IT has taken several months for a dispute between a Cumnock couple and CareFlight over a missing donation to the aeromedical retrieval service to be resolved.
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Charles and Johanna Salt have been in ongoing discussions with CareFlight representatives since April over a $14.95 teddy bear from the CareFlight Bear Adoption Program and a $55 donation Mr Salt said they never agreed to and could not afford.
Mr Salt said his wife has been affected by a stroke for the past seven years, but still needed access to a phone in an emergency and answered a telemarketing call from CareFlight representatives in April.
He said, although she did not want the bear she was talked into buying it but was not aware there was also a $55 donation required so he was surprised when CareFlight billed him $69.95.
Mr Salt said he had spoken to representatives three times over the issue and received four letters requesting the money.
Debt collection agency MorganDunn was also called in for the matter and sent a letter to the couple on July 22 to recoup the fill amount, $69.95.
Mr Salt said he mailed the bear back, as well as a cheque for $14.95, however, the cheque was returned due to an incorrect address and was resent, but the bear appeared to have been lost in the mail and the cheque also had not arrived.
“I sent it back a month or six weeks ago,” he said.
The couple have also received more telemarketing calls from the company trying to get them to donate.
Since being contacted about the issue on Tuesday, a CareFlight spokeswoman said CareFlight would waive the costs.
“CareFlight is a charity that relies on the generosity of supporters to save lives. To help keep our costs down, like many other charities we use external, independent companies for telemarketing and fulfilment purposes, that is to process orders and send out or recover merchandise,” she said.
“Mr Salt’s calls were made directly to the fulfilment company, which to-date has not received the bear or outstanding payment. However, at CareFlight’s request, we have instructed the company to forego the bear and outstanding payment.
“We apologise to Mr Salt and his wife for any inconvenience caused. We have also ensured that Mr Salt is no longer contacted by telemarketers fundraising on our behalf.”
tanya.marschke@fairfaxmedia.com.au