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Index Number: 26939

I recently received a 1993 Products Catalog, a publications catalog
and a cover information sheet entitled "News" from the American Foundation
for the Blind.  Here's what it said, in part:

"FACTS ABOUT THE AMERICAN FOUNDATION FOR THE BLIND

The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) is a leading national resource
for people who are blind or visually impaired, the organizations which
serve them, and the general public.  A non-profit organization founded in
1921 and recognized as Helen Keller's cause in the United States, AFB has
as its mission to enable persons who are blind or visually impaired to
achieve equality of access and opportunity that will ensure freedom of
choice in their lives.  AFB is headquartered in New York City, with
regional centers in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, San Francisco and
Washington, D.C.

Here is What We Do:

[some of the list deleted for brevity]

Process and make available an identification card for all legally blind
people which serves as a means of identification, much as a driver's
license does."

I telephoned the New York City office and was told that yes they offer
an identification card but I would have to call 1-800-829-0500 to ask
for their application kit.

I telephoned the 800 number and their operator explained to me that
the application kit cost is $10 and I could use the order form in the
catalog.  I told her I could not find a description of an
identification card or its price in the catalog; she gave me an item
number to fill in and the description being identification card
application kit and the cost as $10 plus an additional $4.50 for
shipping and handling. I asked her why no price or cost factor was
mentioned on their cover sheet.  She disavowed any knowledge of the
information being passed around on their news cover sheet. She also
told me that she, personally, found the cost to be shocking in view of
the fact that most states have Commission for the Blind identification
cards which cost only $5.00.

During the next few minutes of our conversation I told her that I
would like to speak with customer service.  I was connected with Chris
in Customer Service and I told her that  I found their NEWS cover
sheet to be totally misleading with no mention of price; their catalog
didn't list the identification card application kit at all and when
one inquires about it one gets told there is also a $4.50 shipping and
handling fee but "you pay nothing once you send it back to us."

I said "no, you got that wrong - I would have already paid $14.50
which is far from nothing by my checkbook accounting standards."
The $14.50 is demanded in advance with no description or information
about an identification card application kit.  Chris told me that they
used to send the application kit free and then charge $10 when it was
returned to them but they no longer offer that service; fees must be
paid in advance.

False and misleading advertising and misrepresentations shouldn't be
tolerated.  I told customer service that I would be posting this
message to the Internet advising everyone of this hideous practice.

It is all well and good that AFB offers services but to misrepresent
them as being offered and then later stick a price tag on them is quite
another thing.

Does anyone wish to share price information for Commission for the
Blind identification cards in each state?

--
Patricia Ann Bromberger                     -       patt@squid.tram.com
Tramway Unix Systems
"Practice random kindness and senseless acts of beauty." (Anne Herbert)