<HairSite has not verified the source. Readers are
cautioned that the following info may or may not be accurate. To contact the source
who sent HairSite this info, please email HairSite@aol.com
and we will forward your email to "Justin" >
Well, it was about two years ago when HairSite reported the New Jersey Disctrict
Attorney's investigation of UMS. The New Jersey Department of Consumer Affairs and the New
Jersey District Attorney Office charged UMS for repeatedly making false and misleading
claims about its "Dermal Retention" hair system on the internet and in
magazines. UMS claimed that the "Dermal Retention" is a permanent hair system
when in fact it is no difference from other hair replacement that involves gluing a
toupees to the clients' scalps. It was alleged that UMS charged victims from across
United States and Canada anywhere from US $2,000 to US $8,000 for the procedure.
The following was sent to us by one of UMS customer and this pretty much sums up the
essence of most complaints filed against UMS. (Again, HairSite has
not verified the source and accuracy. Readers are cautioned to do their own research.)
QUOTE
JUSTIN
vs.
UNTIED MICRO SYSTEMS, INC.
Promenade North, Suite 3018
Main Street, Voorhees, NJ 08043
COMPLAINT: Justin and many other distraught VICTIMS have been totally mislead about United
Micro Systems product, swindled out of large sums of money, sold an inferior product, and
emotionally demoralized with virtually no response from United Micro Systems, Inc.
To whom this may concern:
My name is Justin . I am 18 years
old, just graduated from High School and live in Atlanta, Georgia. About a year ago, I
started to experience hair loss- mostly a receding hairline in the front. I was
embarrassed both at school and social situations and began wearing a hat as often as
possible to hide the problem. As soon as I realized that I was losing my hair, I went to a
dermatologist. After testing- that eliminated the possibility that the hair loss was due
to health problems- the doctor told me that I basically had two options. One option was to
take pills that have side effects, and the other option was surgical hair transplants.
I took the pills for six months and did not notice a significant change. So, I went to a
free consultation at Medical Hair Replacement, which is a large chain located throughout
the US. They said that they would like to wait until I was 21. After hearing this, I lost
all hope of having the normal, full head of hair that other kids my age take for granted.
I prayed for a miracle breakthrough. Then one day, while reading Super Street- a magazine
targeted at the teen and young adult market- I noticed an ad that read, "New
Revolutionary European Baldness Treatment, Ends Baldness, Total and Complete Scalp
Adhesion Has Successfully Produced an Individual Hair Effect Immediately and
Painlessly." The company was;
United Micro Systems, Inc.
Promenade North, Suite 3018
Main Street, Voorhees, NJ 08043
Although I was skeptical, I went ahead and requested the information packet. When the
information arrived, it looked as though the brochure was a bit dated, but, at the time, I
thought nothing of it. The brochure represented this procedure as one of a kind, and that
they have the exclusive U.S. rights for this extraordinary baldness treatment. I later
found out the truth is, in fact, that this procedure is widely available all over the
country! However, at the time, I wanted badly to get something, anything done.
We called the company to ask specific questions about the procedure. They avoided certain
questions, talked in circles around other questions and never explained that the service
they were offering was a hairpiece- even when my father asked them directly if this was a
hairpiece. They told us they used individual filaments meshed with your own hair and
individually adhered to your scalp. I was desperate and finally convinced my parents into
letting me get this "cutting edge" treatment.
We arranged for the date of the procedure just 3 days after my high school graduation and
2 days before I left for Cancun on my senior trip. I happily anticipated looking just like
all the other boys at the beach. I was excited as we arrived in New Jersey and drove
to United Micro Systems. However, we realized that their office looked nothing like the
picture in the brochure. It looked more like a dumpy hair salon. We were led into a
secluded room where a smooth-talking sales guy name Robert Pease looked at my scalp and
recommended treatment. Although I thought that the photographs of previous clients looked
dated, I was too thrilled about having a full head of hair to question the pictures.
However, my mother asked to see a client who had had the procedure done. One of their
sales associates who had the procedure came in to meet us- but the man was in his late
forties and difficult for me to relate to. Later, I realized that Mr. Pease was a very
smooth talking guy who knew exactly how to manipulate people. They trick you into
believing that this is truly a miracle treatment and is the best on the market today. They
also tell you that they take individual pieces of hair and blend them together utilizing
your hair that you still have, when in fact it is just a wig that is glued to your head
over your existing hair. We were told to care for the treatment like regular hair- you can
"comb it, swim in it, and participate in activities." (I was to soon find out
that not only could I not go swimming with my new hair- I could not even get a comb
through it.) Despite my mother's misgivings, we were persuaded to get the "dermal
retention." Mr. Pease had me sign a contract, then immediately lined me up for the
next available technician.
