| Octapharma Plasma |
| Octapharma Plasma Payment ripoff Charlotte, North Carolina |
| 20th of Dec, 2010 by User379713 |
Due to the economic mess, I found myself needing the extra money available by donating plasma. I started at a different location owned by Octapharma, and quit when the technicians almost ruined my arm from incompetent needle sticks. I changed to a different location, which was then owned by IBR. The service was much faster, the technicians were much better qualified, and you were paid cash on the spot.
After a couple of months, this location was acquired by Octapharma, and things immediately went downhill. First, they started paying by check, which is less convenient, but still acceptable. Then, staffing levels were cut, so wait times increased. Then, they cut the payment made for donating. Finally, they began paying with a Citibank debit card. Now, if you want cash from an ATM, it will cost you whatever the owner of the ATM wants to charge you. I used one listed on Citi's website, and it cost me $3. That may not sound like much, but I'm not there to support Citibank, or any other bank. I was also hit with a charge for getting cash back with a grocery store purchase. Avoid these people, you can do better.
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| It isn't just North Carolina. We got hit with the same problems in Salt Lake City, UT. Donation fees cut monthly to almost the same amount when I donated 20 years ago. I hate the new card. Anything for a buck for Citibank and Octapharma. |
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| Same thing down in Dallas, TX. The centre I used to go to was IBR and then Octapharma has bought them out and it's just gone downhill. Yesterday I donated and they tried to recheck my veins due to a bruise from their incompetent sticking which would have resulted in my being disqualified by them due to being a single arm donor. I'm going to change centers soon. I had much better experiences at places like ZLB and Biomat. |
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submitted today, July 27, 2011:
Today I requested copies of the forms I signed when I first began donating at Octapharma approximately Dec. 2010. I was told that they could not give that to me as it is SOP that donor could never touch records again after signing doc's to become donor and they could not show them to me. Then I was told I was terminated from being able to donate.
This is after they found that I have spoken with the Regional Director and after last week people in the waiting area were complaining about the treatment of donors and long waits. I told them I had called Octapharma Corp. A man turned around and asked me if I still had the number. I gave him the Regional Director number and another man sitting beside him picked up the number too. In a few minutes another man walked up to me and asked for the number saying one of the employee's was a friend and had told him to get the number and call too. The employee said it was not their fault, which I believe is true. It must be upper management that controls the scheduling and shows no regard for the time and travel that donors must give and go through to donate.
Today while being removed from the machine I mentioned to the tech that last week it took 15 minutes for them to take me off the machine after it stopped. I had a needle stuck in my arm doing nothing for 15 minutes. And we all know this is a big needle. This tech said “Well, coworkers see you need help and go and hide”.
I was told last week (when I raised my arm to show I was done) by the tech doing sticking that the other tech on the floor must continue setting up machines so she could keep sticking and would get to me as soon as possible. They don’t wear their name tags which Mr. Morgan said they were supposed to do when I mentioned that to him.
I have spoken with Tony Morgan, Regional Director. He contacted me when I contacted the CEO's office and spoke with Secy to CEO regarding it taking so long once one arrives to donate. Mr. Morgan stated to me that it is their goal to get people in and out in an hour and a half, if not more quickly. The problem is they never put enough staff on duty and one is not allowed to make an appointment. People with certain blood type characteristics are taken back as soon as they walk in the door and are paid more as well. That doesn't seem fair to the many donors that have been sitting in the waiting area for up to 2 hours. It does seem to be taking advantage of the people who are trying to donate. My doctor's office told me yesterday that it is not a clinical environment and they are regulated by no one. So does that mean we are at their mercy? |
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| We have those same experiences here in Birmingham, Al. I started donating at the Octapharma just after it was bought from IBR. When i started donating a year ago the pay was better but the wait was horrible. I was always being stuck several times in each arm in order to get a good donation. Things got so bad that the employees were complaining about management, the donors were complaing about floor staff and management and eventually corporate was bothered enough to do something about it. All management was fired and i do mean all, new and more experienced phlebotomist were hired. They have kiosks where you screen yourself which makes screening faster and easier for donors and employees but the pay has gone down, you're not allowed to have any electronics period or chew gum. They recently changed from checks to the prepaid citi card which is an inconvenience due to fees and charges. I go mainly for gas money so any extra that may be left is good for like redbox rentals. |
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