Complaint Review: American Laser - Dallas Texas

This is a report I made to BBB:

I responded to an advertisment by on the Internet from American Laser. It offered a chance to win a $300, $500, or $700 laser hair removal treatment. I was contacted by email and phone saying that I had won a $300. certif. for a laser hair procedure. An appointment was made with the Dallas Center. After hearing a sales talk from the mngr. Hanah Thurlow, I decided to have hair removal from my chin and a Foto Facial. Ms. Thurlow kept talking about 0% fin, and a pyment of $70. a month. I thought that the center was financing the treatments, but later I found out that they opened a revolving credit account in my name (I received no paper work reflecting this until it came in the mail).

After coming home and considering the cost of the procedures, and concern for my existing skin prob. of Rosacea, I called Ms. Thurlow back (24 hrs later)and said that I was going to contact a dermatologist to see if the Foto Facial was right for me. I did contact a dermatologist. They told me that the Foto Facial does not last but 7 wks. I called Ms. Thurlow 44 hours later and said I wanted to cancel my procedures. She said that she had to talk to her Reg. Mngr to find out if I could cancel. I requested a phone number to this person or email address. She said that she was out of pocket and could not be reached for several days - that she would contact her by email. Again I asked for her mngrs., email address, but could not get it from her. Again, I told her I did not want the procedures and to cancel. I know that there is supposed to be a 3 day window to cancel out of a credit agreement.

On Monday Ms. Thurlow called and said I could not cancel out, that I had signed a contract. I said that I had canceled and did not want their services. Later her manager called in a rage saying the same thing - that I could not cancel. That I had signed a contract. Again, I told her that I did not want their procedures done to me and to cancel me out that I had contacted them within 44 hours from the time of signing the contract.

I want the account that they opened up in my name closed, and to be refunded the amount they are charging me. I have excellent credit, and do not want it tarnished because of them wanting to make a sale.

On the one and only day that I was at their facility, they asked me if I wanted to have a laser hair removal treatment. I agreed. They quoted the cost was 6 treatments for $800.00. They lured me to their facility telling me that I had won $300.00 worth of laser procedures - that is why I went in the first place. I did not seek them out. Anyway, if need be to settle this I will pay the $133.33 to settle this dispute.

I was advised to report this company to the Attorney General of Texas, and have. Their business procedures are unethical.

Finally after BBB got involved, I got this response from American Laser:

They offered to take off the "foto facial" - which would be fine with me, but I wanted explanation of why they opened a Care Credit account without making that evident to me (gave me no papers nor really said anything about how it was to be financed). Also, why didn't the manager at American Laser know that I was a $300.00 winner? Something awfull fishy here to me! When I viewed your listings of others that are disgruntled with American Laser and Care Credit - they carry the same frustration and disgust I feel.

Again I stress from the beginning I tried to contact American Laser and get names of people on the corporate level and contact the ones that finance their procedures, and couldn't contact them by phone. My first contact with the credit company came when I found a web page on the Internet, and filed my complaint there. I never received a response from this. Later the page was taken off the Internet. I called numbers they listed but only got a machine to talk to. My first contact with them was when I wrote a letter to the Florida adress, they told me to write complaints to the El Paso address. I finally got a response from them saying they were considering the dispute. The other day I got a letter saying that they have settled in favor of American Laser (no reason why). I have just received another statment showing the whole $2,367.00 plus three late fees of $35.00 added on. This is so "wrong" and unethical. I feel like picketing "American Laser" and boradcasting beware of any financial dealing with Care Credit! They definitely don't care about you. How would you feel about having a laser on your face with people that act like this? Scary!!!!!!

The credit company's name and address:

Care Credit

GE Money Bank

PO Box 960061

Orlando, FL 32896-0061

1-866-893-7864 (just a recording)

Here is what BBB recorded letting you see how quickly they responded to them:

09/25/2006 Manually Forward Business response to Consumer

09/25/2006 Receive Business Response

See Attachment

09/22/2006 Member Pre-Suspenction Notice

09/22/2006 Send Pre-Suspension Letter to Member

09/22/2006 No Response received from Member on Reminder

09/13/2006 Reminder of Dispute to Business - Member

09/13/2006 No response to first notice to member

08/28/2006 Notify Business of Dispute - Member

08/28/2006 Send Acknowledgement to Consumer

08/28/2006 Case Reviewed by BBB - Member

08/26/2006 Case Received by BBB

I finally got a response from Care Credit saying they were considering the dispute. The other day I got a letter saying that they have settled in favor of American Laser (no reason why). I have just received another statment showing the whole $2,367.00 plus three late fees of $35.00 added on. This is so "wrong" and unethical. I feel like picketing "American Laser" and boradcasting beware of any financial dealing with Care Credit! They definitely don't care about you. How would you feel about having a laser on your face with people that act like this? Scary!!!!!!

My advice is get out your specs and read every word. Do not let them not give you papers on how they are proposing to finance whatever it is you want financed. If it sounds to great to be true it probably is! My next mission in the ordeal it to get a lawyer and find out about the "Lemon Law" - 72 hours to bow out of a contract. The idea of a Class Action Suit sounds great as well. There's nothing like being ripped off!

Thanks

Ronda

Mansfield, Texas
U.S.A.