Narconon Southern California A complete rip-off for drug treatment Newport Beach California

I understand your conserns but would like to say that I went through the program and worked for them for about one year. After 29 years of drug abuse, Narconon helped me get clean when other programs did not.

I am not a Scientologist. I am a Christian and Narconon never tried to convert me. I would just ask that you not judge something too harshly that you do not fully understand.

My family was also lied to to get us to put my brother in one of their centers.  He was in CA why mi?  So they can cut off communication and you can't check up on them.  All these stories are true.  They lie about medical supervised detox and have people go through hell on mattresses on the floor banging their heads against the wall.  They lie about one on one counseling, which is the bull baiting sitting knee to knee yelling obsenities, disrespecting the other person trying to get them to react, this is hostile and is abusive and sometimes is a hate crime to call names.  This is drug and alcohol treatment?  No one is even qualified because they hire new graduates to work for nothing just more Scientology training so they don't even know what they are doing.  We got my brother out and into a real 12 step program, where no the don't give them drugs, but their were in just his group 3 guys from Narconon programs.  Great success rate that they lie about.  Everything is a lie.  If they are so proud of L Ron and his ravings why not be honest and tell people before they spend $25,000 that this is who's rantings the program is based on.  Why lie?  Because nobody would come!!!!!!  And please don't consider putting your loved one into this place as it will f up their head. 

Its funny to listen to an outsiders prospective on the program...Ive attended the program and I am living proof that it works if you want it to...so bashing the technology, TR's, bullbait and all that,which may seem silly to an outsider actually does have validity. Mind you, these drills are only a fraction of the processes at narconon. These training routines get drug addicts to sit comfortably (I know for a fact that people who have been on drugs and alcohol for years and are just "feeling" their bodies once again are often unable to sit still or be affected by all thats around them).

Scientology is what Narconon is founded on yes, however the programs premise is to get addicts off drugs without medication which is commonly given at all other types of rehab facilities..why put addicts on drugs to get off of them? Does that make sense? No. So I recommend that a 3rd party really go through the program before bashing it..It works..It worked for me, for friends and loved ones.

Its unfortunate that your experience was less than pleasurable with the insurance and all that, but this program does save lives so to post ridiculous comments up on this page is immature and there is a lot of FALSE DATA thrown in..There is a reason why so many people have great experiences with Narconon and so few dont....something to ponder.
-A thankful recovered addict, Christine

We would like to add to our previous statements the following information:

We believe that as a consumers we have been lied to by Narconon via false verbal and written statements, promotional materials and documents which advertised promises which were not fulfilled. This includes false statements in Narconons introductory material that is sent prior to admittance, which states that they will file an insurance claim "after" 30 days of treatment. Additionally we were verbally told over the phone prior to our sons admittance and again in person at the actual admittance on May 29, 2007 by Bob Markham the program director, that Blue Cross/Blue Shield was accepted for reimbursement of our $29,000.00 paid them for the rehabilitation services. We have since found out on December 6, 2007, that Narconon IS NOT an approved facility through Blue Cross/Blue Shield and that they knew about this from the beginning. Also there is NO SECOND CLAIM on file.

After our son left the facility in late June 2007, 31 days after admittance, we attempted to recover our reimbursement, with the understanding that we would receive a complete reimbursement. We've tried ever since then to obtain what what we were promised.

Today my husband received a call from Gayle of Narconon's billing dept. stating that "the insurance is taking the full 30 days to review the claim", saying that this is why we have not heard anything back from Blue Cross/Blue Shield. This comment was disturbing because it was long past the 30 days. WOW...............ANOTHER LIE.

Instead of calling her back, we wrote Gayle an email stating that we'd already received a earlier call from her on October 17, 2007 stating that they had filed the claim that day, which means we would have heard something back (if the insurance is taking the 30 days) by November 17, 2007. Per my records Gayle had also called on November 20, 2007 to tell me that she hadn't heard anything back as of then which is OVER the 30 days.