As they led us into the procedure room, they presented me with a book labeled,
"Procedure Consent and Release for the Service of Dermal Retention." This book
was like a novel- much to long to read and understand in that short amount of time. I was
asked to initial almost every page. They brought out a sample of hair and compared it with
my hair color and texture. The color looked fine- but they failed to show me what was
going to be put on my head. (I never new what the wig looked like until HRS of Atlanta, a
well know national hair replacement chain, took the thing off.)
After signing all of their endless release forms, they came for the payment. They wanted
the full funds before any work was going to be done and encouraged paying by cash or
travelers checks. (In order to avoid cancelled checks from unhappy clients and taxation of
profits, in my opinion.) They also encouraged cash payments by offering a 7% discount.
They collected our money and began the procedure. It took them only about 30 minutes to
complete a $2,200.00 job. (Which is unheard of when I asked HRS of Atlanta.)
The technicians turned me away from the mirror as they performed the dermal retention
procedure. Afterwards, I realized that this was a calculated move. They don't want clients
to see what they're putting on their heads. When I saw the results in the mirror, I was
devastated. It was a wig- just a wig! And the imperfections were clearly visible. When I
pushed my hair back, I could actually see the bottom of the wig. It stood out very badly.
When the stylist saw me looking in the mirror, he asked, "What's wrong?" I told
him that this corner of the hairpiece was coming up and wasn't laying flat. He said that
he would reapply the bonding solution and it would be fine. I touched the top of my head
and it felt as though someone had stuck a bumpy piece of carpet on my head. I told him
this and he assured me that the bumps would go down and the glue would disappear. (More
lies- it stayed lumpy.) After a little more styling, they had me sign a "satisfaction
after services are completed" document and hustled us out the door.
Once I flew home, I began to notice just how bad my "revolutionary European baldness
treatment" looked. My hair stuck up at odd angles and the colors didn't match--
especially after it got wet. I called United Micro the day after the procedure and asked
to speak with a manager. They refused to put me through to anyone and told me they would
have Nicole Newton call me back. She did not call me back for over 48 hours, and my
repeated calls to her were answered with, "She's with a client."
At my father's suggestion, I called HRS of Atlanta, and went there the next day to see
what they could do about the mess. They suggested, since I was leaving for Mexico the next
day, not to take the hairpiece off. Why? Because in the process of putting it on, United
Micro Systems had shaved the front part of my head- leaving me with less hair that before.
HRS restyled the inferior hairpiece as best they could. They also told me not to go into
the ocean and get my hair wet because they thought that the piece would come off.
At this point, I was extremely depressed. My hair looked horrible. I called United Micro
and asked for my money back. The contract stated 30 days guaranteed satisfaction, and I
was not satisfied. They said that they would not refund my money but would immediately
ship another hairpiece directly to HRS- and have it waiting for me when I returned from
Mexico. I was in Cancun for seven days. While there, my hair piece had begun coming off on
the sides, front, and back. Only 10 days had gone by since the "treatment." I
spent $2,200.00 on this procedure and it only lasted 10 days?? Forced to wear my hat
during the entire senior trip, I had to avoid swimming in the pool, snorkeling in the
ocean, and other social activities.
Upon my return to Atlanta, I called HRS right away and asked if they heard from United
Micro while I was gone. They said United Micro never called and never sent anything. I
phoned New Jersey again. They gave me some excuses and said they would ship one out within
24 hours. Frustrated, I went to HRS. They told me that this type of procedure was
outdated- a dinosaur from the early 1980's- and that procedures have greatly advanced
since then. HRS also told me that if the piece wasn't removed, I would have permanent hair
loss in the area United Micro applied the piece. They also discovered that my entire scalp
was infected and scarred. After they removed the hairpiece, I looked at myself in the
mirror and I began to cry.
United Micro had ripped out a lot of my hair with their "new revolutionary European
baldness treatment." They had not "produced an individual hair effect
immediately and painlessly." In my opinion, United Micro has breached their contract,
misrepresented their service and committed fraud. Worse, they have caused me personal
pain, suffering, and extreme embarrassment.
My goal here is not just to get my money back, but to prevent people like myself from
getting suckered in by this master con-artist job. They took $2,200.00 of my own personal
money that I worked extremely hard for, and in the process they destroyed my hopes of
having normal hair. Their procedures range from $2,000-$8,000. Please help me to spread
the word about this company's faulty business strategies and stop people from making the
same costly and embarrassing mistake I made. I am sure you get several letters a day, but
please help me beat these people. I greatly appreciate you reading this letter and hope
you will help me.
Thank you very much,
Justin
END QUOTE
Anyone who would like to contact Justini, please email HairSite@aol.com
and we will forward your email to him.
===========================
For discussion on United Micro Systems:
UMS - forum 2 (current) - discussion group
UMS - forum 1 (full, read only) - discussion group
HairSite Editorial
Questions, please email HairSite@aol.com
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