Reply from Shelley - 3/11/02 - IP#: 67.211.35.xxx   reviews_1-c449

Just had a visit from a PI rep. I have to say that I'm glad I checked this site before signing anything. Our rep. asked that our daughter be present during his "presentation" so he could assess her. My daughter is 5 1/2. After asking us a few questions and uncovering some pertinent details (my daughter's age, that neither my husband nor I worked nights and that we wanted to help our daughter for all the "right reasons") he stated that we were "accepted" into their program. He then asked my daughter if she wanted to to be a "big girl" and start the program tonight. Of course she said "yes". He then instructed her on what to wear to bed, told her she'd be getting a special mattress right away to help her and told her how happy she would be that Mommy and Daddy were doing this for her. It wasn't until after he built up my daughter's hopes that he told us the price $1995 (which of course could be broken down into smaller monthly payments using Beneficial Finance). When we asked to think it over, he asked us if we were really serious about helping our daughter. We said of course we were, but needed time to think it over. I asked for more information on the program, his business card, etc., just something we could look over. He asked what exactly we wanted to think about. I mentioned that I had discussed the problem with my pediatrician and she said that my dauther was still young and could "grow out of this". My doctor did state that if I didn't want to wait and would rather pursue treatment now, she would help. So, I asked the PI rep what the difference was between what my Dr could offer and what they could do. The only comment he had was "PI is 100% guaranteed or your money back" and he said he knew our doctor couldn't offer that. He then suggested that perhaps the cost was a concern so he offered to work with our insurance company, but stated that it would take two to three weeks into the program before PI would know how much would be covered. I said I could call the insurance company today and find out. He said he wouldn't recommend that as their first answer is always "No", but PI works to build a case for your child and with two to three weeks of positive results the case was stronger and coverage more likely. My husband and I still pushed back and said we wanted to think it over. Again he asked how committed we were. We said that we just wanted a chance to review the material and discuss it. He said, "Discuss it with who, your pediatrician?" We said "with each other." The idea of us talking with our Doctor seemed to make him uneasy. In fact, he wouldn't even discuss further details of the program until I practically assured him that I was asking for myself, not to gather information to discuss with our doctor. Even then, he wouldn't provide us with anything until we agreed to another firm appointment when we all (my daughter included) could be present and actually begin the program. After scheduling a follow-up appointment (which took some doing because of the limited appointment times/dates offered) he finally gave us some additional information. The "information" was nothing more than a flyer-type newletter and his business card. After he left, both my husband and I felt very uneasy. We both commented that we still really didn't understand what "their program" was all about. We knew that it would take 3, 4 or 5 months for our dauther to stay totally dry and there was something about a special mattress and a monitor, some special exercises for my daughter to do and a daily "dryness" report card plus a two year follow up once she had 30 to 45 days of consecutive dryness. The pressure to buy right away was sure there, he played on the feelings of our daughter and the product was very expensive. All-in-all I felt like I was dealing with a used-car salesman, not a therapist - - By the way, he introduced himself as "Dr", but we later found out he's a biologist, not a MD. Just another sign that what appears to be is not always as it is.