The nice things first: I have been going to the Brentwood office for over a year and a half and have never seen the office dirty. I work in an operating room and am over sensitive about dust and clutter. The staff is friendly.

Now the not so nice things: The over $4, 000.00 I spent PLUS the time involved has not paid off in results and it is very disheartening. I am on my 8th hair removal treatment and have only seen a 40-50% reduction in hair. I can't justify the money I spent on under arms, full bikini, and leg(s) hair removal.

I was frustrated on my 6th visit when photos was taken of all areas (under arms, full bikini, and legs) to show progress of the hair removal. We are instructed to shave before our appointments at home because the laser will not work if the hair is there. They took photos of me after I shaved. How insane is that for them to take photos for progress after I shaved. Of course there is no hair there, I shaved with a razor.

Other issues, the phone goes to answering machine most of the time. I've left up to three messages over a 5 day window before someone called back. The first time this happen I thought it was just a temporary issue but have had similar thing happen several times in the last year and half.

The computer is "down" a lot so scheduling has been difficult at times. Their paper record keeping has been poor and some of the staff is not proficient with their computer skills as they spend 5 to 10 mins figuring out when my next appointment will be.

My appointments are every 7 weeks apart. However, scheduling conflicts with American Laser in Brentwood may make them 8 to 9 weeks apart. I'm not happy about that.

I've researched several medical journals that hair laser could be every 4 weeks apart but ALC has rejected this as acceptable practice.

Having poor results upsets me the most but second to that is: The technician swears she does not skip areas while applying the laser but she does. She should research "Two-Point Discrimination on skin". I (clients) can tell when areas are skipped and it takes away their creditability to insist otherwise. But I have over $4, 000 invested in the hair package and I signed a contract so I have no recourse but to go back each time, go by their rules, and hope for the best.

My suggestions to anyone researching this: Pay attention to the negative reviews. DO NOT GO TO AMERICAN LASER CENTERS. IT IS UNETHICAL WHAT THEY GET AWAY WITH.

I was the lucky winner of a $350.00 gift certificate from American Laser Centers. I entered a drawing at a local event in Wyandotte, Michigan and won third prize. Of course, anyone can be a winner. All you have to do is get the daily paper and clip the $350.00 coupon! It was a scam to get me in the door and get me signed up for packages that cost much, much more. Stay away from them. They're scam artists.

I went to the Brighton office one year ago for a consultation on my acne scarring. I made it very clear that I've done research on the Co2 laser and want results that could give me. I've tried chemical peels and micro dermabrasions, and needed greater results. I made it very clear that if they could not get rid of my scars then I did not want to do the procedure. Janice Jensen said they could get rid of my scars with 5 Affirm laser treatments and 5 micro dermabrasions. I also had to travel even further East to the Farmington office for the Affirms. After my 5 treatments and two additional partial treatments that I purchased I still did not see results. I complained to everyone with no avail. I'd leave messages and not get a return call. FINALLY, I was informed that they would give me 3 additional Affirms. My skin is still not what I was told it would be. I do not recommend the treatments, and especially not ALC. They are non-professional and only worry about getting sales.

I am located in NYC and have changed my location 3x due to unprofessionalism and lack of results. I basically bought 2 packages from ALC that have given me NO results. Everyone tells me something different (everyone meaning the girls who perform the services). You should be coming in every 6 weeks or you should be coming in every 10 weeks. One person told me "you'll see results after 6 - 8 sessions", meanwhile it's been like 20 sessions or maybe even more. I have been treating 3 areas one being my face. They told me I have to shave in order for the sessions to work effectively, well I've been shaving all areas including my face and my hairs have just gotten courser. They advertise these treatments as being painless, when this is not so, the treatments are so painful I flinch each time.

Also, I got a photofacial package which is a treatment that is supposed to make your pores on your face smaller and eliminates wrinkles. After two sessions and painful laser to my face, I told them I'd like to be reimbursed for that package because it is too much for me face to handle between lazik hair removal and photofacials (which use the same method as hair removal). I asked only to be reimbursed for the remainder of what I had not used. They said I cannot get a refund, but they will give me the option to change to another package. I did. I decided to get vela treatments which I have not gotten results from. They are always over booked and I can never can an appointment that works for me.