I further informed Gayle in writing, as follows:

So I'm not sure what this is all about when we are now at December 3, 2007, over the 30 days and still don't have an answer (see attached email). Also Keith said that you told him that insurance is filed AFTER a student "completes" the program and then you asked him if he completed it. No, our son did not and this is NOT what we were told or shown regarding insurance reimbursement. He completed 31 days of the program. It states in Narconon's printed packet that "After 30 days of TREATMENT, we will create a claim and submit it to the insurance company of the student for processing by the insurance company." It says nothing about "COMPLETION."

Once again, I felt that I was being drawn into this game with the insurance and the possibility of there being something illegal being done on their part. I ended the email to her by saying:

Gayle, I thank you for all that you have done thus far and I realize that you have been thrown into this situation, but at this time I am requesting a copy of what your center has filed to our son's insurance (not the acknowledgment from Blue Cross that they've received it) with all of the billing codes and such since this was not supplied to us. I would ask that you fax it to xxxxxxxxx by end of business day December 5, 2007. I do not have any more faith in what Narconon is doing not only with the insurance but as an entity as a whole and am requesting a full refund. We have been stalled long enough and request that anything else at this point be handled by email or in letter format. No more phone calls, written only. WELL WE NEVER RECEIVED THAT FAX! WHAT A SURPRISE.

The possibility of Narconon committing insurance fraud is very real. Numerous times we were stalled or told that the papers were being processed, or that they had to be changed to different coding, and we allowed Narconon the time they said thy needed in order to process the paperwork under our son's health insurance policy but this has been going since June 2007 and enough is enough.

We recently found out that their facility is stated on the Federal governments data base at Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) as NOT accepting insurance as a form of payment and we believe that this is further proof that we have been lied to and that fraud and false advertising appears to be a factor in this matter.

Additionally we have been lied to regarding the "guarantee" of re-admittance. We were told on NUMEROUS occasions that if our son left the program and needed to come back he could do so within 6 months and start the program again without any costs to us. Desperate to get him into a program and having no funds available, we called back 3-1/2 months later to inquire about re-admittance, only be told "we dont think we want him back." So, on top of the false advertising of reimbursement of health insurance, we were given a guarantee and then denied. We were told about both in their written statements and verbal statements, which fits the city's criteria for false advertising.

Perhaps the reason Narconon did not want our son back is due to the fact that we were persistent in trying to get the reimbursement we were promised. Nevertheless, he was entitled to re-entry and was denied by Amy at the Warner Springs facility. Narconon's printed material clearly states that if a student is suspended or dismissed from the facility by Narconon officials the students chances of being allowed back in residence are greatly diminished. Let me be perfectly clear. Our son left on his own free will. He left because he was being verbally threatened, brainwashed into Scientology beliefs he did not agree with and he was badgered daily to narc on other students by the staff at the Warner Springs Facility as part of his 'treatment' in their program which is unlike any other program we researched.

They probably didn't know if they want him back or not because he was unwilling to cooperate nor agree with Scientology's shadier policies used at the facility, apparently a requirement unmentioned in any of the paperwork we received and our son signed. His behavior was never such as to warrant a suspension or dismissal from their program. He was there for HIS recovery, not to run interference for the facility's lack of ability to control the thoughts, communications and actions of the other students.

We were told that they do not practice Scientology there but our son lived in fear while there because of the pressure he was under to cooperate in Scientology practices against his will. Nearly every promise made to us has been a lie. We are in need of your help in getting these practices stopped or clearly advertised in truth. Personally, we need our refund of monies paid so that we can get our son the help he needs. We have since found other facilities after someone sent us the information at the Federal SAMHSA website.

We believe Narconon misrepresents the truth in both their written advertisements and verbal statements advertising the program to unsuspecting people like us before our sons admittance to their Newport Beach facility and afterwards in trying to hold them to what was promised. In 2006 there were numerous civil cases filed in San Diego county against the 2 particular Narconon facilities my son was sent to.

