Post by Guest on Sept 29, 2009 23:15:24 GMT -5
Dr Terry Rondberg:
Begin Quote
In the 23 years that I've been publishing The Chiropractic Journal, I've tried to use the paper to help the profession, to represent doctors and "watch their backs." Traditionally, that's what good newspaper do -- use the power of the press to alert people to potential wrongdoings and then help them take the appropriate actions to right those wrongs.
One of the biggest problems our profession faces today concerns the high pressure sales tactics used to market everything from seminars to equipment. Perhaps it's because of the downturn in the economy and the increased competition among doctors, but we are hearing more and more complaints are strong-arm tactics used on students, new graduates and field doctors.
These people are particularly vulnerable to companies they feel they should be able to trust -- companies that have until recently had a good reputation. I don’t believe many chiropractic companies start out with the intention of cheating people, but when the economy soured, so did their ethics. Desperate to make sales, they turned to questionable tactics, like making misleading sales claims and promises, arranging for dubious lease contracts, and ignoring complaints from customers.
Since the The Chiropractic Journal has always been a "watchdog" in the profession, I will not sit by and see doctors taken advantage of by charismatic salesmen concerned and motivated purely by profit.
Spurred by reports I've received from numerous doctors, I recently launched an investigation into possible unethical or illegal practices by the a prominent company that appears to be generating the most complaints: the Chiropractic Leadership Alliance (CLA). At this point, I'm not making any judgments or accusations. We're simply compiling and sharing information from field doctors like you who are willing to step forward and talk about their personal experiences.
So far, in response to my appeal for more information, numerous doctors have asked if they can take legal action to force this company to refund their money after purchasing equipment under false pretense. I'm very concerned that doctors may have been misled by this company and that this company may have violated laws by using misinformation to sell their equipment to doctors of chiropractic. If that doesn't concern you at all, this investigation may seem unnecessary, but for doctors who have been cheated or taken advantage of (by this or any other company) the need for someone to stand up and fight for their rights is obvious.
Let me just share with you a few of the messages I've received from doctors around the country:
"I feel that I was influenced to purchase a Subluxation Station based on potentially false NASA/Space Foundation claims. I would like find out my rights today. Am I entitled to a refund and/or damages? I never could get accurate or consistent results. What are you doing with the Subluxation Station? Pre and Post results were never consistent. I purchased a Subluxation Station from CLA, based on their support from NASA/Space Foundation research."
"I purchased a Subluxation Station for $11,000 and have been very unhappy. I have never been able to get consistent results and do feel misled in all their claims. My sales rep kept telling me a bunch of bull till I couldn't return it. I bought this on March of 2007. In 22 years of practice this is my only purchase of chiropractic equipment that I regret buying and haven't used. I would love to sell it but can't get 30 cents on the dollar for it. Please keep me posted on this lawsuit."
"I am regretfully an owner of a Subluxation Station. I cannot even begin to explain how frustrated I am regarding the CLA and their Subluxation Station. I was suckered into buying a Substation when I was right out of school (I was at a seminar and it was an extremely high-pressured sale).
"They sent me the system before my practice was even open (I hadn't even purchased the computers yet), by the time my computers arrived it had been past the time they allow to return the equipment.
"I used the Subluxation Station once in my practice. It does not at all fit with my analysis or style of adjusting. So now I am stuck with a huge lease payment that I cannot afford. I have tried selling the equipment but the lease company whom CLA set up would not take my name off the lease as well as my co-signers, which had occurred on two occasions, and both deals fell through.
"I have been unable to make payments on the equipment since October. The lease company has sent me to a collection company (I am pretty sure that my credit is destroyed as well as my mother's, who signed as a co-signer. I cannot even express my utter disgust for the CLA and the Subluxation Station. Once the salesman … made the sale, he wanted nothing to do with me.
"Their sales tactics I feel were built on lies and preyed upon individuals who were fresh out of school. I would love to see justice be served and this company have to refund the money to doctors. Gentempo is a snake whose bottom line is profit, not the betterment of the chiropractic profession. I would appreciate any help that you could offer. Thank you very much for your time and help in this matter. I would love the opportunity to discuss this matter further."
"What legal actions are being considered? I bought a Sub Station and was very disappointed in the non-reproducibility of the product -- it has been in a box in my storage room for years."
"I have received an email about the Chiropractic Journal protecting the rights of the consumer due to the misleading information from the CLA. I believe that I was lied to during many occasions as a vulnerable graduate coming out of school by this organization. This machine was definitely purchased under false pretenses which I brought to the attention of the distributor who sold me the Subluxation Station as I became more educated as a business owner and as a chiropractor. I would be happy to be a part of any type of action in the future regarding this manipulation of our profession."
"I purchased my Subluxation Station before the "NASA certification" but we were highly encouraged to market the product after the certification was informed to us. What I am more concerned about is how I feel like I was conned into buying a 'Creating Wellness Center.' I feel like it was the biggest joke ever. I'm not sure if you have had other comments about this. Just thought I would let it be heard.
"I was stung by this company. I have a $355/month lease payment on my Subluxation Station. I am a month behind on my Subluxation Station payment. So I am looking at the big "B" if I'm not able to increase my practice income dramatically in the next couple of months."
Should we stand by and do nothing, even though our colleagues are being hurt by such unethical -- or even illegal -- business practices? If you had been the victim, wouldn't you want others to stand up for you?
The Chiropractic Journal will continue to compile information and complaints about this company and any other company who behaves this way and will work with an attorney to explore possible class action legal suits.
For more information regarding what legal actions, or to provide information on your own experiences with CLA/Subluxation Station, e-mail consumerprotection@thechiropracticjournal.com <mailto:consumerprotection@thechiropracticjournal. com> . All inquiries can remain anonymous.