I was asked to shave my face so that the hair can be short enough for the laser to penetrate through to the root. I've done this for two years and have made my facial hair coarser and darker. My self esteem has gone way down because of this.

One time I was in traffic to an appointment and I called to let them know I'd be late. I was 10 minutes late and the girl told me that I cannot do my session because it's not fair to other clients. Well do you mean to tell me that it's fair when I sit in the waiting room for 20 minutes when I have an appointment waiting for them to finish with another client? I contacted the regional office and they did not work with me at all. Also just the other week I had an appointment and when I got there I was told that the machine is broken, didn't someone call me? WELL NO I DIDN'T GET A CALL OTHERWISE I WOULD NOT GO OUT OF MY WAY TO MAKE IT TO THE APPOINTMENT.

With something as personal as hair removal in private areas, I feel they should have the same person if I request it, perform the procedure on me everytime, meanwhile, they have someone new every time. How can one clinic have a different face everytime I go? How many people can possibly work in one clinic? My biggest complaint is that they are unprofessional and after spending $5, 000 on two packages I have not seen results in two years.

Also to top it off, I was complaining a few weeks ago how I have not seen any hair removal results and the girl had the nerve to say " I know you haven't been happy with the results but we are offering a special on leg hair removal for $2000 would you like to take advantage of that"? Are they kidding me? I have not been happy with the results and you are asking if I want to give you more of my hard earned money? These people are insane.

I met with American Laser Centers Clinic Manager Sara Patton on August 19, 2006, where we discussed the process and signed the paperwork, and I had my first laser hair removal treatment at the Cherry Creek, Colorado, location on August 25, 2006. The brochure Ms. Patton gave me states that it will take six treatments for the procedure to work, and ALC has a two year guarantee, which begins to toll after the hair is gone. I found out later that she lied about this; the 2 years begin to toll after the 6th treatment, regardless of whether or not the procedure was successful.

There was no difference in the area I had treated after 10 treatments in almost 2 years. According to the brochure I was given on August 19, "treatments must be repeated six times;" I have had almost twice that number of treatments with no improvement. My main concern was that my 2 year guarantee would pass without the procedure working and I would be out of luck.

I expressed my concerns at each appointment, but I was told over and over that I would see a difference soon. There was still no improvement, even with a higher laser setting and more frequent visits.

I contacted the corporate office last December in an attempt to speak with someone about the issue. I called multiple times, leaving messages for Kevin Piecuch and Robert Seffinger, but never received a call back. The following is a record of my phone calls and the duration of each:

12/18/2007 11:17AM 248-426-8250 3

12/19/2007 10:12AM 248-426-8250 2

12/19/2007 10:14AM 248-426-8250 1

12/19/2007 2:00PM 248-426-8250 1

12/19/2007 2:01PM 248-426-8250 1

12/19/2007 2:02PM 248-426-8250 3

12/20/2007 9:32AM 248-426-8250 2

12/20/2007 3:06PM 248-426-8250 2

12/20/2007 3:08PM 248-426-8250 3

12/21/2007 2:37PM 248-426-8250 1

12/21/2007 2:38PM 248-426-8250 1

12/26/2007 12:54PM 248-426-8250 1

12/26/2007 12:55PM 248-426-8250 2

12/28/2007 2:32PM 248-426-8250 1

12/28/2007 2:33PM 248-426-8250 1

12/28/2007 2:34PM 248-426-8250 1

12/28/2007 2:34PM 248-426-8250 1

12/28/2007 2:35PM 248-426-8250 1

12/28/2007 2:36PM 248-426-8250 2

12/28/2007 2:47PM 248-426-8250 1

12/28/2007 2:49PM 248-426-8250 2

12/31/2007 1:45PM 248-426-8250 16

01/15/2008 8:39AM 248-426-8250 2

02/16/2008 3:21PM 248-426-8250 3

04/04/2008 8:55AM 248-426-8250 2

04/04/2008 8:57AM 248-426-8250 1

04/04/2008 8:58AM 248-426-8250 1

04/04/2008 12:36PM 248-426-8250 2

I finally spoke with a Customer Service Manager, Eva, on December 31, 2007 (the only call more than 3 minutes long - the other calls were me leaving messages for corporate management). She advised me to have the Cherry Creek ALC take a picture of the treated area, and the corporate office would make the determination of whether I should continue treatments. She told me that if they decided that I would not benefit from any future treatments, I could begin the process of getting my money back. According to Eva, I would get a response from the corporate office within two weeks of submitting the pictures.