San Diego County has 3 cases to date on their online site::
Last Name requested: NARCONON First Name requested: Search Result Page: 1

SN036736 NARCONON SAN DIEGO FOOTE, MARY LEE
North County Civil 03/31/2006
IN053393 NARCONON SAN DIEGO MARTIN, MELINDA
North County Civil 06/19/2006
GIN031054 NARCONON SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CARTER, KEVIN
North County Civil 07/03/2003
IN053393 NARCONON SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA MARTIN, MELINDA
North County Civil 06/19/2006
IN053393 NARCONON WARNER SPRINGS MARTIN, MELINDA
North County Civil 06/19/2006
http://www.sandiego.courts.ca.gov/CISPublic/enter

There have been settlements before and after civil proceedings but all come with gag agreements attached to them so people won't talk about what is going on if they don't give up in the interim. The Luthy case against Narconon Stonehawk in MI was the only case on record that I know of to date file for fraud and deception trade practices. You can read their complaint to see that these practices are not limited to the facility our son went to.
VERIFIED COMPLAINT FOR FRAUD IN THE INDUCEMENT, UNFAIR OR
DECEPTIVE TRADE PRACTICES BREACH OF CONTRACT AND UNJUST
ENRICHMENT
http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/Stop-Narconon/StoneHawk/Luthy/20070109-luthy-vs-narcononstonehawk.htm

This is our complaint, in addition to what was outlined in our letter dated November 29, 2007. We ask that you investigate this economic crime in full for complete reimbursement of $29,000.00 for our sons very brief and horrific stay. Once we get our reimbursement we can then place him in a facility that will work on treating him and TRULY aid us in helping to save his life.

We would like to add to our previous statements the following information:

We believe that as a consumers we have been lied to by Narconon via false verbal and written statements, promotional materials and documents which advertised promises which were not fulfilled. This includes false statements in Narconons introductory material that is sent prior to admittance, which states that they will file an insurance claim "after" 30 days of treatment. Additionally we were verbally told over the phone prior to our sons admittance and again in person at the actual admittance on May 29, 2007 by Bob Markham the program director, that Blue Cross/Blue Shield was accepted for reimbursement of our $29,000.00 paid them for the rehabilitation services. We have since found out on December 6, 2007, that Narconon IS NOT an approved facility through Blue Cross/Blue Shield and that they knew about this from the beginning. Also there is NO SECOND CLAIM on file.

After our son left the facility in late June 2007, 31 days after admittance, we attempted to recover our reimbursement, with the understanding that we would receive a complete reimbursement. We've tried ever since then to obtain what what we were promised.

Today my husband received a call from Gayle of Narconon's billing dept. stating that "the insurance is taking the full 30 days to review the claim", saying that this is why we have not heard anything back from Blue Cross/Blue Shield. This comment was disturbing because it was long past the 30 days. WOW...............ANOTHER LIE.

Instead of calling her back, we wrote Gayle an email stating that we'd already received a earlier call from her on October 17, 2007 stating that they had filed the claim that day, which means we would have heard something back (if the insurance is taking the 30 days) by November 17, 2007. Per my records Gayle had also called on November 20, 2007 to tell me that she hadn't heard anything back as of then which is OVER the 30 days.

I further informed Gayle in writing, as follows:

So I'm not sure what this is all about when we are now at December 3, 2007, over the 30 days and still don't have an answer (see attached email). Also Keith said that you told him that insurance is filed AFTER a student "completes" the program and then you asked him if he completed it. No, our son did not and this is NOT what we were told or shown regarding insurance reimbursement. He completed 31 days of the program. It states in Narconon's printed packet that "After 30 days of TREATMENT, we will create a claim and submit it to the insurance company of the student for processing by the insurance company." It says nothing about "COMPLETION."

