Greater Washington Advanced Podiatry

I purchased the Living Social deal for the 5 laser treatments. After the 1^st visit, I was charged a $ 60 co-​pay, and was told that that was because of the initial consultation, and that I would not have to pay that on the remaining trips. Fine. Fair enough. That still could have been explained on the voucher better. The voucher makes no reference of needing insurance, how much the co-​payments /​«office visits», etc., would be.
After that 1^st visit, I told the receptionists that I wanted to avoid being charged any future co-​payments, and to make a note for my future visits. I went again on Monday for my 2^nd treatment, and was AGAIN charged a $ 60 co-​pay «because the doctor spoke with me, which made it an office visit». This «doctors visit» was Dr. Chris coming into the room for about 1 minute, looking at my feet, and saying «it’s a long process, keep doing what you’re doing». I know it is a long process. He told me that the last time. I was not expecting miracles over a month. I didn’t consider that «an office visit», since no services were rendered. I was just there for the next laser treatment (which I had already paid for). I thought he was just being courteous. I guess next time I have to tell him to go away and not come in the room! Otherwise I am looking at $ 400 ($ 300 in co-​pays + $ 100 for the voucher) for treatments that may not work. Not as glamorous a deal as the 89% savings that the LS page says.
Additionally, they are not honoring the «paid value» of a previously purchased voucher for anything other than the laser treatment ($ 879 value, according to the voucher). Any other time I’ve had an expired Groupon or LS voucher, the paid value is still good to use at the business for anything else… since the money has already been paid. I guess it isn’t here.
For a business that relies so heavily on customer reviews, they do not do a good job of making everything known up front. I just wish I had read some of these other Unilocal reviews before I bought the deal… otherwise, I would not have.
I am giving 2 stars because the treatment does seem to be working (slowly). Otherwise, I do not recommend.

I had no idea I’d have to pay a co-​pay at each session, clearly my health insurance wasn’t going to cover my treatment, this should be more transparent in the Groupon or when I called to make an appointment instead of somewhere in the fine lines. I felt pressured to buy supplementary products and to pick any 3 of them that I wanted. I can’t comment on if the treatment was effective since it’s too early to know but there was a strange vibe in the office. The assistant who took care of me was super nice and Dr. Majewski himself was pretty friendly and knowledgable but I felt the girls behind the reception weren’t very happy when I didn’t buy any products upfront — I wanted to research myself before making an impulsive purchase. They did mention free movie tickets for leaving a Unilocal review, whether it’s a good or bad review, and I think things have improved a bit since some of the previous bad reviews, but don’t go with any expectations is all I can say!

I’m so grateful I read these reviews before purchasing the Living Social laser toenail fungus removal offer. While trying to research both the treatment and the group (GWAP) I attempted to use their Live Chat option; even that was shady enough to make me leery. I never got past the first question – I was immediately asked for my phone number and told a specialist would need to call me. My question did not require any medical knowledge, but she steadfastly refused to provide any information. I asked her what purpose the Live Chat feature served and she told me her job was simply to find the right specialist for each question – meaning, they don’t answer anything via the Live Chat. they only collect names and numbers for a mailing list. When I told her I’d prefer to call them rather than give my phone number, she gave me the main number, not a number or extension for any specialist. So there’s no benefit at all (at least, to the customer.)
So I began to dig a little deeper on my own first. The LS offer indicates five treatments, but the GWAP web site has a video promoting a new laser technology requiring one treatment. There is no information about any other laser treatment, suggesting this is the only one used. Dr. Chris states that it IS guaranteed, and that «for his patients, it’s free of charge» (I won’t even go there about what that might mean.) However, the LS offer clearly states that the process is NOT guaranteed. It also states that it is FDA-​cleared, but the technology promoted in Dr. Chris’s video is described as not being FDA-​cleared, but not technically needing to be; in fact, it actually reads, «There are currently NO FDA Approved laser devices specifically for toenail fungus.» Then what is LS referring to? Where did they get that idea unless GWAP provided that information?
And if this new laser technology is so awesome, but is not the technology offered in the LS coupon, then what inferior service are they promoting? And why is there no information about it on their web site?
I see that many people here have been charged additional fees beyond the advertised cost of the laser treatments, and that GWAP’s response to this is that the offers (looks like Groupon before this LS offer) have stated this would be the case. The LS offer reads «additional fees will apply for office visits and any other services administered.» It would be ethical to inform potential buyers whether each laser treatment also requires an office visit fee (it can also be read as an office fee only being charged if you see the doctor for an additional issue), and what that charge will be beforehand – particularly if the bargain laser treatment is going to require five individual visits. While I hadn’t previously had any concern about the wording of «any other services administered” – it seems reasonable that if you go in with a coupon for laser treatments and ask him to look at an ingrown toenail at the same time, you’d pay extra – I now worry that this is the loophole that allows them to find something, anything, at every visit. And since laser toenail fungus treatment is not covered by medical insurance, I don’t know why my insurance information would even be necessary.
Looks like this business either received one star or five stars – nothing in between. That in itself tells me something is not right here. And since reviewers don’t get rewarded to write negative reviews, one has to wonder…