Begin Quote
In the 23 years that I've been publishing The Chiropractic Journal, I've tried to use the paper to help the profession, to represent doctors and "watch their backs." Traditionally, that's what good newspaper do -- use the power of the press to alert people to potential wrongdoings and then help them take the appropriate actions to right those wrongs.
One of the biggest problems our profession faces today concerns the high pressure sales tactics used to market everything from seminars to equipment. Perhaps it's because of the downturn in the economy and the increased competition among doctors, but we are hearing more and more complaints are strong-arm tactics used on students, new graduates and field doctors.
These people are particularly vulnerable to companies they feel they should be able to trust -- companies that have until recently had a good reputation. I don’t believe many chiropractic companies start out with the intention of cheating people, but when the economy soured, so did their ethics. Desperate to make sales, they turned to questionable tactics, like making misleading sales claims and promises, arranging for dubious lease contracts, and ignoring complaints from customers.
Since the The Chiropractic Journal has always been a "watchdog" in the profession, I will not sit by and see doctors taken advantage of by charismatic salesmen concerned and motivated purely by profit.
Spurred by reports I've received from numerous doctors, I recently launched an investigation into possible unethical or illegal practices by the a prominent company that appears to be generating the most complaints: the Chiropractic Leadership Alliance (CLA). At this point, I'm not making any judgments or accusations. We're simply compiling and sharing information from field doctors like you who are willing to step forward and talk about their personal experiences.
So far, in response to my appeal for more information, numerous doctors have asked if they can take legal action to force this company to refund their money after purchasing equipment under false pretense. I'm very concerned that doctors may have been misled by this company and that this company may have violated laws by using misinformation to sell their equipment to doctors of chiropractic. If that doesn't concern you at all, this investigation may seem unnecessary, but for doctors who have been cheated or taken advantage of (by this or any other company) the need for someone to stand up and fight for their rights is obvious.
Let me just share with you a few of the messages I've received from doctors around the country:
"I feel that I was influenced to purchase a Subluxation Station based on potentially false NASA/Space Foundation claims. I would like find out my rights today. Am I entitled to a refund and/or damages? I never could get accurate or consistent results. What are you doing with the Subluxation Station? Pre and Post results were never consistent. I purchased a Subluxation Station from CLA, based on their support from NASA/Space Foundation research."
"I purchased a Subluxation Station for $11,000 and have been very unhappy. I have never been able to get consistent results and do feel misled in all their claims. My sales rep kept telling me a bunch of bull till I couldn't return it. I bought this on March of 2007. In 22 years of practice this is my only purchase of chiropractic equipment that I regret buying and haven't used. I would love to sell it but can't get 30 cents on the dollar for it. Please keep me posted on this lawsuit."
"I am regretfully an owner of a Subluxation Station. I cannot even begin to explain how frustrated I am regarding the CLA and their Subluxation Station. I was suckered into buying a Substation when I was right out of school (I was at a seminar and it was an extremely high-pressured sale).
"They sent me the system before my practice was even open (I hadn't even purchased the computers yet), by the time my computers arrived it had been past the time they allow to return the equipment.
"I used the Subluxation Station once in my practice. It does not at all fit with my analysis or style of adjusting. So now I am stuck with a huge lease payment that I cannot afford. I have tried selling the equipment but the lease company whom CLA set up would not take my name off the lease as well as my co-signers, which had occurred on two occasions, and both deals fell through.
"I have been unable to make payments on the equipment since October. The lease company has sent me to a collection company (I am pretty sure that my credit is destroyed as well as my mother's, who signed as a co-signer. I cannot even express my utter disgust for the CLA and the Subluxation Station. Once the salesman … made the sale, he wanted nothing to do with me.
"Their sales tactics I feel were built on lies and preyed upon individuals who were fresh out of school. I would love to see justice be served and this company have to refund the money to doctors. Gentempo is a snake whose bottom line is profit, not the betterment of the chiropractic profession. I would appreciate any help that you could offer. Thank you very much for your time and help in this matter. I would love the opportunity to discuss this matter further."
"What legal actions are being considered? I bought a Sub Station and was very disappointed in the non-reproducibility of the product -- it has been in a box in my storage room for years."
"I have received an email about the Chiropractic Journal protecting the rights of the consumer due to the misleading information from the CLA. I believe that I was lied to during many occasions as a vulnerable graduate coming out of school by this organization. This machine was definitely purchased under false pretenses which I brought to the attention of the distributor who sold me the Subluxation Station as I became more educated as a business owner and as a chiropractor. I would be happy to be a part of any type of action in the future regarding this manipulation of our profession."
"I purchased my Subluxation Station before the "NASA certification" but we were highly encouraged to market the product after the certification was informed to us. What I am more concerned about is how I feel like I was conned into buying a 'Creating Wellness Center.' I feel like it was the biggest joke ever. I'm not sure if you have had other comments about this. Just thought I would let it be heard.
"I was stung by this company. I have a $355/month lease payment on my Subluxation Station. I am a month behind on my Subluxation Station payment. So I am looking at the big "B" if I'm not able to increase my practice income dramatically in the next couple of months."
Should we stand by and do nothing, even though our colleagues are being hurt by such unethical -- or even illegal -- business practices? If you had been the victim, wouldn't you want others to stand up for you?
The Chiropractic Journal will continue to compile information and complaints about this company and any other company who behaves this way and will work with an attorney to explore possible class action legal suits.
For more information regarding what legal actions, or to provide information on your own experiences with CLA/Subluxation Station, e-mail consumerprotection@thechiropracticjournal.com <mailto:consumerprotection@thechiropracticjournal. com> . All inquiries can remain anonymous.
