American Laser Center - Fraudulent Practices

I went to the Pittsburgh branch in November 2006, for a "free" consultation. Dawn Stellabotte, the clinic manager, manipulated and tricked me into signing paperwork. She said I was signing privacy and medical paperwork regarding the free consultation. She also offered me a free credit check to see if I could afford any of the procedures. I was curious to see if my credit would allow it so I said OK. Instead, she opened up an $8300 line of credit in my name. I never received any treatments, and ALC refuses to refund the money because of their "No Refund" policy. I am already up to $110,000 in debt from student loans (I'm a recent graduate), and I can't afford this $8300 charge. Especially since I never knew I was signing up for it. They have also already sent the debt to a collection agency. So now I am fighting two battles. This whole experience has been so humiliating and I lie awake at night wondering how I will ever escape this fraudulent debt. I can't afford legal fees, so I am going to try other options. I will be contacting a number of consumer advocacy agencies as well as the media so I can get some attention to this. But I need help for other people. I know there are more people like us out there, but they are embarrassed and ashamed to come forward. If I put my self out there, I know they will also come forward. This company operates on manipulation of women with low self-esteem and they continually subscribe to fraudulent and deceptive practices, and should be forced to stop. Please call the ALC on my behalf and tell them what they are doing is wrong. Their main number is 1-877-252-8922. Their main corporate office number is 248-426-8250.

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I am kind of in the same situation with a $ 4,000 bill at this time because interest, late fees and penalties are being added on because of lies and manipulation. The office stated the exact same then proceeded by asking me if I would like a sample because I was undecicive about the pain involved as well as the money. I did the sample and about two weeks later I decided to cancel the services because of my original thought process. I have been hung up on, sent to collections two months later, basically told "your out of luck, do what you have to do." Now I have one battle with ALC and the other with the creditor. Unbelievable that companies would do actual harm to individuals like this.