I hope this posts.
“American Laser Skincare” (national company) has suddenly closed it’s doors and gone out of business."
My client, “Kelly,” paid ahead for treatments (in July). Never had the treatments and was trying to get a refund. Yesterday, the clinic in Santa Barbara said they were “shut down” and all offices were closed. Seems even the staff did not know!
And now, no refunds! (Yet they were taking pre-payments … now, everyone is “out?”)
Nice going there!
NEVER PAY AHEAD FOR ANY TREATMENT … EVER! (An appropriate small fee, to hold your time, is fine … but please people use your common sense!)
I wonder just how many “ripped off” clients are out there at the moment. Makes me sick!
Here’s their official statement … (the "rats!)
American Laser Skincare:
We are sorry to announce that all of our clinics have been closed. We too are disappointed in the sudden developments and regret the impact that it is having on our loyal clients, valued employees and business partners.
If you are a client with a treatment package that has not yet been completed, we are taking steps to try to find alternative providers for you as quickly as possible. While we are working towards this end, we ask for your patience. Current information can be found on www.americanlaser.com and developing updates will be posted as they occur. You may also call the following numbers:
For General Questions: (877) 715-4455
If you are a client with a medical concern related to a treatment already received please contact the corporate headquarters at (877) 252-9969
Additionally American Laser has (“had”) more than 100 offices in the United States. According to my “spys” (you know, I’m “famous for spying,” of course. Just call me “CIA Mike”), the company was taking pre-payments until the day before they shut down. Is this “fraud?”
It now depends on if they also filed for bankruptcy (Chaper 11?) as to whether these fees will be refunded. So far, “Kelly” was unable to get her promised refund since July!
BE CAREFUL FOLKS!
We have made mention of this business for years. Client complaints were numerous. If my memory serves me correctly, they used a laser called an Amerilase that they said would “kill” blond hair. It didn’t. They closed in 2011 as American Laser Centers and then re-opened under another name, American Laser Skincare.
A class action lawsuit was filed a couple years ago, so perhaps that did them in?
I had one client in Michigan who was furious with them. She had blond hair on her legs, bought a package of six treatments for her legs and discovered that it wasn’t working (duh!). She found Hairtell and discovered some basic truths that didn’t jive with the sales pitch she was given.
As always, I feel horrible for the people that gave their hard earned money with hope and trust and for the employees that lost their jobs.
Don’t pay thousands of dollars for hair removal packages up front!
How BAD can it get?
Read these Yelp reports and cry! Remember this “scam” is located in Beverly Hills! Location is no guarantee of ANYTHING! Sadly, I know the idiot “behind” these doings and it looks like his “M.O.” has not changed.
Please use caution and common sense people … in BOTH electrolysis and laser. The creeps are more numerous than I thought.
Swimming buddy, Daniel Simon (attorney), expressed consternation about the sudden closing of “American Laser,” and related his own similar experience.
A few years ago, he pre-paid $1,000 to a clinic for Lasik eye surgery (to correct near-sightedness). He showed up for his appointment a week later and the clinic was closed. Hundreds of patients were deliberately cheated and after 5-years of court, he got some money returned … $84! (After the bankruptcy, that’s all that was left!) Lovely!
Welcome to America!
Consider that some disadvantaged black kid is sitting in jail because he was growing marijuana and selling it to his friends. Now consider that almost ZERO bankers and traders spent any jail time for their economy-killing financial misdeeds … that destroyed the lives of millions of families.
Yes, looks like “American Laser” was taking pre-payments right up until the very last day of closing shop. Was this deliberate? Is this common “business practice” these days? Those hundreds of thousands of dollars taken under false pretenses are not going to be returned and the perpetrators will spend ZERO time in jail. Maybe they’re already in the Caribbean?
“Business as usual?” I think we have our “wonderful” American values screwed-up. And we want to foist our “values” on the rest of the world! Nice!
People … never never never PRE-PAY for your procedures. Those demanding huge sums of money before starting? Well, that should be your first indication that it’s probably not going to go well for you.
Nice … it worked today!
No lizard people?