Once again, I felt that I was being drawn into this game with the insurance and the possibility of there being something illegal being done on their part. I ended the email to her by saying:

Gayle, I thank you for all that you have done thus far and I realize that you have been thrown into this situation, but at this time I am requesting a copy of what your center has filed to our son's insurance (not the acknowledgment from Blue Cross that they've received it) with all of the billing codes and such since this was not supplied to us. I would ask that you fax it to xxxxxxxxx by end of business day December 5, 2007. I do not have any more faith in what Narconon is doing not only with the insurance but as an entity as a whole and am requesting a full refund. We have been stalled long enough and request that anything else at this point be handled by email or in letter format. No more phone calls, written only. WELL WE NEVER RECEIVED THAT FAX! WHAT A SURPRISE.

The possibility of Narconon committing insurance fraud is very real. Numerous times we were stalled or told that the papers were being processed, or that they had to be changed to different coding, and we allowed Narconon the time they said thy needed in order to process the paperwork under our son's health insurance policy but this has been going since June 2007 and enough is enough.

We recently found out that their facility is stated on the Federal governments data base at Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) as NOT accepting insurance as a form of payment and we believe that this is further proof that we have been lied to and that fraud and false advertising appears to be a factor in this matter.

Additionally we have been lied to regarding the "guarantee" of re-admittance. We were told on NUMEROUS occasions that if our son left the program and needed to come back he could do so within 6 months and start the program again without any costs to us. Desperate to get him into a program and having no funds available, we called back 3-1/2 months later to inquire about re-admittance, only be told "we dont think we want him back." So, on top of the false advertising of reimbursement of health insurance, we were given a guarantee and then denied. We were told about both in their written statements and verbal statements, which fits the city's criteria for false advertising.

Perhaps the reason Narconon did not want our son back is due to the fact that we were persistent in trying to get the reimbursement we were promised. Nevertheless, he was entitled to re-entry and was denied by Amy at the Warner Springs facility. Narconon's printed material clearly states that if a student is suspended or dismissed from the facility by Narconon officials the students chances of being allowed back in residence are greatly diminished. Let me be perfectly clear. Our son left on his own free will. He left because he was being verbally threatened, brainwashed into Scientology beliefs he did not agree with and he was badgered daily to narc on other students by the staff at the Warner Springs Facility as part of his 'treatment' in their program which is unlike any other program we researched.

They probably didn't know if they want him back or not because he was unwilling to cooperate nor agree with Scientology's shadier policies used at the facility, apparently a requirement unmentioned in any of the paperwork we received and our son signed. His behavior was never such as to warrant a suspension or dismissal from their program. He was there for HIS recovery, not to run interference for the facility's lack of ability to control the thoughts, communications and actions of the other students.

We were told that they do not practice Scientology there but our son lived in fear while there because of the pressure he was under to cooperate in Scientology practices against his will. Nearly every promise made to us has been a lie. We are in need of your help in getting these practices stopped or clearly advertised in truth. Personally, we need our refund of monies paid so that we can get our son the help he needs. We have since found other facilities after someone sent us the information at the Federal SAMHSA website.

We believe Narconon misrepresents the truth in both their written advertisements and verbal statements advertising the program to unsuspecting people like us before our sons admittance to their Newport Beach facility and afterwards in trying to hold them to what was promised. In 2006 there were numerous civil cases filed in San Diego county against the 2 particular Narconon facilities my son was sent to.

