Showing posts with label MOP. Show all posts
Showing posts with label MOP. Show all posts
Amethyst Foundation, Inc.: Actual Consumer Reviews
Consumer Reviews of Amethyst Foundation, Inc.
As a consumer, before I fork out my hard earned cash, I always Google using terms like, ""Company X" consumer reviews." Invariably, you get dozens of hits with reviews both glowing and critical. This was NOT the case with Amethyst Foundation, Inc.
I found a total of three websites and read a total of five reviews. Thousands of consumers have bought Amethyst Foundation, Inc., products (state-mandated rehab programs). So, why were there only five on-line reviews?
Here's one from "Rip-off Report," describing how Amethyst House lost his records, charged him $500, and diagnosed him as an alcoholic and drug abuser even though he hadn't used for 15 years.
"I had a dwi in 1993 when I was young and stupid. I went to the amethyst foundation and took care of it. 1 year ago(may 2008) the state of nh tells me I didn't. So not having my records from 1993 and amethyst shredding reports after 7 years they told me i had to take the classes again.
At first they said they need $25 to open my records(which they told me they didn't have). I went and got a money order then she tells me it went up to $50..I said in the one day it went up $25 she said yes.lol. Ok so I bit my tongue and did it. Then I paid the $500+ and had to go to classes once a week for many weeks. Then the lady tells me not only am I am alcoholic but a druggy also that i need further treatment. I having drank hard since my young partying days 15 years ago. Let alone ever touching drugs. Hell i haven't even drank a beer in maybe 2 years. I thought i was on candid camera.
So i call NH and they said there is nothing they can do until the amethyst says I completed the treatment. So i call the bastards and ask them ok how can i get my license back. They tell me I need to see a doctor or whatever it is in 3 separate classes. I know now they just want more money to take more of their classes.
So thinking i will out smart them I didn't go through them since I live in mass. I sign up with the psychological center. They then decided I need 8 weeks of treatment plus 2 AA classes a week. OK biting my tongue off now I do it giving the psychological center the money instead. Now i am finished after 2 months. They send the Amethyst my records stating I am not an alky or druggy plus all the forms they need.
I have been going back and forth with these people for 5 months now and still the amethyst will not say yes. They are asking for a 3 page essay from the psych center before they then send me to NH.
Please can anyone help. My boss is giving me until the end of the week or I will lose my job which consist of the company vehicle. How is this legal??? BTW isn't not having a DWI in 15 years proof enough that I don't drink and drive. IDIOTS
Pissedoff
methuen, Massachusetts
U.S.A."
Another from Rip-off Report:
If you have to go to a 'red flag hearing' make sure you ask for detailed information on how their 'test' results were found. Ask them about their control groups. Ask them for the actual numbes and sets of statistics that aren't taken from population samples that favor their theories. The tests are arbitrary and the information isn't based on solid outcomes, im sure its unconstitutional but it makes them feel like they're doing something to protect citizens from harm.
Another issue is the service, I find the employees to be unpleasant and unhelpful. This is an expensive service but the employees act like any other state office because they have job security because they're just another state office... No wait, they're a non-profit, right?
Here's another from Rip-off Report:
Beware of Amethyst Foundation in NH-I paid $585.00 for classes to be taken in one weekend (20 Hrs) so I could reinstate my license in Massachusetts..for a dui that happened in 2004.
After I completed the weekend I was led to believe that this was the last step.....then they spring on me that I need to go to further counciling and AA meetings for 4 months!!!!!
Also found out that this organization was owned by a NewHampshire Senator!!, is't this a conflict of interest .......there were 30 people at this weekend class you figure it out $585.00x30. SOMEONES MAKING SOME BUCKS!!.....does anyone have any info on this SCAM? and who is this senator?
Carol
Weymouth, Massachusetts
U.S.A.
Here's a Google User Review:
These people are horrible!! If you have a chance to do your classes elsewhere do it ! After you complete your 6 classes they will then tell you that you need after care and it will be another 6 months and more money before you get your license back, they will tell you your a drunk a druggy and that you lie, This all happened to me! I am a first time offender! Its all about money, I can only hope that someday that these people can expirence the "horrible pleasure" of dealing with the amethyst foundation.
angryinnh
Here's one from Merchant's Circle:
Don't go there--it's rigged to rip you off!!!
