Complaint Review: American Laser Centers

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??!!

Sara
Austin, Texas
U.S.A.