San Diego County has 3 cases to date on their online site::
Last Name requested: NARCONON First Name requested: Search Result Page: 1

SN036736 NARCONON SAN DIEGO FOOTE, MARY LEE
North County Civil 03/31/2006
IN053393 NARCONON SAN DIEGO MARTIN, MELINDA
North County Civil 06/19/2006
GIN031054 NARCONON SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CARTER, KEVIN
North County Civil 07/03/2003
IN053393 NARCONON SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA MARTIN, MELINDA
North County Civil 06/19/2006
IN053393 NARCONON WARNER SPRINGS MARTIN, MELINDA
North County Civil 06/19/2006
http://www.sandiego.courts.ca.gov/CISPublic/enter

There have been settlements before and after civil proceedings but all come with gag agreements attached to them so people won't talk about what is going on if they don't give up in the interim. The Luthy case against Narconon Stonehawk in MI was the only case on record that I know of to date file for fraud and deception trade practices. You can read their complaint to see that these practices are not limited to the facility our son went to.
VERIFIED COMPLAINT FOR FRAUD IN THE INDUCEMENT, UNFAIR OR
DECEPTIVE TRADE PRACTICES BREACH OF CONTRACT AND UNJUST
ENRICHMENT
http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/Stop-Narconon/StoneHawk/Luthy/20070109-luthy-vs-narcononstonehawk.htm

This is our complaint, in addition to what was outlined in our letter dated November 29, 2007. We ask that you investigate this economic crime in full for complete reimbursement of $29,000.00 for our sons very brief and horrific stay. Once we get our reimbursement we can then place him in a facility that will work on treating him and TRULY aid us in helping to save his life.

We would like to add to our previous statements the following information:

We believe that as a consumers we have been lied to by Narconon via false verbal and written statements, promotional materials and documents which advertised promises which were not fulfilled. This includes false statements in Narconons introductory material that is sent prior to admittance, which states that they will file an insurance claim "after" 30 days of treatment. Additionally we were verbally told over the phone prior to our sons admittance and again in person at the actual admittance on May 29, 2007 by Bob Markham the program director, that Blue Cross/Blue Shield was accepted for reimbursement of our $29,000.00 paid them for the rehabilitation services. We have since found out on December 6, 2007, that Narconon IS NOT an approved facility through Blue Cross/Blue Shield and that they knew about this from the beginning. Also there is NO SECOND CLAIM on file.

After our son left the facility in late June 2007, 31 days after admittance, we attempted to recover our reimbursement, with the understanding that we would receive a complete reimbursement. We've tried ever since then to obtain what what we were promised.

Today my husband received a call from Gayle of Narconon's billing dept. stating that "the insurance is taking the full 30 days to review the claim", saying that this is why we have not heard anything back from Blue Cross/Blue Shield. This comment was disturbing because it was long past the 30 days. WOW...............ANOTHER LIE.

Instead of calling her back, we wrote Gayle an email stating that we'd already received a earlier call from her on October 17, 2007 stating that they had filed the claim that day, which means we would have heard something back (if the insurance is taking the 30 days) by November 17, 2007. Per my records Gayle had also called on November 20, 2007 to tell me that she hadn't heard anything back as of then which is OVER the 30 days.

I further informed Gayle in writing, as follows:

So I'm not sure what this is all about when we are now at December 3, 2007, over the 30 days and still don't have an answer (see attached email). Also Keith said that you told him that insurance is filed AFTER a student "completes" the program and then you asked him if he completed it. No, our son did not and this is NOT what we were told or shown regarding insurance reimbursement. He completed 31 days of the program. It states in Narconon's printed packet that "After 30 days of TREATMENT, we will create a claim and submit it to the insurance company of the student for processing by the insurance company." It says nothing about "COMPLETION."

Once again, I felt that I was being drawn into this game with the insurance and the possibility of there being something illegal being done on their part. I ended the email to her by saying:

Gayle, I thank you for all that you have done thus far and I realize that you have been thrown into this situation, but at this time I am requesting a copy of what your center has filed to our son's insurance (not the acknowledgment from Blue Cross that they've received it) with all of the billing codes and such since this was not supplied to us. I would ask that you fax it to xxxxxxxxx by end of business day December 5, 2007. I do not have any more faith in what Narconon is doing not only with the insurance but as an entity as a whole and am requesting a full refund. We have been stalled long enough and request that anything else at this point be handled by email or in letter format. No more phone calls, written only. WELL WE NEVER RECEIVED THAT FAX! WHAT A SURPRISE.

