Posted on 10/30/2017 5:35:35 PM PDT by learner
Vendome hit it out of the park.
The average person can’t comprehend how much marketing info is siphoned from your on-line clicks and hovers.
Very soon... When you walk into one of the big box stores... They will know who you are, what you will be looking for, and roughly how much money you have in your pocket.
Privacy is gone - ‘cept for the third world.
“I have received an invitation to a luncheon to discuss my back nerve problems from a group I do not know.”
Free luncheons are usually sales pitches. Is this being sponsored by a pharmaceutical company?
My guess is they are aware of the meds you take, hence the invitation. Whether that is a HIPPA violation, I don’t know.
That is a funny line if it is true, but sad.
A guy I work for had his phone in his pocket while talking to a neighbor. The guy was interested in buying a riding lawn mower and asking the neighbor all sorts of questions about his.
Later he went inside on his computer and got on the net. All sorts of ads came up for riding mowers - yet his discussion with the neighbor was the first he had said or done anything about getting one!
He said he figures the phone must have some sort of “Alexa” thing going on but he said he never uses the voice software - he figured there must be some way to turn it off.
I have a pretty good idea what happened here, but before I answer I need to know:
The invitation - How was it presented?
Was it a phone call?
A letter?
A pre-printed slick?
How was it personalized?
Hand written?
Mailing label?
If it had your name on it, how formal was it?
(As in addressed to Mr. Ms. Mrs.?)
BINGO!
They’re likely going to pitch some sort of expensive pain management system involving a tens unit, relying upon claims that it’ll be covered by Medicare or other insurance to make it appear “free” to you. Those electric mobility scooters are infamous for that sort of pitch and it’s worked very well for them, so others may be getting in on the act.
Regardless of what it is that they want to pitch to you, it seems pretty certain that’s what they’re going to do.
Do you have physical therapist?
Does your pharmacy have a new pharmacist or tech working with them.
Pharmaceutical and other healh care companies have been running focus groups for treatments for doctors, rns, pharmacists and other types of medical people for decades.
Some of these companies got doctors to recommend that their patients attend these focus groups featuring expensive and not mainline treatments for serious and long time medical issues.
An example is using your Stem Cells to treat bad knees or bad hips. The procedure besides being somewhat painful is very expensive with questionable results. Also, if you are 70+ to 80 something your stem cells are that old and probably not that good.
Most ethical Focus Group moderators do not want to get involved at this level.
Contact the person or group sending the invitation. Tell them that I don’t know how you believe that I have this condition and ask them why they selected you personally. Tell them that if after they respond then I will decide whether or not I have anything worthwhile to talk about at their meeting.
Thank you very much, learner!!
After years of my wife and kids begging me to "get up to date," I traded in my old flip phone for a Smart phone a couple of months ago. My wife and I went to a small café with an outside patio where we ate. When we got home I found a receipt for out meal in my e-mail. I had my phone on me at the time but didn't use it. WTH! How did they get my e-mail address?
Thanks to ObamaCare all medical records go to the IRS.
It was a hand written address to me specifically. It contained two tickets to a “VIP” luncheon for many of my symptoms.
The card inside was preprinted without my name.
It was addresses to Mr. Me full name.
Threw my back in the early 90s and went to a Univ of Miami MD, a world expert on spinal injuries. Went back for review after an MRI, and he rubbed his chin and nodded the entire time, “Uh huh, uh huh,” while looking over the MRIs on the illuminated board.
“What is it, Doc?” I asked.
“This will be perfect for my presentation next week in Cleveland!”
I exclaimed, “What about me?” to which he replied, “Well, I can operate or you can get over it. You decide.”
I got over it.
Maybe they sent similar invitations to 10,000 others. At least some will have back pain.
There are two issues here.
1.) The possible sale of your confidential information.
If this possibility bothers you greatly and you can afford an attorney, pursue this. If not, let it go for now.
2.) The invitation.
If you are troubled by issue number one you may wish to ignore the invitation on those grounds. If your curiosity compels you to attend, first determine if you can resist possible pressure at the luncheon. If you are the kind of person who can cash in on the free stuff without signing up for a time share, consider it a free lunch. But make no impulsive decisions. In summary:
Acquire free meal
Ignore hard sell
Leave happy
I sent in the $100. but he may not know it yet. 10 minutes ago. But I promise I will as there are many advises all of which I appreciate.
I need some heavy lawyers on here.
I do not seek retribution. I am pissed that someone may be selling my medical information.
It is not coming from Pharma, for I take nothing for that.
Ask Jim if he already received the $100 I posted as a down payment.
You seem to know him.
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