AccuQuest Hearing Centers Prices of Hearing Aids are a BIG Ripoff Natick, Massachusetts
I would like to file a complaint against AccuQuest in Natick, MA. Jim Lakos, the hearing instrument specialist used my mild hearing loss as a pawn to to convince me that a pair of $4900 hearing aids was well worth the expense. I am now embroiled in a fight to retrieve the entire $2000 cash deposit I put down on November 19, 2012. I wore them every day for about two weeks but I didnt notice any improvement in my hearing. Despite the adjustments Jim made during subsequent office visits, I returned the hearing aids within two weeks of receiving them.
Being the persuasive salesman, Jim was so confident that in-the-canal hearing aids would help my hearing loss. He tends to rave about the Starkey products he sells and is overconfident about their performance, even though he is not hearing impaired. The price of the new devices was also...$4900, which I thought was an odd coincidence.
When the customized in-the-canal aids were fitted, I immediately didnt like them. They felt heavy and were nothing more than cheap ear plugs with an amplifier, microphone and computer chip. Consequently, I left the office without any hearing aids. At this point in the process, AccuQuest still had my $2000 and I lost all trust in Jims ability to fit me with proper hearing aids. The exorbitant price was becoming a great concern to me.
The next day I called Jim to cancel the entire order. He used his persuasive selling skills again and was sure that he could find a pair of hearing aids that would work for me if I gave him another chance. Reluctantly, I did. He did some research on his own and called me a few days later. I told him not to do any more work or process anything more until after my doctors appointment at Mass Eye and Ear on Tuesday, January 15, 2013.
After my appointment, I called and spoke to his receptionist. I firmly stated that I want to cancel my order and did not want her to transfer my call to Jim. On Wednesday, January 16 around 5:30p.m. she left me a voicemail stating that it was no problem to cancel the order and have a refund processed and that Jim would call with the details on Thursday. He called at noon and said that the refund will be processed--less the 10% restocking fee off of the full $4900 price! The thought of losing $490 to was totally unacceptable to me! I strongly believe that I am entitled to a full refund under Massachusetts law 265 CMR 8.00. I returned the only pair of hearing aids that I used within the 30-day trial and AccuQuest has held my $2000 since November 19, 2012.
So many hearing-impaired consumers are being duped, ripped off or scammed into purchasing costly hearing aids when less expensive ones may work just as well. Retailers charge thousands of dollars for incredibly small devices that cost so little to manufacture...because they can. Profits of 400-500% are common. Its time to blow the hearing aids dispensers' cover and expose them for unethical business practices in an unregulated industry.
4 Updates & Rebuttals
AccuQuest Admin
Hoffman Estates,Illinois,
Natick, MA hearing aid complaint
#5REBUTTAL Owner of company
Wed, October 29, 2014
Regarding the events that lead to the complaint:
I apologize that I am unfamiliar with the actual events. I do not know how the practitioner treated you during your in-person interactions in the store. It seems like he was probably nice enough since you did try to work to find a solution over the course of about six weeks, unfortunately without success. What ever happened at that time I do know that the practitioner addressed in this complaint is no longer with AccuQuest. I have only the transaction record to help me put together the chain of events. Finding solutions is what we do for hundreds of patients everyday all across the country, so we are sad that we were not able to help you find the right hearing aid with the fit and function you wanted. We hope that you were able to find a satisfactory solution in the meantime.
