Do You, or Someone You Know, Have Unresolved Complaints With Any Narconon Program? You aren't alone. The list of common complaints is lengthy.
Despite what people are told, Narconon is Scientology. It's also a rip off, preying on loved ones and individuals desperate to be free of drug abuse. $24,000 - $29,0000 and upward is alot of money to lose. It's happening more and more and people are getting fed up.
Once a person forks that money over, in far too many cases it's as if the worst nightmare of their lifetime appears. If one does not agree with the program, especially the Scientology aspects of the program, they are harassed, isolated, and or kicked out. Phones seem to be bugged. Getting out is the first long step. Getting a refund then winds up being a battle of having to pester, threaten with legal means the organization to get someone to take responsibility for promises never delivered upon.
I've been getting emails lately from people who are upset with, or trying to get a refund from, one of the various Narconon programs across the United States. Each one of these people had a story similar to these cases:
Tara J's Experience
http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/Stop-Narconon/Personal/TaraJ/
The Beha Family experience : http://www.scientomogy.com/narconon_scam.php
Fred and Phyllis Luthy v Narconon Stonehawk Case:
Luthy Family Lawsuit Against Stone Hawk is for Fraud and Deceptive Trade Practices. In January 2007, the Luthy family of Albuquerque, New Mexico filed a suit against Narconon Stone Hawk for fraud, unfair or deceptive trade practices, and unjust enrichment.
These and and others which can all be found here:
http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/Stop-Narconon/StoneHawk/
In looking over multi state court and BBB records and cpmplaints, there is a real surge happening. Mistreatment, deceptive advertising, breach of contract, and enforced scientology beliefs are just a few of the same complains seen over and over again. I am gathering up the BBB & state case records information and will post it in chunks as I get it. I just want victims to know that they can do something about the injustice and mistreatment they received in exchange for their hard earned money and they are within their rights to obtain refunds.
The most important thing I can tell people is to immediately register at and add your complain to the other complains against Narconon at
http://www.ripoffreport.com/
Type in their search box NARCONON, and you'll be directed to the page of complaints.
The more reports that are filed there, the more leverage victims have with the states and federal government in getting full investigations done of this fraudulent organization.
For those who have not done so, get your story on the internet if it's not up there yet. It could be the key to helping you in your particular situation. 2 or 3 victims from the same state or county can do much together to get a complaint taken seriously enough to warrent a complete investigation.
If you like, you can also email me your story and I will get it posted on the internet for you, even if you want to remain anonymous. For those needing information on who to contact , where to go with your complaint, email me and let me know what county and state you live in so I can send you information.
Take a minute and visit these sites, where you can get more information about Narconon:
Narconon Exposed http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/Narconon/
Narconon Victims Forum http://www.narcononvictims.com/
Stop Narconon www.stop-narconon.org/
NarCONon is Scientology! http://crackpots.xenu-directory.net/
NARCONON DIRECTOR QUITS. WARNS OUR COMMUNITY! http://www.lermanet.com/reference/new-flyers/narconon.pdf
Readers should ask the federal SAMHSA why they are referring people to this program and why they are allowing this program to exist in the first place. Contact their Center For Substance Abuse Treatment staff at 240-276-2750.
Mary McConnell
xscilentologist at yahoo dot com
http://free-from-scientology.blogspot.com/
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
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7 comments:
Ripoff Report is definitely a gem, it's such a good resource. The Consumerist is also another great website/BLOG. The Consumerist has exposed the CoS before but I don't think they've ever reported a personal case before. Their BLOG is read by thousands of people every day. Their shier number of readers makes even the biggest corporations take notice.
There are many victims of Scientology out there. Their stories should be told. It'll help other victims, and help keep other people from getting victimized. It'll also make it so the CoS can't hide behind their sealed court cases anymore.
Sorry I missed your reply. Since the date of your post, there are 7 more + ripoff reports posted.
Thanks for mentioning the Consumerist. I've never been there. I'll have to pass that information on as well. Thanks for the valuable information.
Mary McConnell
I CURRENTLY HAVE MY BROTHER IN NARCANON IN VISTA BAY CA. HE HAS COMPLAINED AND BEGGED ME TO COME GET HIM OUT, BUT I WAS FOOLED INTO THINKING HE WAS IN WD MODE. I NEED HELP!HE HAS SINCE STOPPED CALLING ME. THE STAFF KEEPS ASSURING ME HES FINE. YET RECENTLY I FOUND T HE HAS CONTACTED A FRIEND ABOUT COMING TO TAKE HIM OUT OF THE FACILITY. WHAT CAN I DO?
Dear Anonymous, Thank you for writing me. I really need more information in order to be able to answer your question. I receive MANY complaints and when I have enough information to understand the problem, I have the them fill out a questionaire so I can help them with getting their complaints addressed. Below is a copy of what people fill out and send back to me. Email me with more particulars about the situation, which you are comfortable discussing with me, using the questionaire as a guide, and I will get back to you as soon as possible by email. At minimum I will need to know: A general idea of the substance/alcohol abuse history, his age, the concerns expressed to you by your brother and how long he's been there, along with how the services were paid and by whom ( ie: your brother, you, another relative, insurance, employer etc).