This is the worst place to go to they are all a bunch of miserable recovering drunks and they will make you one on paper too and if you don't lie about how much you have drank in your life or how young you were or if anyone in your family drank you will never get your license back. They trick you into thinking you are going to be assessed after the program but they are doing it while you are there you are better off to go to the classes and not the weekend save your money and get there on time and keep your mouth shut or you will be screwed!!
June 03, 2010 by anonymous in Concord, NH
There Was A Blog On Amethyst Foundation!
Here are all the entries from a blog called Amethyst Foundation NH DWI program:
Amethyst Foundation-It's all lies (Monday, January 19, 2009)
This place is a scam you are better off to go to a 16 week program than waste a weekend being told you are an alcoholic and a piece of shit. I can't wait till one of them needs to deal with this!!
I just got back from a weekend with these people who will try to convince you that if you ever have a drink you are an alcoholic
Amethyst foundation- Joke (Monday, January 19, 2009)
Just found a mistake on my test results, they have the wrong info when inputted by the expert? Most likely to make their case against me(you some day). I sound bitter but if you ever have to go Thur this you will understand.I will continue to help bring down this bs, self-serving institution.
on and on it goes (Thursday, January 29, 2009)
Have been told by the Foundation I need 12 weeks of after care? this is their way of having someone else sign off on their program.they will tell you it is covered by your insurance company, not true, it's a legal matter.
There were 16 replies to this last entry and then the blog went silent:
- Wow!! You are going to be even more upset after you complete your aftercare and then they tell you now you get another hoop to jump thru.
- My friend just went through the same thing with them. She is going to take them to court over stealing her money
- I am in the same situation with these people. Only they have me stonewalled because I went for a red flag hearing. Now they are making it impossible to complete the aftercare, thus making it impossible for me to attain my license. I have a friend who works for the paper. I'd like to bring this foundation down. Feel free to contact me.
- I have my Exit interview tomorrow, hoping for no aftercare because i already went through rehab and jail after my conviction... but by the sounds of it i guess im getting a red flag hearing. this whole setup is a bunch of BS. I would love to see this organization brought to its knees.
- I just went to the weekend program and they literally screw you over. I went to my exit interview and was told Amethyst foundation thought i was an alcoholic. Even though im 23 and barely drink. Its almost funny that i would be labeled as an alcoholic and when you try to deny you are one. They will say well first sign of alcholism is denial. This whole foundation is a money making program trying to stop the whole world from drinking because they are the miserable ones as you can see by there mood and manners. So i sent the thing in for my red flag hearing hopefully i get a trial soon because this is bullshit
- can anyone give advice on how to avoid a red flag hearing in the first place what do you need to do to make them happy???
- I think the place is a sham and somehow would love to expose them for what they really are! I have already been 6 mos without my license on a first offense. They totally lie to you and tell you they are there to help you and all they do is get you to incriminate yourself so they can make you look like a severe alcoholic. Whatever you do if you go there dummy up! Don't tell them you drank before 21 and if your parents ever drank don't tell them you will be stuck in aftercare forever and the ladc counselors on their list are in on it and will also keep making you into an alcoholic too.
- Hey KylieStills. Have you done anything about bringing that foundation down. I got 4-6 aftercare sessions and just went to the first one today. Paid a 125 dollars to answer the same fucking questions again and didnt even get a full hour. I would like to help bring these bloodsucking bastards down. ive never been so infuriated in my life!
- I went to that SHITHOLE a few years ago & like everything else with New Hampshire's F----d up system is that they want your $$$! You pay for a lawer,pay your fine, do the time without your license & have to go see one of these idiots that knows nothing about the outside world & thinks that their gonna save it! Well put them in Afganastan & tell them to save them or tell the truth that they are all stupid & playing pass the buck because I don't think that they can even wipe their own asses, it's a good thing that they have Depends for them because they need them!!!
