AskDoctorParker.com Bait-And-Switch Medical Advice Rip-off Artists Los Angeles California Internet

I just encountered a truly egregious manipulation called "AskDoctorParker.com"

I'd experienced a slight medical nuisance and somehow found this site that offered 'live doctors (8) available to answer your questions".  No price was mentioned but there was an invitation to ask my queion.  

The site is cleverly designed to keep you busy (i.e. distracted) by suggesting that some 'live' doctor is 'processing' your information and forming a response.  At this time, no mention of any fee for this answer has been made.

I continued along with some equally innocuous requests for data -- like did I want to have the answer emailed to me as well? Did I have access to a printer? etc.  Very engaging and very distracting.  I almost hate to admit that I had to admire these guys ability to engage me with their site.  

The next thing that happens is I'm told that my 'answer' will be ready to deliver and I was told they would need to charge my credit card $1.49.  

At first I thought, "Oh, this is BS".  But then I did a quick search on Google and, sure enough, some good-sounding reviews were found on page 1.  It was enough to make me risk $1.49 to see what the good doctor would tell me about why a muscle in my hand was so sore when I hadn't injured it.

A few more screens later and a screen shows up.  It says something to the effect that, "The nature of your question requires a medical consult to answer properly . . . and I can get that for "only $49".  I had the option to 'accept' or 'decline'.

Feeling there was a 'bait-and-switch' going on from the $1.49 to $49 fee to get the answer . . . I clicked 'decline'.  

Then a new screen appears that tells me, "Your credit card has been billed $1.49 for asking my question today and will be billed $19.95 each month for an annual subscription to access this service".  WHAT?!!!  More like WTHeck!

I actually almost missed that screen's message as it was pushed by me so quickly.  But I did see it and immediately went to the TOS and learned that their EULA is longer than Apple's or Microsofts (at least it seemed that way!).

Anyone who has to have an uber-long TOS has it for a reason . . . to protect the guilty!

Anyway, I did send an email to "support@askdoctorparker.com" as it suggested and requested an immediate cancellation of the BS subscription which I was TOLD I had and which I never ASKED FOR. 

I probably deserve to lose $1.49 for being so damned gullible to believe this site would deliver what it suggested.  It was too good to be true and, sure enough, that old adage has been proven correct once again.

I do hope this site is not more evil than I suspect.  Any site that operates in such a deceitful manner should not be trusted and avoided at all costs.  The sad part is that I'm sure people who sincerely seek a medical opinion -- I just wanted to know if my symptom suggested a visit to my doctor or a couple of aspirins would be most appropriate -- are going to get side-tracked by these people who seem to have had more desire to compromise people than help them.

It's great to offer advice in exchange for money.  I'm a consultant and I do that for a living.  But I don't game people out of their money and make presumptions about their desire to pay a monthly retainer when that was never offered and only assumed.  That's bad Karma boys . . . and I hope that catches up with you.