My email address is at the end of the questionaire:
Confidential Questionaire:
In order to be able to help you file your complaints and volunteer as an advocate for you in the problem you are having with Narconon, the following information is needed. Use as much space as you need on each question:
Name, address county state, ph number of person who spoke and made the arrangements for the person to attend Narconon:
______________________________________________________________________
Name, address county state, ph numberand age of person who attended Narconon:
______________________________________________________________________
Name, address county state ph numbers and relationship of person who paid for Narconon:
______________________________________________________________________
How much was Narconon paid?
How was it paid and when?
via telephone? via internet? At the facility itself?
Explain when and how the money was transferred to Narconon: By what type of Credit card, or via wire transfer, by check, Cash etc: please explain:
______________________________________________________________________
Have you asked for a CHARGEBACK from your credit card company? If so, What happened so far?
Supply the name of Credit card (s) company(s) and amounts pd (to each)
______________________________________________________________________
Name and address of Narconon Facility or facilities, and dates of attendence.:
______________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Was Narconon paid for another service such as medical detox or intervention?
If Yes, please note the name address and phone numbers of the other services and list the dates of the service and amounts paid from the total fee:
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
How did you come to find and choose this narconon? Fill in all that apply:
__ mail, radio,newspaper oradvertisement
__ Internet rehab referral site : Pls give us the web link, the Name, phone number of person you spoke to at referral site
__ Specific Narconon Internet site
__ Internet, site unknown: list keywords used in the search:
__ Through word of mouth: a person? a group?
__ a newspaper ad. Do you still have the ad? yes/no
__ other?
For any of the above, list the particulars /specifics below:
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
___________________________________
If your contact with Narconon was arranged through an internet referral site,or from a hotline number, please list the names, email addresses and/or phone numbers of the people you were put in contact with.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
If your arrangement for purchasing Narconon was arranged over the phone:
Specifically: what were you asking for and what were you told you'd be getting?
What promises were made over the phone or by email by whom? Specifically Who told
you these things and how was it communicated? Include the internet referral person promises, if applicable
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
If you used an internet referral service, were you given choices other than Narconon? If yes, list them:
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
How much were you charged by Narconon for the program and fees?____________________
If it was an outpatient Narconon, who did you pay rent to and how much?
When,how and to whom did you pay this rent? ie, name, cash, credit card, check:
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Was the patient seen by a medical doctor upon arrival or at another time? State when, and the name and contact information of the doctor if possible.
Did the patient sign a release at the doctor office so you could discuss your loved one's care? Did you talk with the doctor?
Did the staff discuss your loved one's personal problems and rehab care issues with you or another without his or her persmission? Please explain who what and when.
When you were on the phone with the referral service or the Narconon contact, were you told anything about any refund policy and or Insurance reimbursement? If so, please explain. This is VERY important:
Date you received a contract to sign? Did you sign it?
Did you receive a contract to sign before paying? y / n
Did you receive a contract before the person arrived at Narconon for services? y /n
Did you receive a receipt for your payment(s) y / n
Were you offered and did did you receive any part of your refund back? y / n
Who handled this with you?
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
How much, When and how was it repaid or credited?
____________________________________
Were there conditions to getting the payment? ie: did you sign a gag agreement?
__________________________________
Please send copies of all agreements signed so we can see what you agreed to.
ON A SEPARATE PAGE:
Have the patient write up what happened during his or her stay that he or she felt
was wrong or weird or unethical.
List the Narconon staff you and related family talked with, their title and what
was said once the person had arrived. Please tey to write in sequence and note the
facility they were at if the victim went to more than one.
Explain what happened (or didn't happen as promised) to the person who attended
Narconon that you feel was unethical, illegal or a breach of your agreement with the facility
Write down any concerns you have that are not addressed here.
______________________________________________________________
It would be helpful to read any documents, contracts, complaint letter you have related to your complaint. If possible, please have them scanned and emailed to me at xscilentologist at yahoo.com
Mary McConnell, volunteer advocate
Go and get your brother out of there as fast as you can. He's probably in a lockdown room. I had a relative in Narconon and they cut him off from his monitored phone calls when he told me to look at the website:
Narcononexposed.org. They punished him for "high crimes against Narconon." They use mind control games. Don't believe anything they tell you. They are a recruiting ground for COS.
NARCONON COLORADO IS A JOKE... MOST DYSFUNCTIONAL REHAB IN THE WORLD. SO FAR IVE SEEN 2 STAFF MEMBERS LEAVE AND RELAPSE A COUPLE OF STAFF MEMBER GET FIRED FOR HAVING SEX WITH STUDENTS AND NOW THE 2ND GUY IN CHARGE OF THE WHOLE FACILITY GOT A DUI AND 4 OTHER STAFF MEMBERS WERE FIRED FOR DRINKING. STAY AWAY FROM NARCONON COLORADO
Dear Anonymous, Thanks for visiting. Regarding your comment about Narconon Colorado, this does not surprise me at all, as it happens at their other facilities.
I am very interested in any specifics you can tell me about this facility. I collect information whoch helps others making complaints about the facilities. Please do email me at xscilentologist at yahoo.com . Your information will be held in the strictest of confindence. Thank you!
Mary McConnell
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