The possibility of Narconon committing insurance fraud is very real. Numerous times we were stalled or told that the papers were being processed, or that they had to be changed to different coding, and we allowed Narconon the time they said thy needed in order to process the paperwork under our son's health insurance policy but this has been going since June 2007 and enough is enough.

We recently found out that their facility is stated on the Federal governments data base at Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) as NOT accepting insurance as a form of payment and we believe that this is further proof that we have been lied to and that fraud and false advertising appears to be a factor in this matter.

Additionally we have been lied to regarding the "guarantee" of re-admittance. We were told on NUMEROUS occasions that if our son left the program and needed to come back he could do so within 6 months and start the program again without any costs to us. Desperate to get him into a program and having no funds available, we called back 3-1/2 months later to inquire about re-admittance, only be told "we dont think we want him back." So, on top of the false advertising of reimbursement of health insurance, we were given a guarantee and then denied. We were told about both in their written statements and verbal statements, which fits the city's criteria for false advertising.

Perhaps the reason Narconon did not want our son back is due to the fact that we were persistent in trying to get the reimbursement we were promised. Nevertheless, he was entitled to re-entry and was denied by Amy at the Warner Springs facility. Narconon's printed material clearly states that if a student is suspended or dismissed from the facility by Narconon officials the students chances of being allowed back in residence are greatly diminished. Let me be perfectly clear. Our son left on his own free will. He left because he was being verbally threatened, brainwashed into Scientology beliefs he did not agree with and he was badgered daily to narc on other students by the staff at the Warner Springs Facility as part of his 'treatment' in their program which is unlike any other program we researched.

They probably didn't know if they want him back or not because he was unwilling to cooperate nor agree with Scientology's shadier policies used at the facility, apparently a requirement unmentioned in any of the paperwork we received and our son signed. His behavior was never such as to warrant a suspension or dismissal from their program. He was there for HIS recovery, not to run interference for the facility's lack of ability to control the thoughts, communications and actions of the other students.

We were told that they do not practice Scientology there but our son lived in fear while there because of the pressure he was under to cooperate in Scientology practices against his will. Nearly every promise made to us has been a lie. We are in need of your help in getting these practices stopped or clearly advertised in truth. Personally, we need our refund of monies paid so that we can get our son the help he needs. We have since found other facilities after someone sent us the information at the Federal SAMHSA website.

We believe Narconon misrepresents the truth in both their written advertisements and verbal statements advertising the program to unsuspecting people like us before our sons admittance to their Newport Beach facility and afterwards in trying to hold them to what was promised. In 2006 there were numerous civil cases filed in San Diego county against the 2 particular Narconon facilities my son was sent to.

San Diego County has 3 cases to date on their online site::
Last Name requested: NARCONON First Name requested: Search Result Page: 1

SN036736 NARCONON SAN DIEGO FOOTE, MARY LEE
North County Civil 03/31/2006
IN053393 NARCONON SAN DIEGO MARTIN, MELINDA
North County Civil 06/19/2006
GIN031054 NARCONON SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CARTER, KEVIN
North County Civil 07/03/2003
IN053393 NARCONON SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA MARTIN, MELINDA
North County Civil 06/19/2006
IN053393 NARCONON WARNER SPRINGS MARTIN, MELINDA
North County Civil 06/19/2006
http://www.sandiego.courts.ca.gov/CISPublic/enter

There have been settlements before and after civil proceedings but all come with gag agreements attached to them so people won't talk about what is going on if they don't give up in the interim. The Luthy case against Narconon Stonehawk in MI was the only case on record that I know of to date file for fraud and deception trade practices. You can read their complaint to see that these practices are not limited to the facility our son went to.
VERIFIED COMPLAINT FOR FRAUD IN THE INDUCEMENT, UNFAIR OR
DECEPTIVE TRADE PRACTICES BREACH OF CONTRACT AND UNJUST
ENRICHMENT
http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/Stop-Narconon/StoneHawk/Luthy/20070109-luthy-vs-narcononstonehawk.htm

