I have just had a call from my mother-in-law who was very worried because she had started buying some pomegranate tablets from a company that rang her up and because they seemed cheaper than her garlic supplement she thought she would try them. She has since been pressurised into buying further supplies of the pomegranate and a supposed weight loss tablet. She rang me because she was worried that the company kept on ringing her, on one occasion introducing themselves as 'your health centre' She has told them she can no longer afford to buy them (she is an 80 year old pensioner)
I am angry for several reasons. 1) I feel this companies actions are highly unethical in that they are applying pressure.
2) The pomegranate potentially interacts with some of her prescribed medicines so she should probably not have been taking them anyway......despite talking to someone who was supposed to be a doctor
3) This company have her debit card details................ so I have told her to keep an eye on her bank account.
I don't as yet have any details of the company but I am hoping to get them tomorrow when I will be seeing her. I have told her not to take any more of the tablets and she has been hanging up on the company when they ring her.
I am much more open than many other healthcare professionals to the value of complementary medicines , but even if the supplements are real and the doctor really is a doctor it is HIGHLY unethical to pressurise anyone into buying anything like that - and that is the sort of thing that gets all complementary medicine a bad name.
Sorry the phone call from M-i-L upset me and I needed to vent
Understandable vent, Tashanie!
Let the buyer beware! Whereas most would be suspicious of products being marketed over the phone, not everyone is so aware/alert and no doubt this company preys upon the vulnerable e.g. the confused and elderly. Shameful. I hope they are exposed....and soon!
Definitely get the company details and report them for it.
Also, speak to the bank, as she's been mislead into spending money she didn't need to, and they could put a block or something (and maybe refund) on that company.
People like that should be in court for taking such tactics.
All Love and Reiki Hugs
Yes, totally unethical and I wouldn't trust anything sold by such a company. There is no knowing what may be in the pills - could be just filler with different colourings.
Definitely agree with you Tashanie
Makes me very annoyed to hear about this sort of thing. No besmirching of herbal products. In the right circumstances they can be excellent and most beneficial to health.
But there are enough reputable companies where you can acquire them at reasonable cost, either by mail order or from a health shop.
You need to ascertain exactly what your MIL has signed up to. If the company is based in the UK there shouldn't be a problem cancelling and getting a refund. Contact Trading Standards if needs be.
I think the fact they introduced themselves as "your health centre" comes under "obtaining money through deception" which is a criminal offence.
Edit to Add:
I've just checked and it seems this offence has now been repealed as it's now covered under the Fraud Act 2006... specifically Fraud by False Representation...
All Love and Reiki Hugs
I think the fact they introduced themselves as "your health centre" comes under "obtaining money through deception" which is a criminal offence.
Edit to Add:
I've just checked and it seems this offence has now been repealed as it's now covered under the Fraud Act 2006... specifically Fraud by False Representation...
[url]Fraud Act: Legal Guidance: The Crown Prosecution Service[/url]
All Love and Reiki Hugs
Thank you Giles. The company in question is Sandawellness and I would welcome anything anyone may know about them. (I won't put a link up but you can find them on google.) My M-i-L was out last night celebrating my husbands birthday .....so she was not in to answer the call from this company that came in at about 8.20 yesterday evening............... ggggrrrrr
I have just taken great satisfaction in ringing them up, and making it clear M-i-L no longer wishes to purchase products from them. They said they would delete her details from their database. I ended up by saying if I heard that M-i-L had any more calls from them I would be contacting trading standards . I have just made that call in the last 30 minutes. M-i-L reports she had a call from them at 10.26 this morning. I have said we will give them 24 hours to update their database - and to keep a record of every call she gets from them. She has stopped answering her phone. She lets it go to ansaphone - and then does 1471 to see who the call was from. Its if its from them she ignores it. If its anyone else she rings them back - which of course costs HER money as she pays for the call.
Interestingly although the addresses are in the UK - all the calls seem to be from asians. Am I being cynical in thinking we are dealing with an asian call centre???
I admit I am finding the principle of 'Do not angry' rather difficult to adhere to over this - but I am channeling the emotion into activity that will help resolve the issue!!! I really hpe todays actions will be enough - I will keep you posted. And once again thank you for listening to my rant
Definitely an Asian call centre - they are based in Mumbai - this is their business address - 10th Floor, Jagdamba Commercial Complex, Above Pop Tates, Near Movie Time Theater, Evershine Nagar, Kanchpada, Link Road, Malad West, Mumbai - 400064
Keeping a log of phone calls is a good idea, and to report any further annoying cold calls to the Trading Standards Office near their UK distributor in Buckingham. Sadly nothing much can be done about international cold calls - but letting them go to answerphone is probably a good idea, and if you have Caller ID on the phone, do not pick up calls that say 'International' or 'Number Withheld'.
So far so good - no calls since I read them the riot act. The next thing is going to be to have a look and see what is in the so called 'weight loss' tablets.....