Need URGENT HELP !!!

[roookie]

Hi guys,

I'm new to this forum and wanted to ask something straight away before I go ahead and waste any more money with Ashley & Martin.

Just a quick run on my history.
I signed up with A&M in Adelaide (the guy there is a big Mother F****r, he was in the news too, that is after I bloody joined). Anyways he got me into the damn program and I had'nt done much of a research and went through the whole program for a yr. Now after a yr they want me to be on the Maintenance Program. This bascially means selling me - yearly supply of Proscar Tabs, Saw Palmetto (extract of Serenoa Serrulata) and the big thing - REAL GROWTH (MINOXIDIL), this they said would be pre-mixed with something I can't remember what that is.

Now my question is shall I arrange my own medication ? I have already paid them for the yrs supply of PROSCAR and have it with me. Found this forum after that. So bascially whats left is paying them for the REAL GROWTH SOLUTION and those Saw Palmetto (extract of Serenoa Serrulata) capsules.

What is a cheaper option for me ? I have noticed the change after applying Minoxidil, so want to continue with it.

Please advice before they debit the damn money from my account, I better call the bank now.
Any advice would be greatly appericiated.

Regards.

 

[1750]

Hey rookie -

Ashley and Martin are rip off merchants -

You can get all the meds you require online for a fraction of the cost they're asking.

Don't go buying their Real growth formula... it's just minoxidil with a % of retin-a in it (tretinoin).... they may have added some azelaic acid, progesterone and maybe hydrocortisone as well......
either way you can buy or make your own for less...

You can get minoxidil pretty cheap from the following sources:

http://www.wholesalehairproducts.com/
http://www.minoxidil.com/

elitnetpharmacy.com for finasteride once you run out of proscar.

Saw palmetto - you can get at the chemist - blackmores list it as Prosperen

Save your cash and stay clear of A&M

 

[1750]

forgot to mention - your pharmacist will also have 5% minoxidil - rogaine or regaine on shelf as well....

your cheapest option is still from one of the sources I outlined though

 

[roookie]

Hey,

Thanks a ton 1750 for the advise. I am going to discontinue with A&M.

Had another question though. Before I found this forum & saw the A&M guy from Adelaide on the news, I agreed to the Maintenance Program with them. They offered me the option of Direct Debit each month for a certain amount. They have already deducted the amount once and I'll get the products for that but what if, they turn back and say to me - that the Doctor had already prescribed the rest of the stuff for so I have to buy it. Am I obliged to pay for the products that I am not even taking, because the product is generic it's not taylor made for me.

I know they wont do a refund so i'll take what I paid for already at the moment.

Regards

 

[1750]

no probs rookie.... anytime.

I'd simply call them and say that your finances have changed and that you no longer wish to continue paying for any of their products moving forward....
Maybe call your bank and tell them to cancel the direct debit so you don't get any future charges occuring....

Every which way - to save yourself the dollars you need to scrap A&M somehow...

With advice from those in the know here on the forum as well as some regular checkups with your GP you'll be able to achieve the same if not better results without them....

 

[roookie]

Thanks again 1750.

But can they force me to pay for the products as they have already ordered them for me ? As these products were prescribed by the one their docs.

Regards

 

[1750]

the only thing that is prescription is the proscar.... so maybe they can hold you to this....
As for the minoxidil.....they use the same stuff for everyone you should be able to tell them to stick it.....

 

[Def]

I actually got conned into a 9 month course with A&M - their minoxidil is actually a 7% solution with 0.01% Retinoic Acid. Any pharmacist will make this up for you on prescription, however, you may as well just use the bog standard 5% that everyone else does.

 

[ginner]

They cannot force you to keep buying the meds just because they have written you a script. Absolutely not...

But what sort of agreement did you make with them originally? Did you sign some sort of contract? Let me know the details and I'll give you more advice.

 

[roookie]

Thanks for offering help Ginner, really appereciate it.

I went to them today to collect the product (Real Growth) they have already debited my account for. They had ordered the whole damn lot for me, yearly supply of Real Growth & Saw Palmetto. I told them I dont want to continue with the treatment anymore and I'm here only to take what I have paid for. The manager turned around and said it's too late we have ordered the stuff for you as prescribed by our doctor and because your names on the Real Growth bottles now, you are obliged to pay for them.