AccuQuest Hearing Centers was founded by individuals that have personal experience buying and using hearing aids and were determined to provide a better experience. To date more than 315,000 patients have chosen AccuQuest as their provider. People expect good, basic service and when someone goes above and beyond, as in the way we delight our patients, it moves people to provide testimonials supporting our products and services that can be viewed at: http://accuquest.com/why-accuquest/testimonials and on video at: http://accuquest.com/why-accuquest/videos
The events that I have been able to uncover unfolded like this:
Concern was expressed that Hearing Aids are an unregulated industry, when it is, in fact, a highly regulated industry providing custom medical devices and the state of Massachusetts has very specific consumer protections in place that can be found at:
http://www.mass.gov/ocabr/licensee/dpl-boards/he/regulations/rules-and-regs/
The regulations regarding refunds in hearing aid transactions, specifically - 265 CMR 6.04 Cancellation of Sale can be reviewed at:
http://www.mass.gov/ocabr/licensee/dpl-boards/he/regulations/rules-and-regs/265-cmr-600-standards.html
Section 6.04 of the law - regarding hearing aid refunds, says:
(2) If a purchaser cancels or rescinds a sale within the terms of this subsection, the seller shall be entitled to retain the charges for ear molds; service provided to fit the hearing aid; and any repair, remake or adjustment performed that is not contained within any other warranty of sale or service, not to exceed 20% of the purchase charge. Any charges retained shall be explained in writing to the purchaser.
In the complaint, the purchase price reported was $4,900. According to the Massachusetts law, a fee of up to 20% of the purchase price is allowed which would be $960. The refund - that was already deposited in the bank 15 days prior to posting the complaint - was for all but $490 retained for the fitting and customization performed on three different sets of hearing aids, meaning that the refund was $470 greater than the law required.
We have tens of thousands of patients that appreciate that we put a lot of time, effort and resources into making a custom medical device for them. In the unfortunate event that they decide to return them - for any reason - they will get a refund and do not begrudge us the need to cover the basic costs of materials and resources.
Finding and buying the right hearing aid, that meets a person’s unique needs and lifestyle is a process with many variables. It requires expertise on the part of the Audiologist or Hearing Instrument Specialist. It also requires the hearing aid user to expect that using hearing aids is going to be different and that they will need to get used to new things. Some people adjust to wearing hearing aids quickly and easily while others have to allow for a period of adjustment - perhaps several weeks. Some people initially do not like the feeling of something in their ears but if they wear them regularly and communicate with their practitioner, they will get accustomed to the feeling and additional fit and comfort adjustments can be made.
No two people are exactly alike and no two hearing solutions will be alike either. We are dedicated to helping our patients find the right solution for their unique need, lifestyle and budget so they can experience a better life with better hearing.
If there are additional questions about this unhappy situation, please feel free to call AccuQuest Hearing Centers at 847-843-1900.
Jane
Ashland,Massachusetts,
Accuquest was great to me!
#5Consumer Comment
Mon, April 21, 2014
I had seen this before I responded to their advertisement but a friend of mine said she'd gone there and the gentleman was nothing short of professional. I relented and went to see what their free hearing test was. I knew I was having some trouble. I asked about this complaint and was informed Mr. Lakos was fired. Chance was extremely educational and made me really understand why I was was having the difficulty I was having.
After the final test, there were a lot, he gave me many different options with price ranges to help me fit my budget and my lifestyle. I chose the middle of the road pair and I've been hearing things I haven't heard in years, it's incredible. I'm very grateful to Chance as he's been so sweet and understanding while I've gone through this transition.
I just felt I needed to say something here so other people can have the same experience I did, and not be dissuaded because of a poor employee they had previously.
Ellen
Indianapolis,Indiana,
Mistake
#5General Comment
Tue, March 04, 2014
I am NOT the owner of the company, or any other company. I mistakenly checkmarked the wrong field. Sorry for any confusion.
Ellen
Indianapolis,Indiana,
Sense a Scam
#5REBUTTAL Owner of company
Tue, March 04, 2014
I have received come-ons in the mail from AccuQuest Hearing Centers of Speedway, Indiana.
They are offering me all kinds of free tests and services. They say that I am one of the first 35 people to be chosen to participate in this "field test."
There are two problems. Number one, I don't have the slightest problem with my hearing--my hearing is just fine.
Number two, when I tried to call their phone number to ask them to stop sending me this "junk mail," there is no connection. They list only one phone number in two different places in the letter, but when I call--nothing!
This reeks of a scam to me, and I want others to be warned.