Great experience for my first time! Friendly staff and quick appointment! It was easy after my referral came through! Office was inviting and had coffee and water for guests.

Chris Majewski, and the services he performed, wasn’t that bad. As Denzel Washington would say in the film Philadelphia, his medical treatment of me was satisfactory. Like a bologna sandwich.
However, everything that swirled around him made me feel weird or disgusted, to the extent that i decided to find another podiatrist for the followup. Here’s the story:
1) There are signs on the wall that provide monetary or gift incentives if you rate the doctor on certain social media. Everyone knows that if you are being paid for a rating, the rating will tend to be better than if not. Anyway, this pandering is not very doctorish, i feel.
One reason I chose Chris is because he had a greater number of ratings than many other doctors. I felt he had a large base of faithful patients. Now I feel the number of ratings may have a different origin.
2) when i sat in the podiatrist chair, the girl who seated me, who was also working the front desk that day, looked at my foot and told me that the doctor would have to do such and such procedure. this is fine.
then she prepared the foot for the such and such. this was not fine. she had made a treatment procedure, and she was not a doctor. also, she never asked me why i was there or what my complaint was. anyway, i really wanted a podiatrist to give me all the answers. when Chris came in, his duties had been spelled out by a 25-​year-​old cutie.
3) when i went to pay my bill, they told me they took American Express. then they told me the machine was down, or something, and it would be a while. i said i would wait, and sat on the couch. it was a Friday. then they said they said they would run the card number through next week. i said ok. it just seemed as though they might be waiting for me to provide a less expensive (for them) credit card.
4) Chris told me to come back in three months, and he would measure me for a prosthetic device. But he could have easily measured me that instant. I felt, whether true or not, that he was trying to ensure another income generating visit.
If I didn’t have to put up with all the BS in this office, i would have given Chris three stars. I would never refer Chris to my family and friends. Chris would be better if he worked for a larger office, where he was just a cog in a larger wheel, and someone else had a boot to his neck.

Have some concerns about how ethical this practice is. There appears to be lots of billing for lots of procedures to the insurance company… some of the procedures are legit, many are not… Stay on top of the billing. Also beware the «cheap» laser treatments. After 12 – 15 of these treatments nothing has changed and if culture were done BEFORE laser treatments began we may have chosen other options before wasting my time and money. Also beware the push for orthotics. No matter what your problem is I get the feeling that orthotics will be urged as the cure.

Wow! Reading the previous reviews I feel like they are talking someplace else! I needed my stubborn toe lasered and the treatment was like cool butter. Not only were the staff charming but highly professional!
Dr. Chris was approachable with my concerns and gave me first class care.
Definitely returning and telling all my friends a out Dr. Chris and his staff.

