JOHN HOPKINS HOSPITAL ATTEN: MYRON WEISFELDT, CHAIRMAN PATIENT ROOM TV, TELEPHONE MANDATORY RENTAL SCAM BALTIMORE Maryland

I was a patient in this venerable hospital on recent date. There was present in my simi-private room a television and phone for each bed, e.g. beds A and B. Unlike every other hospital whereat I have been a patient (5 in number throughout the US) the television and phone service is covered by your daily room rate. I have never charged to turn on the TV assigned to my bed, ever. at JOHN HOPKINS you must pay through the nose, so to speak! To be able to activate your television and phone service you must call certain phone number whereupon a computer voice advises you to enter a valid credit card number, to which account there will be billed a rental charge of $10.00.

My nice neighbor in bed A (I was in bed B) was working very hard to turn on his t.v. so he could watch his most favorate football team's game then on the air, the Ravens, I think. I explained to him that he needed to have a vaili credit card and be willing to pay $10 to turn his T.V. on. HE advised that the admission folks advised him to leave all his credit cards at home. I had come in through the ER so i had a credit card on my person and was more than happy to treat him to the game, and did so. I then activated my bed's TV, etc. for the stated $10 charge.

When I was realeased from after 23 hours and when I returned to my hotel I begain to pay certain of my bills on-line with my "blind man software" and when I got to the Visa card bill I was shocked to find listed thereon a $100 charge for T.V./ telephone for time I was in the hospital. This sum was on account of the rentals for beds A and B in my room on Halstead 8. I did not believe what I saw through my low vision assistive devices so I called my credit card company and was advised that what I saw was correct. John Hopkins, or its agent, had scamed me out of $80. Today called 7 numbers at Hopkins to get further information, all to no avail. i could only speak to a computer or voice mail. I was ripped off! An old friend's advice to me of many years ago remained,viz:" NO GOOD DEED GOES UNPUNISHED."

Joseph
ventress, Louisiana
U.S.A.