This is our complaint, in addition to what was outlined in our letter dated November 29, 2007. We ask that you investigate this economic crime in full for complete reimbursement of $29,000.00 for our sons very brief and horrific stay. Once we get our reimbursement we can then place him in a facility that will work on treating him and TRULY aid us in helping to save his life.

We would like to add to our previous statements the following information:

We believe that as a consumers we have been lied to by Narconon via false verbal and written statements, promotional materials and documents which advertised promises which were not fulfilled. This includes false statements in Narconons introductory material that is sent prior to admittance, which states that they will file an insurance claim "after" 30 days of treatment. Additionally we were verbally told over the phone prior to our sons admittance and again in person at the actual admittance on May 29, 2007 by Bob Markham the program director, that Blue Cross/Blue Shield was accepted for reimbursement of our $29,000.00 paid them for the rehabilitation services. We have since found out on December 6, 2007, that Narconon IS NOT an approved facility through Blue Cross/Blue Shield and that they knew about this from the beginning. Also there is NO SECOND CLAIM on file.

After our son left the facility in late June 2007, 31 days after admittance, we attempted to recover our reimbursement, with the understanding that we would receive a complete reimbursement. We've tried ever since then to obtain what what we were promised.

Today my husband received a call from Gayle of Narconon's billing dept. stating that "the insurance is taking the full 30 days to review the claim", saying that this is why we have not heard anything back from Blue Cross/Blue Shield. This comment was disturbing because it was long past the 30 days. WOW...............ANOTHER LIE.

Instead of calling her back, we wrote Gayle an email stating that we'd already received a earlier call from her on October 17, 2007 stating that they had filed the claim that day, which means we would have heard something back (if the insurance is taking the 30 days) by November 17, 2007. Per my records Gayle had also called on November 20, 2007 to tell me that she hadn't heard anything back as of then which is OVER the 30 days.

I further informed Gayle in writing, as follows:

So I'm not sure what this is all about when we are now at December 3, 2007, over the 30 days and still don't have an answer (see attached email). Also Keith said that you told him that insurance is filed AFTER a student "completes" the program and then you asked him if he completed it. No, our son did not and this is NOT what we were told or shown regarding insurance reimbursement. He completed 31 days of the program. It states in Narconon's printed packet that "After 30 days of TREATMENT, we will create a claim and submit it to the insurance company of the student for processing by the insurance company." It says nothing about "COMPLETION."

Once again, I felt that I was being drawn into this game with the insurance and the possibility of there being something illegal being done on their part. I ended the email to her by saying:

Gayle, I thank you for all that you have done thus far and I realize that you have been thrown into this situation, but at this time I am requesting a copy of what your center has filed to our son's insurance (not the acknowledgment from Blue Cross that they've received it) with all of the billing codes and such since this was not supplied to us. I would ask that you fax it to xxxxxxxxx by end of business day December 5, 2007. I do not have any more faith in what Narconon is doing not only with the insurance but as an entity as a whole and am requesting a full refund. We have been stalled long enough and request that anything else at this point be handled by email or in letter format. No more phone calls, written only. WELL WE NEVER RECEIVED THAT FAX! WHAT A SURPRISE.

The possibility of Narconon committing insurance fraud is very real. Numerous times we were stalled or told that the papers were being processed, or that they had to be changed to different coding, and we allowed Narconon the time they said thy needed in order to process the paperwork under our son's health insurance policy but this has been going since June 2007 and enough is enough.

We recently found out that their facility is stated on the Federal governments data base at Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) as NOT accepting insurance as a form of payment and we believe that this is further proof that we have been lied to and that fraud and false advertising appears to be a factor in this matter.