I knew my experience with them was going to be a bad one the moment I had to deal with the 2 young ladies at the front desk. They were beyond unprofessional and extremely immature. Doctor barely examined my ankle. Will not be returning that’s for sure!!!

What a terrible experience! I spent $ 119 on three sessions of Laser toenail fungus removal, and unfortunately, tGWAP only honored one session. When I attended my first session, the office assistant assured me that the first treatment had to be started before the coupon expired. However, when I tried to book the second treatment, they had changed their story. The staff — especially the female that answers and responds to phone calls might be the rudest girl I have ever talked to. She just talks on top of you — louder and faster — as you are trying to speak. When I told her I paid for 3 sessions and I wanted the remaining two, she told me I «got more than my money’s worth from the first session, as laser treatment for ONE TOE costs over $ 700. I have NEVER been treated like this in a professional setting. I can’t believe they are still in business.
Must be all those Groupon coupons they collected and never made good on…

AWFUL EXPERIENCE in Silver Spring. Long story short, Dr. Majewski does not know how to run a business or keep his word, and the girl at his front desk needs a foot up her behind. I’m sure those are not in short supply in a podiatry practice.
I purchased a Groupon for 3 laser treatments for toenails. I was late for the first one and couldn’t call them to let them know because they have ZERO access to a phone when they’re in Silver Spring on Mondays. Why can’t they just have a work cell or something so patients can get in touch with them? Anyway, I drove all the way out there and rescheduled since I couldn’t do it over the phone, and showed up early the next time. I filled out all the paperwork and gave the front desk girl (let’s call her Stalin) my license and health insurance card. She looked at me like I was crazy for having Kaiser Permanente and told me I needed a referral. I explained the Groupon and she said that if I wanted to meet with the doctor for an initial consultation, it would be $ 200. I declined the consultation while she glared at me, and then I waited on the treatment.
A technician (who was very nice) moved the large machine from one room to the other and performed the treatment, which felt like getting a puff of cold air on each toe. Dr. Majewski walked by and asked, «How did you end up with these? Bad luck?» So my alternative consultation was just a podiatrist re-​affirming that my toenails are repulsive. I told him about Stalin’s attitude and he appeared contrite, and she did say good-​bye to me on my way out. I decided to schedule my 2^nd of 3 over the phone just so I wouldn’t have to deal with her and further piss her off. The sight of me seemed to put her in a bad mood.
I showed up one minute before the 15 minute grace period was over for my second appointment. Stalin, back to her surly and flippant ways, skipped the hello and spat, «You showed up literally 30 seconds before your appointment was going to be cancelled. I put you down as a no-​show. Wait here, I have to go and get paperwork.» Why she put me down as a no-​show and started closing up shop before my 15 minutes were up, I’ll never know, but that was her choice. I just said «okay» and waited. She came back in a huff and told me she needed my ID and insurance card again since they had a new computer system, and I obliged. She also handed me the exact same paperwork I filled out a month earlier so I could fill it out again for the new computer system. Once again, I got the irritated glare for having Kaiser and she asked me if I had a referral and said they would need to charge my insurance. I again explained the Groupon. She told me that as of 1÷1÷2013, a consultation with the doctor would be REQUIRED and that it cost $ 200. Now my first appointment was December 31, the DAY BEFORE their planned change. No one mentioned this during the first appointment, while I was scheduling my second appointment or with the confirmation of the 2^nd appointment. Come to think of it, I didn’t even get a confirmation of the 2^nd appointment. At this point, I was over it and held out my hand for my ID and insurance card and said, «We’re done.» It was terrible.

RIP-​OFF ARTIST — Majewski — do not go!
Purchased Groupon for 3 laser treatments. Made appointment (the office called to reschedule because doctor was unavailable). Arrived to find out that there is $ 200 of medical treatment required, and they don’t accept my insurance. Now working with Groupon for refund. DO NOT TRUST MAJEWSKI & GREATER WASHINGTON ADVANCED PODIATRY!