- I Went to there counter part R.E.A.P (Serenity Place) in Manchester NH. they too are blood sucking bastards who extend your loss of license by months. I Plead guilty to DUI because I was told by the DA that I would get my Lic. back in 90 days. Guess what...almost 180 days now and still no license and I have no idea when or If i will get it back for my 1st time offense. Because i failed that BOGUS (RIASI test) which Predicts if your going to do this in the future .....PREDICTS...seriously you blood sucking bastards can predict the future...if so why don't you predict the fucking Lottery numbers...oh wait..you make more $$ off of your clients who are struggling to feed there family then winning the lottery. I was told I have to take all these LADC vists at 140.00 a visit...Thanks REAP...its only my children's frigin grocery shopping bill every week.
- I have been trying to get my license back now for 5 months and was given after care because of these dumb test saying I will so it again...I am at my wits end and not sure how much longer I can go not driving and in turn not working because of it. I was given 6-8 aftercare sessions and have done 3 now...am I an idiot to think I will be all set in 3-5 sessions???
- I went to Amethyst in the fall and was given 6 to 8 sessions of after-care. I ended up going to after-care for 4 months because Amethyst said I was a substance abuser, which requires 4 months of self-reported abstinence before they will consider your treatment complete. So, watch what you say at Amethyst (not that it makes a difference, it seems) and when you get to aftercare, "I stopped drinking right after my DWI (or whatever got you there)" or "I stopped when I went to Amethyst." Whether you did or not!
- So true... watch what you say and claim that you have never drank after the DWI.. and stick to the story
Why are there so few review of Amethyst Foundation, Inc.? People must either be too frightened to post, or Amethyst Foundation, Inc., is somehow getting the reviews removed. Since this blog will be up in perpetuity, on Blogger, or some other server, I'll probably find out.
As a result of my DUI arrest, I now have a criminal record, no license, astronomical auto insurance rates, and have spent $12,000. Haven't I suffered enough? In addition to this, do I have to be psychologically tortured by Amethyst House, aftercare LADCs, AA attendees, and administrative officials who force me to either admit I'm an alcoholic or conclude that I'm in denial? I feel, as the anonymous posters above feel, that the real punishment is to have all that's left of your will and spirit broken by these spiteful people. That's not America. That's more like the re-education camps of the USSR, China, and North Korea. It is profoundly, profoundly disturbing.
As a result of my DUI arrest, I now have a criminal record, no license, astronomical auto insurance rates, and have spent $12,000. Haven't I suffered enough? In addition to this, do I have to be psychologically tortured by Amethyst House, aftercare LADCs, AA attendees, and administrative officials who force me to either admit I'm an alcoholic or conclude that I'm in denial? I feel, as the anonymous posters above feel, that the real punishment is to have all that's left of your will and spirit broken by these spiteful people. That's not America. That's more like the re-education camps of the USSR, China, and North Korea. It is profoundly, profoundly disturbing.
The more I learn, and the more I try to learn, about Amethyst Foundation, Inc., the more spooked and paranoid I get. There is a ton of tax exempt profit being made by Amethyst, and they are the entry way to a whole recovery industry that takes on the assigned "aftercare." Amethyst has lobbyists and receives huge amounts of taxpayer money. One poster above, claims a former owner of Amethyst Foundation was also a NH Senator. (I need to investigate this claim.) There is a shocking absence of criticism on the web. I'm sure people are submitting it--who's removing it?
I will follow the advice that Deep Throat gave in "All The President's Men" and will "follow...the money." The answer will be there.
Have you had any experiences with:
Have you had any experiences with:
- IDIP, WIDIP, Phase II, or MOP Programs;
- Amethyst Foundation, Serenity Place (REAP), Community Alcohol Information Program (CAIP), Southeastern New Hampshire Drug & Alcohol Abuse Services, or Tri-County Community Action Program;
- "Aftercare" involving AA and LADCs; or
- Administrative Hearings (i.e., "red flag" hearings)?
The Amethyst House of Mystery
State-mandated rehab for DUI offenders is a huge business. These very profitable nonprofits lobby for, and receive huge amounts of taxpayer funding. They are virtually unregulated and unrestrained, and it's all perfectly legal. In fact, it's condoned, all in the name of saving the poor victims of the "disease" called alcoholism. These are the gateways to the coerced recovery industry--an industry that is largely blind to science and which makes billions of dollars a year, lining the pockets of mostly uneducated "experts such as "Licensed/certified Alcohol and Drug Counselors" (LADCs or CADCs) whose only required formal training for certification is a GED/High School diploma, 270 hours of classes or "training", and supervised "experience" (which can include filing and record keeping).
