skin all my life and get a really nasty rash every time I shave. It was to the point where I had tweezers strategically placed in my purse, in my car, in every bathroom, in the bedroom and in the living room. I would tweeze the hairs every day and it was getting to the point where I felt like I was completely OCD about it.

Since the first treatment I have had less skin infections and less rashes. To me this is clear proof that SOMETHING is working.

Sure their method of sales is shady and shameful, but so it also was for my used car, and for that vacuum a friend of mine tried to sell me a few years back, and for the bedroom set I bought this year. I mean... what are they selling you? They are selling you cosmetology and beauty at a HIGH cost. Even at its retail value how are these people going to get customers? Most people are scared by a large price tag... so jacking up the price and offering a huge discount is the only way to make people satisfied that they got a good deal for what thy are paying for. I have a friend who owns an art store in a small town. He told me all about the marketing system. And guess what? It's the same for art supplies! Because the cost of paint is SO high (trust me, I know as I was an art major) what he did was jack up the price and then run a huge sale on paint. So people payed market value without feeling guilty about the expense. It's the only way he could survive and I think that's okay.

Yes, my laser removal is expensive... but with a 2 year warranty I'm not ashamed of having it. It was less than a new computer. So I'll put off updating my computer for another 2 years. I'll survive. I get 6 treatments for $2,000 plus the 2 year warranty which, trust me, I will use if I have to. I'm aware of every hair on my face. They won't slip by me.

The hardest part about this procedure for me was stopping the tweezing. I had to basically lock away all of those dang tweezers and I still have insane ogres to pluck. I just try to shave every day, but god it makes me feel so unsexy.

So I want to say thank you to ALC for helping me with my skin condition and with my self esteem.

I am in the process of trying to obtain a refund from ALC. I have sent a letter to GE Money advising them that ALC is in the process of reviewing my account for refund and not to pay anything to them. I am MORE THAN WILLING TO JOIN THE CLASS ACTION SUIT. If anyone has details about the suit, please advise. In the interim I am going on a letter writing campaign and if that fails, then I will pursue legal action.

To Ayana,

I am so sorry you are fighting these ###s for your money. As a former manager I understand your frustration with their manipulative practices. The only advice I can offer is to keep harassing corporate until you get your money. There are literally thousands of people just like you who are battling these crooks for refunds. As far as a class action suit goes, I believe there is one already pending for clients and I know there is one for former employees. This company is going down quickly. I hope you get your money back before that happens. Good luck.

I would like to join the class action suit but evidently dont qualify. I had severe burns that went away after 6 months. I asked them for a PRO RATED refund because of both the burns and because my doctor said she didnt want me going back due to the medical conditions I have. I told them this, showed pics, have a doctor letter, they ignore me. Wont even give me a copy of my contract. The manager at that location wont call me back and is rude. The lovely technician stole a personal item from me and does a crap job if you dont tip her. Nice huh?

The customer service dept wont call me back. The corporate office wont get back to me. Left one message for the Pecoh guy and one for some other person. The regional managet also ignores me. It is in their best interest to refund me becasue the cost to their reputation is going to be big, and super huge if they dont refund me. Not a threat, just telling it like it is. Knowing them they would probably try to come after me for slander or libel. Too bad that will FAIL MISERABLY because it is only libel and slander if what you say is a LIE and unless they refund me I will share my experience with everyone I come in contact with.

Can you believe it? I ask them to give me back $ for work they WONT be doing for me. I am not even asking for a full refund for their crap job, lying, theft, just money back for future appts I PAID for but wont be having. Somehow I dont think that is unreasonable. I will fight these pathetic creatures till my death. The longer they ignore me the more they will pay with their reputation. The 1K am asking for back will cost them a whole heck of a lot more if they continue to ignore me, guaranteed. I could use advice though on how to resolve this asap. Because while its good to let everyone know about these crooks, it is in my best interest to put it behind me so I can focus on my health issues. No mater what though if they dont refund me i will be after them, even if I have one foot in the grave.

