Dr. Rob, Psychic, says my elderly mom must pay $ ?

We have a local TV station that will take a consumers complaints about different establishments, and delve into it for them. You'd be surprised how many times the harassing stops as soon as the cameras and questions start. Maybe it's time to shed some light on these things, I'll bet you'll be surprised how many other folks will come to the surface with the same issues.

Mitzi, you are so right. I too have used the prepaid postage envelopes that were sent to solicit my dad, and sent them back their own correspondence with a huge note that said "PLEASE TAKE ME OFF OF YOUR MAILING LIST!" This has cut in half the amount of junk mail sent. Also my husband made these stickers that said "RETURN TO SENDER, FRAUDULENT MAIL!" This seemed to have worked the most.

Please you don't have to pay him, just send the letter or bill back saying you are reporting him to the District Attorney's Office. My mom stopped getting bills after that. I write all over the envelopes "MAIL FRAUD" "ELDER ABUSE" POSTMASTER STOP THE FRAUD!!! They eventually stop sending us stuff. But in between, now its the Sweepstakes I have to try and convince my mother that they are all fake. So exhaustive!

He's just a scammer, he finally stopped - I sent his letter back saying that I would report him to the district attorneys office, and that it was elder abuse!
I wrote all over the envelope "Post Master" - this is "Fraud Mail" and Elder Abuse" Return!!!! - and send it back. They just want money, but if you harass them back, they stop. We get so much mail like this, its so frustrating!!

Hi naheaton! I originally posted the following answer on April 16, 2010. I'm going to copy it and paste it below, just in case you're not able to go back that far through the threads of the original question.

I hope you're not going through the same problem I did, but if you are, try doing what I did and you'll probably be rid of him.

Good luck to you! And now, here's my answer from April 16th:

Hi Folks--First let me apologize if my post appears once as a partial post and now as a complete one. I stopped in the middle of typing the first one to check old emails for verification of what I had written and when I tried to come back to my post, it was gone. I don't know if it cleared itself or posted.

In any case, what I was trying to let you all know was that #1 I'm sorry for not following up and letting everyone know how things turned out.

#2--what I did was follow the advice of one of the responders--I contacted the Better Business Bureau of Delaware and filed an online complaint--it's completely free of charge.

I don't remember all of the details because it was quite awhile ago, but I do remember typing in the exact text of Dr. Rob's "threatening" collection letter on the complaint form so they'd know exactly how emotionally threatening his words were.

In response to my filing, I received emails from the BBB of Delaware--letting me know they'd received my complaint; that they'd investigate; what their findings were.

At the conclusion of their investigation, Dr. Rob agreed to stop sending collection letters to my mom, to stop writing to her altogether. He did send one last letter to her stating something along the lines of "I'm sorry to see our association come to an end...you will not be receiving any further bills from me...etc. "

Thankfully, he did keep his word--no more letters, no more bills.

My mom was completely shocked when I told her how many other individuals were being swindled by him. She had actually become afraid to stop paying him; I guess because she was fearful that he just might have some power to make her life fall apart or be "hexed" if he got mad at her.

One thing I learned through this was that if I took the time to print out the research I had discovered--in this case, that was the comments made by all of you--it carried a LOT more weight than if I just told her about them.

Now I calmly ask her to let me research an entity before she sends money to them--I don't chastise her or make her feel foolish for thinking she should send them money. I just tell her, "Mom, let me check them out on the Internet and I'll print out what I find so you can look it over and decide."

That approach is working so much better than my previous approach--"MOM...you paid WHO to do WHAT!!!! They're crooks! Why did you send them money?!!!!"

Even though I just turned 60, I'm still learning and still realizing that the two very important gifts I can give my mom are dignity and respect. And raising my voice or speaking to her like she's my daughter--and a foolish daughter at that--instead of my mother isn't showing her dignity or respect.

But I still must admit that I hope individuals like Dr. Rob who prey on the fears of others and those who take advantage of people burn in hell for their actions.

Thanks so much for all your support.

Barb

My mother got the same letters, he is horrible and a monster - I am reporting him to the Delaware district attorney's office, I suggest you do the same. My mom is 87. Please let me know what you find out, thanks

Chris

Check with the Consumer Protection Agency for your state and file a complaint on this guy. If you can find out how much money your mother has sent him, ask for it back as damages. I wouldn't pay him another cent. Let him take your mother to Small Claims Court - he won't.

Julie Q

Hi, this is all so sad and called "Elder Financial Abuse". I know, because I have been working daily for 11 months trying to straighten out my own father's financial nightmares. He too was giving many organizations hundreds of dollars. I filed an Elder Financial Abuse claim with my Social Services Dept. in my father's state. He too was also paying a psychic money which also sent him a bill. Let them try to take an old man that they have been financially abusing, to a collection agency. I'm dealing with the same thing, a bill collector trying to get more money from my dad. They call my house everyday, I just tell them to try it. They never call back again, because they know it would not stand up in court. I have many stories I can tell you about, but not enough time or space here. Read past postings, and you can hear about the devastation. Good Luck to you all, and keep fighting for your loved ones. Nauseated

Same problem with Dr. Rob here. My husband has Dementia and ordered something. I do not know what it was. Dr. Rob continues to badger us by saying he will "pursue this matter more aggressively and will take additional legal steps necessary to bring this matter to a satisfactory conclusion. He states that he has been "taken advantage of", etc. Now my husband is in a nursing home and we have to pay for his care. Dr. Rob is last on my list to pay. He is demanding, threatening and a criminal.

Lynne M

inhym3.... GREAT IDEA!!