I'll post about these LADCs later, but I found them to be hardcore AA true believers: all former alcoholics and fundamentalist Christians who believe alcoholism is a disease. All DUI offenders suffer from this disease and the only cure is finding god (their god, the Christian one), praying, and following the twelve steps. They are anti-intellectual, anti-science, intolerant and threatened by skepticism. They drip with condescension, righteousness, stupidity, and anger. They finally have some power (by the state and courts) and they validate their beliefs by breaking you and converting you to their religion (AA). It is important for them to do this because their beliefs are all that they have. They bottomed-out as drunks and drug-abusers, lost everything (including their dignity and self-respect), and rebuilt their entire psyches on the beliefs espoused by Christian Fundamentalism and A.A. They are dangerous.
I'm sure a lot of people reading this think I have an axe to grind. I do. Not about being punished for my DUI. I fully realize the danger I caused to society and understand I need to be either punished and/or rehabilitated. The axe that I want to grind is being forced into a system of people like I describe in the paragraph above.
Anyway, I diverge. Let me tell you about the mysterious and very profitable New Hampshire court-mandated rehab industry:
One of the largest of these rehab corporations, Amethyst Foundation, Inc., happens to be the one I went to, here in the "live free or die" state. All of this was a huge eye-opener to me, and it took a huge amount of digging to learn about it. I suspect Amethyst Foundtion, Inc., and others corporations like it, are all making a great effort to keep a low profile. (I can only imagine digging up the dirt on the larger topic of privatized correctional facilities, where drug rehab and AA are also deeply entrenched.)
So, I received the standard 1st offense D.U.I. sentence in New Hampshire: a six month Administrative License Suspension and a nine month Criminal Court License Suspension, to run concurrently. My nine month Criminal Court License Suspension was to be reduced to a three month suspension on the condition that I complete an Intoxicated Driver Intervention Program (IDIP) at a facility closest to my residence.
I'll post about these LADCs later, but I found them to be hardcore AA true believers: all former alcoholics and fundamentalist Christians who believe alcoholism is a disease. All DUI offenders suffer from this disease and the only cure is finding god (their god, the Christian one), praying, and following the twelve steps. They are anti-intellectual, anti-science, intolerant and threatened by skepticism. They drip with condescension, righteousness, stupidity, and anger. They finally have some power (by the state and courts) and they validate their beliefs by breaking you and converting you to their religion (AA). It is important for them to do this because their beliefs are all that they have. They bottomed-out as drunks and drug-abusers, lost everything (including their dignity and self-respect), and rebuilt their entire psyches on the beliefs espoused by Christian Fundamentalism and A.A. They are dangerous.
I'm sure a lot of people reading this think I have an axe to grind. I do. Not about being punished for my DUI. I fully realize the danger I caused to society and understand I need to be either punished and/or rehabilitated. The axe that I want to grind is being forced into a system of people like I describe in the paragraph above.
Anyway, I diverge. Let me tell you about the mysterious and very profitable New Hampshire court-mandated rehab industry:
One of the largest of these rehab corporations, Amethyst Foundation, Inc., happens to be the one I went to, here in the "live free or die" state. All of this was a huge eye-opener to me, and it took a huge amount of digging to learn about it. I suspect Amethyst Foundtion, Inc., and others corporations like it, are all making a great effort to keep a low profile. (I can only imagine digging up the dirt on the larger topic of privatized correctional facilities, where drug rehab and AA are also deeply entrenched.)
So, I received the standard 1st offense D.U.I. sentence in New Hampshire: a six month Administrative License Suspension and a nine month Criminal Court License Suspension, to run concurrently. My nine month Criminal Court License Suspension was to be reduced to a three month suspension on the condition that I complete an Intoxicated Driver Intervention Program (IDIP) at a facility closest to my residence.
That sounded good to me. I knew I wasn't an alcoholic. The night of my DUI was the first time I had more than 2-3 drinks in the last six years. I've gone weeks without any alcohol at all and didn't give a second thought of it. Surely, I'd just quietly complete the IDIP program, and get my driving privileges back in six months. I knew of friends that had gone through similar programs in other states and who had no problems.