I have only had one treatment for facial hair removal, so I can not comment one way or the other right now. However, I have been having treatments for the amerismooth cellulite reduction. several issues here. First my treatment time was 45 minutes per session. No where in writing, of course, but, I did receive 45 the first three times. The last two times my total treatment was 16 minutes. This is their new "protocol". 8 minutes for each area. I am having thigh and hip areas done, and am actually not a big person at all, but do have the nasty cellulite I have never been able to get rid of. So far no results, after 5 treatments. They say you start to see a difference after 4. I'll see how it goes today, and will bring up the issue of treatment time lengths. I totally agree that they are unprofessional in just about every way, you can not get a hold of anyone at corporate to verify anything, they have made mistakes on my treatment times and days 3 times out of 5, possibly on purpose, and they do take you on a ride with special pricing tactics. I say if I can not see any results yet, i dont see how any one else could, considering my size. They have charged me 50$ for the hyradion moisturizing cream when it was 40$, still way overpriced for the product, but, they owed me 50$, and couldn't do a refund, imagine that! There have been other little things I could go on about with their practices. Maybe I'll get to join the lawsuit after all. Still have the laser issue with my face, and we'll see how that goes.

THIS IS ALL UNTRUE! OF THE MILLIONS OF TREATMENTS THEY HAVE DONE, OF COURSE EVERYONE WILL NOT BE HAPPY. WHAT COMPANY CAN PLEASE 100% OF ITS CLIENTS. THE COMPANY ABSOLUTELY DOES GIVE REFUNDS AS IT IS STATED ON THEIR PAPERWORK WHEN YOU SIGN UP. A FRIEND OF MINE ALSO GOT A REFUND WHEN SHE REALIZED SHE COULDN'T DO THE TREATMENT. AS THE OTHER GIRL SAID ABOVE, IT CLEARLY SHOWS WHAT YOU BUY AND WHAT THE TERMS ARE. THEY ARE ENTERING INTO AN AGREEMENT AS WELL AS THE CLIENT. THE RESULTS ARE AMAZING, AS ME AND AND SO MANY THAT I KNOW HAVE PERSONALLY EXPERIENCED. IT'S NOT AN EXACT SCIENCE...SOME PEOPLE DON'T RESPOND TO MEDICATION, THE SAME IS TRUE FOR HAIR REMOVAL. PLEASE REMEMBER BEFORE YOU BUY INTO THIS CRAZINESS THAT THESE ARE SIMPLY DISGRUNTELED PEOPLE EXPRESSING FRUSTRATION. HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE BEEN DISPLEASED WITH THE "TARGET" RETURN POLICY, YET WE ALL STILL SHOP THERE AND AREN'T TRYING TO MAKE MONEY ON CRAZY LAWSUITS. I HAVE NOTHING TO GAIN BY WRITING THIS, EXCEPT TO SAY THAT I AM SO SICK OF PEOPLE IN THE WORLD GETTING SUE HAPPY JUST TO MAKE A BUCK...HOW STUPID!

AND ONE MORE THING...REGARDING THE 300 WINNERS! THIS IS ACTUALLY BRILLIANT WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT. BECAUSE ANYONE WHO ENTERS CAN POTENTIALLY GET SOME DISCOUNT ON THE SERVICE OF THEIR CHOICE.

ALSO, WHAT NO ONE IS TELLING YOU ABOVE IS THAT THERE IS ACTUALLY ONLY ONE 1500 WINNER AND ONE 500 WINNER IN THE DRAWING. THE GOAL OF THE DRAWING IS TO BE THE BIG WINNER!

BUT JUST FOR ENTERING MANY PEOPLE GET SOMETHING TO MAKE A GREAT SERVICE A LITTLE MORE AFFORDABLE! WHY DON'T WE ALL BAN TOGETHER AND GET PISSED FOR GETTING COUPONS IN THE MAIL... AGAIN... HOW STUPID! THEY ARE RUNNING A BUSINESS - LAST TIME I CHECKED BUSINESSES WEREN'T NON-PROFIT!

It's the sad truth... People never take the time to compliment, but if you rub someone the wrong way, not only will they complain, they will try and spread a wildfire and burn down the whole village.