I did'nt sign any contract with them but did sign the Ezypay document, agreeing that they can withdraw a certain amount each month for the products. Unless they come up with something that I dont remember signing. I'm mailing the Manager as there was a scene at the desk infront of other customers and he did'nt want to conitnue with me at that time. He said, mail me your case and I will look into it till then we can cancel the direct debit. So I'm going to mail him and wait for his response and then post it here.

Also there is a little more to this story which will be in my mail to him and then I'll post that mail here.

Thanks for all the help guys, really appericiate it.

Regards

 

[ginner]

Thanks for the update.

They cannot force you to purchase the Real Growth just because they have already put your name on the bottle. Once they have given it to you my understanding is that you cannot return it. That's a regulation meant to prevent people tampering with medications. But there is nothing about writing your name on the medication that is binding. They could take the label off and sell it to someone else.

Unfortunately, I'm thinking that maybe you have already agreed to purchase a one year supply. Even if you didn't sign a written contract there might be an argument that you have still entered into such an agreement. I don't think they can compel you to go through with it, but I imagine that would be their argument.

What does the EzyPay document say? Does it mention terminating the agreement? Is there any way you can contact your bank and ask them to stop it?

I'll see if I can help you more when you post the letter.

 

[roookie]

Thanks ginner,

I have attached the scanned copy of Ezypay, may be you can have a look at it. As said, that the Real Growth is medically prescribed, my argument is that because it is ruining my head in terms of extreme dryness resulting to flakes on my scalp (causing embarassment in public) and also the constant itching I no longer want to go ahead with this mediacation.

Now it would be very stupid for a Doctor to force a patient or his client to continue with certain medication if the client is not happy with the medication and with the effect it has on him. I guess you can understand where I'm coming from and my point here.

Just a question besides this topic - I bought Blackmores Proseren as a substitute to Saw Palmetto that Ashley & Martin give. Have I got the right thing ???

Regards

P.S - the attachments. The fron that I signed and the back. I have just included the important part as the rest of the front only carries my personal along w/t the bank account details. Fist pic is of the back page and the second is the front bit (it just has the back page as a background), hope this helps.

 

[ginner]

The 4th point under the 'My Responsibility' section seems to say that Ezypay will cancel the direct debit if you give them 7 days notice. So at least you can stop A&M taking the money out of your account. But like it says in the Ezypay terms and conditions, stopping the direct debit isn't the same as terminating the agreement between you and A&M. The good thing though is that if you stop the payments then A&M would have to come after you for the money (if they thought they were entitled to it) instead of you having to fight them to get it back.

[See, even if you do have a binding agreement with A&M to buy 1 year supply of Real Growth, the question that really matters is what they can claim from you. The cannot force you to pay the full $1250 for goods you don't take posession of. They can be sold to someone else and A&M need not be out of pocket. There's 'no harm done' if that makes sense. You might have to pay a relatively small administration fee or something of that nature though. If the Real Growth was actually in your name and this could not be changed then A&M could argue that you have to buy it else they are out of pocket. That's probably why they're telling you that, to try to force you to go through with the purchase.] EDIT: I'm not sure that what I've written in this paragraph is correct. I'll try to confirm / get a better answer, but in the meantime please don't rely on this.

Personally, I think your argument that Real Growth is causing you irritation, flaking and itching and therefore you should be entitled to terminate the agreement is valid. They have a problem in that they're not just salsemen, they also give 'professional' advice. If they have recommended a product that is not suitable for you which you purchased in reliance on their recommendation, then I don't believe they can compel you to continue to buy it.

I hope this is some help to you. I don't you probably don't want to hear it but I can't believe how unreasonable those prices are. You also say above that there was more to the story so keep in mind that my opinion here might change depending on that extra information.

 

[roookie]

Thanks again Ginner.