Additionally we have been lied to regarding the "guarantee" of re-admittance. We were told on NUMEROUS occasions that if our son left the program and needed to come back he could do so within 6 months and start the program again without any costs to us. Desperate to get him into a program and having no funds available, we called back 3-1/2 months later to inquire about re-admittance, only be told "we dont think we want him back." So, on top of the false advertising of reimbursement of health insurance, we were given a guarantee and then denied. We were told about both in their written statements and verbal statements, which fits the city's criteria for false advertising.

Perhaps the reason Narconon did not want our son back is due to the fact that we were persistent in trying to get the reimbursement we were promised. Nevertheless, he was entitled to re-entry and was denied by Amy at the Warner Springs facility. Narconon's printed material clearly states that if a student is suspended or dismissed from the facility by Narconon officials the students chances of being allowed back in residence are greatly diminished. Let me be perfectly clear. Our son left on his own free will. He left because he was being verbally threatened, brainwashed into Scientology beliefs he did not agree with and he was badgered daily to narc on other students by the staff at the Warner Springs Facility as part of his 'treatment' in their program which is unlike any other program we researched.

They probably didn't know if they want him back or not because he was unwilling to cooperate nor agree with Scientology's shadier policies used at the facility, apparently a requirement unmentioned in any of the paperwork we received and our son signed. His behavior was never such as to warrant a suspension or dismissal from their program. He was there for HIS recovery, not to run interference for the facility's lack of ability to control the thoughts, communications and actions of the other students.

We were told that they do not practice Scientology there but our son lived in fear while there because of the pressure he was under to cooperate in Scientology practices against his will. Nearly every promise made to us has been a lie. We are in need of your help in getting these practices stopped or clearly advertised in truth. Personally, we need our refund of monies paid so that we can get our son the help he needs. We have since found other facilities after someone sent us the information at the Federal SAMHSA website.

We believe Narconon misrepresents the truth in both their written advertisements and verbal statements advertising the program to unsuspecting people like us before our sons admittance to their Newport Beach facility and afterwards in trying to hold them to what was promised. In 2006 there were numerous civil cases filed in San Diego county against the 2 particular Narconon facilities my son was sent to.

San Diego County has 3 cases to date on their online site::
Last Name requested: NARCONON First Name requested: Search Result Page: 1

SN036736 NARCONON SAN DIEGO FOOTE, MARY LEE
North County Civil 03/31/2006
IN053393 NARCONON SAN DIEGO MARTIN, MELINDA
North County Civil 06/19/2006
GIN031054 NARCONON SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CARTER, KEVIN
North County Civil 07/03/2003
IN053393 NARCONON SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA MARTIN, MELINDA
North County Civil 06/19/2006
IN053393 NARCONON WARNER SPRINGS MARTIN, MELINDA
North County Civil 06/19/2006
http://www.sandiego.courts.ca.gov/CISPublic/enter

There have been settlements before and after civil proceedings but all come with gag agreements attached to them so people won't talk about what is going on if they don't give up in the interim. The Luthy case against Narconon Stonehawk in MI was the only case on record that I know of to date file for fraud and deception trade practices. You can read their complaint to see that these practices are not limited to the facility our son went to.
VERIFIED COMPLAINT FOR FRAUD IN THE INDUCEMENT, UNFAIR OR
DECEPTIVE TRADE PRACTICES BREACH OF CONTRACT AND UNJUST
ENRICHMENT
http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/Stop-Narconon/StoneHawk/Luthy/20070109-luthy-vs-narcononstonehawk.htm

This is our complaint, in addition to what was outlined in our letter dated November 29, 2007. We ask that you investigate this economic crime in full for complete reimbursement of $29,000.00 for our sons very brief and horrific stay. Once we get our reimbursement we can then place him in a facility that will work on treating him and TRULY aid us in helping to save his life.