After not hearing anything for over two weeks after the picture was taken, I tried to contact the ALC corporate office, but was again unsuccessful. As a last resort, I filed a claim with the Better Business Bureau on April 4, 2008. After repeated attempts by the BBB to obtain a response and the threat of losing their status as an accredited business, ALC finally responded with the following:

I have recently received your correspondence directed to American Laser Centers. We at American Laser Centers take immense pride in our services and products offered to the general public. Therefore, whenever a consumer is not satisfied with his or her treatments, we not only take it very seriously, but do everything in our power to rectify the situation. Ms. Goldberg concerns are of no exception to our guiding principal of complete customer service.

After reviewing a non-responder report our technicians do not believe that further treatments will change the outcome of Ms. Goldberg�s results. Therefore, out of the spirit of good customer service, we have begun the process of issuing Ms. Goldberg a refund for the amount of $1563.73. This refund is equivalent to the purchase price of Ms. Goldberg's package less 10% administrative fees as agreed in her contract.

Given the explanation above, it is our firm belief that this matter should no longer be in dispute. Should you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me.

I responded with the following:

I read the response sent by Ashley Willis on May 12. I appreciate that the BBB was finally able to get a response from them. Ms. Willis said that "out of the spirit of good customer service" they are refunding me $1563.73. However, I still expect the entire amount I paid without any deduction for administrative fees, as well as interest of the standard 8% that I am entitled to by law. She states that I agreed to the 10% deduction in the contract I signed with American Laser Centers. While this is true, they also agreed in that contract that the services they were providing would be completed in six treatments. As you are aware, they took quite some time to respond, which as far as I am concerned does not reflect their "spirit of good customer service." It is unconscionable for them to expect me to adhere to their contract when they would not do so. I also highly recommend that the BBB investigate American Laser Centers for false advertising and unfair and deceptive business practices.

After again not getting a response, I contacted the legal department representative who sent the letter directly. She had not received my rebuttal or additional information, so I e-mailed that directly to her, along with the following message:

Ms. Willis:

The following is what I sent to the Better Business Bureau after receiving your letter. Like I said, I do expect reimbursement of my full purchase price plus 8% interest. Please also send me the contact information for the registered agent of American Laser Centers who would receive a court issued service of process. Thank you.

After a week with no response, I wrote again and finally got an answer: I apologize for the delay in their response. I forwarded Robert Seffinger and Jacqueline DeLuca your message upon receipt. I also spoke to them regarding this issue. They are both currently in a meeting but I will urge Jacqueline to call you when she returns.

Have a nice day!

Ashley M. Willis

Corporate Legal Department

American Laser Centers

ALC is offering to reimburse me $1563.73, the purchase price minus 10% for administrative fees. They claim that I agreed to the 10% deduction in the contract; nowhere in the contract does it state this. Furthermore, rather than a check, ALC gave me a credit for the amount. It is an absurd assumption that I will use the credit towards future services.

Based on the circumstances, I am not satisfied with this. It has taken over five months for ALC to take any responsibility. I believe I am entitled to $1878.88, the full $1739.70 purchase price plus the standard 8% interest I am entitled to by law. Note the amount of time it took ALC to respond (I filed the complaint 4/4/08 and they did not respond until 5/12/08). I have attempted to contact ALC in addition to the 28 phone calls listed on the BBB report to get an explanation, but no one will speak with me. I will be serving them with legal papers in the next couple of weeks.

This company is incredibly unprofessional and something must be done about their false advertising - their brochure guarantees "complete satisfaction" and states that "treatments must be repeated six times." This is not true and a violation of Colorado Revised Statute § 6-1-105(1)(r), Deceptive Trade Practices. They deserve to be sued and shut down.

DO NOT EVER GO TO AMERICAN LASER CENTERS