Here is what I wrote to the Ashley & Martin mngr.:

Dear __________,

As requested I'm mailing you in regards to our conversation last Saturday afternoon. I would like Ashley & Martin to cancel my Direct Debit service with Ezypay as soon as possible, as I have deiced that I no longer want to continue with the treatment.

The medication 'Real Growth' as prescribed by the Ashley & Martin doctor has certain effects such as an extremely dry scalp which results in irritation, flakes and severe itching leading to redness. Furthermore these effects have resulted in public embarrassment for me thereby causing great emotional stress.

Hoping to hear from you at the earliest..

Will post the response when the guy replies.

Cheers

 

[ginner]

Yep, I think that's a good way to handle it. Please let us know how it turns out.

 

[roookie]

Hey ginner,

The manager replied, will post his mail tomorrow. In the mean time can you tell me about this, I guess you forgot to answer it the last time:

"Just a question besides this topic - I bought Blackmores Proseren as a substitute to Saw Palmetto that Ashley & Martin give. Have I got the right thing ???"

Cheers

 

[1750]

Hi Rookie -

The blackmores prosperen is fine -

it is 160mg.... whereby the Saw Palmetto A & M sells is 320mg....

Therefore just take 2 of the blckmores and you'll be sweet.....

 

[roookie]

Hey Ginner,

This is what the Mngr. had to write. Seems like a 12yr. old writting to me. He is suppose to be a National Sales Mngr.

Hi ____ i will look at your request this week with the operation manager and back to you this week.

Anita has already put on hold your direct debit

If you have any time please email me some of the issues you have experienced in our office in adelaide. We trying to improve on the issues that have been raised by yourself and others since today tonight

We are always willing to help and fix problems, but just not at the front desk in front of other clients that are happy and not experiencing what has happened in Adelaide but i don't want you thinking we are not going to address these issues because we are and need information so we can act on these issues ASAP.

Kind Regards
________

I have mailed him, waittng for his response. Will keep you posted mate.

Cheers.

 

[ginner]

Thanks for posting.

I'm still not sure about what I wrote above but I'm quite confident that if the product is causing your scalp irritation then you do not have to keep buying it. If they ask you to go in for another consult or an examination then I think you should. If they're going to hold out on you then perhaps you should see another doctor for an opinion about the side effects you have experienced.

Hopefully they'll sort this out for you soon.

 

[roookie]

Hey Ginner,

I mailed them back. I have recently relocated from Adelaide to Sydney and this is how the story goes. Remember when I mentioned there is more to it, this is what it is:

Hi ____,

Thanks for getting back.

Some of the issues that I would like to bring to your attention are:

- When my partner was trying to cancel the Direct Debit with the Adelaide office, she was given several answers over a period of time. On the first call the receptionist (X) advised that the lady who deals with cancellation is not present today and instead gave the contact details of Ezypay and advised that we shoud call back tomorrow. On contacting Ezypay we were told that they cannot be of help and we have to speak with Ashley & Martin to resolve this. Therefore, my partner called the next day again and then spoke to XX and was told that the Adelaide office cannot do it, the Sydney office can.

On calling the Sydney office, she was told that as I got registered in Adelaide they can cancel it. She called XX again to giver her the details and made a complaint regarding the fact that we were being pushed around between the two offices while no one knew as to how this could be settled in a proper and timely fashion.

My partner had mentioned to both XXX and XX during this time that the money was not yet debited from my account, however going back and forth like this would have us lose out on time and in the meantime the money maybe deducted. Later on, on speaking with XXX in Sydney my partner was advised that the money had been deducted. Further, on asking whether we can get a refund, she advised that we can put our case forth. Further, we requested her to hold the next payment to which she advised that she can delay the next payment by a month.

Hence understandably we've been extremely upset about the whole issue, since we explained the aspects to the right people in the first place but they got it all wrong from the very beginning since none of the staff members had any knowledge on how to resolve it in time which eventually has made us lose our money.

Finally, XX spoke to the Sydney office for us and advised us that since they were unsure on how to go about it, the case has been handed to XXX and she will follow it up with us and have me come in for an appointment to resolve it.

I would appreciate if this matter can be resolved at the earliest.

Kind Regards
___________

Will keep you posted.

Cheers