C Culpepper and Anne are clearly employees. Because like Anne said, no one takes the time to compliment, even those who may be satisfied. This board is NOT for employees to defend these incompetent crooks. Its for real complaints by actual clients. Also, all caps is NOT necessary, its improper etiquette and shows one is yelling. Your post will get read, you dont need to scream. What's SAD Anne, is getting screwed over, you're totally focusing on the wrong thing. It's like a drunk running over an innocent person on the side walk. Go feel sorry for the drunk because now they are in jail. So logical. Lastly, this ISNT about cost or their little contest. Its about the fact that most of us wont take their crap services for FREE now that we know what we got ourselves into. Its about getting painful long lasting burns. Its about my doctor saying I should NOT continue and they ALL ignore me, wont give me back a cent for services I wont be having.

It's RUDE & UNPROFESSIONAL. This is disgusting and how anyone with average intelligence doesnt see that is beyond me. Oh, and if they would have responded to me and treated me with respect, I would not be spreading the "wildfire" as you call it. That is THEIR choice by ignoring me. The longer this lasts, the bigger the wildfire lady, this 1K is going to cost them through the nose!

I'm NOT an employee! www.myspace.com/xstatic_anne . There I am - Joe Schmoe average girl - 27 stay at home mom. So bite me.

Oh here - If you really want to know all about me, here's my online journal as well:

http://xstatic-anne.livejournal.com/

There you are - read away - I like gaming though and I swear and stuffs so watch out.

And by the way. I didn't say that everyone doesn't have the right to complain. Some of you do and for very valid reasons. I think it's absolutely crazy that some people got burned and the company did nothing to compensate... That right there would be grounds for a lawsuit as far as I'm concerned. For those who's skin types didn't work out and they didn't get the results, I'm sorry that really sucks and I feel sorry for you, but unfortunately that's the way it works. You sign a contract. You gotta read what you sign. People took the leap of faith hoping for results and probably didn't read the contract or at least they signed it then and there thinking it's what they wanted because ALC does pressure people like a car salesman as I said before, and then they got home and went - oh ###! But if they are like me, the laser company was smart and got them in for their first session right away - hence making the refund policy inactive. Smart smart.

All I was trying to say, was that it does work for some people - myself included. And that my success story is buried under a lot of wildfire. Some which is valid but a lot which was not. I read all 4 pages. A lot was of angry scared women who wanted to back out after not getting results on their first treatment.

I'm sorry ALL CAPS and Anne, the language in the contract is hardly clear. Tell me how these two sentences are not directly contradictory: “As of the date of signing this agreement, I understand that all fees paid to American Laser Centers are non-refundable. Cancellation of this will result in a 10% cancellation fee.” How is it possible to be non-refundable, and yet still have the option to cancel? Others have claimed that this is a matter of reading the fine print --there is no fine print. Just those two confusing sentences above, a marked-up drawing of a human body, and managers who, in my case, blatantly lied when I asked if I could get a refund when I pressed her on the language of those two statements (she later said no, and then when I pushed for a refund from the corporate offices, they claimed there had been "a computer glitch.")

Moreover, regarding the "no refunds" policy that is being challenged by the class-action lawsuits mentioned up thread, most every state has some type of Consumer Protection Act that makes it illegal to have non-refundable policies for services that were never begun. Though there might be some "sue-happy" people dissatisfied with their results (and there the 2 years' guarantee would seem to suggest "or your money back"), there is also a very legitimate legal issue here. Particularly for those who never began any sort of treatment.

Yes they are a business, and yes their procedures do work for some people. But it becomes questionable when a business uses deliberately confusing and contradictory language and policies to attempt to convince people that they can't get a refund. Though it's unsustainable in court, and when hard-pressed they do give back your refunds, there's too much of the company that relies on this exploitative system. It's playing the legal system in a way that is quite unethical. It's not at all surprising that the CEO of the company is a lawyer, by the way --he knows what risks to leverage here, what loopholes they can cover themselves up with. Until some more serious measures are taken against the company, it's up to the consumers to know their rights.