According to Administrative Rule He-A 704 (based on Statutory Authority: RSA 265-A:39), I had to take the IDIP classes at the facility closest to my residence or place of work. The classes cost $460 and were held two nights a week for six weeks. The facility was "Amethyst House" in Epping, NH.
I tried to learn more about Amethyst House. All I could find on-line was a single stripped down website for Amethyst Foundation, Inc. An address, contact info, description of the IDIP program, forms and photos were there. What was strange was that there was no directory or any names listed. I tried calling the phone number multiple times throughout the day, but always got a busy signal. At 5:01 PM sharp no one picked up the phone.
Judging from the photographs on its website, the place looked like a dump:
I decided to do some investigating.
The Hoover's Business Directory listed Amethyst Foundation, Inc., and the name of two executives, Director Bob Kelley and Ellen Parker. Apparently Amethyst has locations throughout the state; Salem, Portsmouth, Hanover, Claremont, and Epping. Its Certificate of Revival of Incorporation, naming the Board of Directors and Officers, and place of business (Epping, NH) may be found here.
According to public financial records available at this site, Amethyst Foundation, Inc., of Epping, NH (Employee Identification Number 020363792), is a 509(a)(2) charitable organization whose activities include rehabilitating alcoholics, drug abusers, compulsive gamblers, etc... It was ruled a 509(a)(2) nonprofit organization by the IRS in 04/1987. For the tax year of 2006, they held $778,642 in assets and had an income of $1,134,922. Organizations performing similar types of work, on average, held only $311,304 in assets and had incomes of $610,576. According to this site, there are only 42 other 509(a)(2) organizations performing similar activities in the country. Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) is one, and is ranked as having the highest income for this tax period, at a whopping $41,775,641. Amethyst Foundation, Inc., is ranked as the fifth at $1,134,922.
Amethyst Foundation, Inc.'s income for the fiscal year 2010 was $1,134,922, as indicated by their IRS Form 900. On this form, the organization's stated mission was:
"To disseminate information concerning the effects on human beings of ingesting ethyl alcohol and other drugs; to assist individuals in assessing their own personal relationships with alcohol; to identify those individuals with drinking problems and involve them in a[n] alcohol awareness school--the organization operates a court and state mandated school for driving while under the influence of alcohol."
A search of the public records indicates that the state of New Hampshire contracts with Amethyst Foundation, Inc., for significant amounts of money. For the period from July 1, 2010 to June 30, 2011, Amethyst Foundation, Inc., along with two other 509(a)(2) organizations, Serenity Place and Tri-County Community Action Program, shared $751,400 in tax payer money in the form of sole source contracts (one contract for $455,000 and one for $296,400). Amethyst Foundation, Inc., has a registered lobbyist with the New Hampshire Legislature, Edward DuPont. He's doing a very good job. For one year, Amethyst Foundation, Inc., shared nearly one million dollars in sole source contract money--money provided by New Hampshire residents.
And because of Amethyst Foundation, Inc.'s IRS 509(a)(2) status, all of this income is tax free!
I thought my IDIP program was expensive until I saw the prices for others offered by Amethyst Foundation:
Phase II (for 2nd Offenders), a seven day residential program......$1,550.00
.....of which Amethyst keeps $1,300.00.
.....of which Amethyst keeps $1,300.00.
WIDIP ("Weekend Intoxicated Driver Intervention Program").........$585.00
.....of which Amethyst keeps $485.00.
.....of which Amethyst keeps $485.00.
MOP ("Multiple Offender Program")...........................................$1,550.00
.....of which Amethyst keeps $1,300.00.
.....of which Amethyst keeps $1,300.00.
Of the $460 fee for the IDIP class, Amethyst keeps $410.
The state of New Hampshire gets the crumbs as administrative fees.
Amethyst Foundation does a big business, as I was later to find out. The classes filled up quickly. A lot of the "customers" were from out of state. In fact, a LADC told me many are celebrities. I was told Amethyst Foundation was the only residential facility in New England.
So, we have a nice, very profitable, "non profit" corporation that pays no taxes and receives a huge amount of taxpayer funds. How much they charge is determined, not by the market, but by the New Hampshire legislature. They do a huge business and, with ever stricter DUI laws, will never lack for customers. What a sweet deal.
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