Ratter,

I've read and re-read this post from you, and the same one's you posted about this on the laser spine thread and I'm still shaking my head and thinking "am I really reading this? Is this really correct? Could Ratter be wrong in what he said?

BUT, Ratter, you understood this correctly, every word of that letter for the laser place you understood perfectly.

I know because after I read your post for the third time, I got an e-mail from someone I know from another spine site and they got the same one and said the same thing to me as you have posted.

Something is going on here with this place and you both are smart enough to have figured out that something is definitely not right.

I don't know what is going on, but some thoughts about it.

Ratter, if I recall correctly from a couple of your posts way back on the laser spine thread which is to huge to go back and try to find the posts, you called LSI to ask them if some of your symptoms could be from the prior surgery that you had there or could be new symptoms from a new cervical problem.

The other person I heard from also did a similar thing about new symptoms about a year post lumbar surgery at LSI.

So, if you did make that call, at least once to them and I know for sure the other person did make a call, then they have you on record as questioning them about new spinal issues and potentially needing further surgery with them.

Now, if we just take a common sense approach to this whole picture we come up with the following information.

You and this other person may or may not be in need of further spinal surgery.

We have an economy that is in such disastrous shape, that people do not have, what is called, disposable income. They are having enough problems paying for the things they have to pay for.

People are losing jobs right and left, losing their homes, and their savings be it in the bank, in investments, 401K etc. have all vanished and/or been greatly depleted.

So the logical conclusion is that LSI and the other laser spine facilities are suffering a serious cash flow problem by way of a massive reduced flow of patients and therefore extremely reduced income and profit.

If jobs are lost, then there is no income, no money, no way to pay bills, etc. if homes are being foreclosed on and the ability to obtain loans has been severely curtailed, then the ability of potential patients to obtain money is not there.

The housing prices have fallen drastically, so that the ability to cash in on home equity is severely diminished, as is loans from credit cards and many credit card companies are cutting the spending limit on the credit cards as well.
There are many people that are maxed out on their credit cards as well.

So there is Ratter and this other person I know that called LSI about some new and potential spine problems, and they are past patients that say they where greatly helped at LSI.

What better way to scrounge up a couple of patients than to offer a "pre-payment" type plan to both of you to save on a future procedure that you "need". You both called about new problems.

So, maybe, just maybe, they are thinking that both of you are holding back on surgery because of the cost and the economy.

So let's "hang some carrots in front of them", make it sound like a good investment and make it sound really good. We will give you some interest on the money we are holding for you.

Now, if you add the fact that they already know that you are having a problem and having some pain or indications of something going on, tangling the idea of pre-paying in advance and getting some interest on it sounds a lot better than forking up $30,000 up front when you get there.

It's mind over matter, business tactics to make it sound like you are saving money even if you aren't.

It reminds me of an experience I had doing a craft show about 10 years ago. A friend's daughter was with me for the day and was in 8th grade. Her class had been discussing different aspects of math and how easy it is to make numbers look deceptive to people and how you can trick people into seeing and believing that different numbers that equal the same amount can be used to seduce the public into believing ridiculous things about numbers.

One of the examples that she told me about was how people are looking to by a house. Sellers to make the house look cheaper will not price the house at say $250,000. Instead they will price it at $249,900.
Yup, $100 less than $250,000. People think they are getting a bargain because it is under $250,000.
Experiments where done with house prices at $250,000 and people wouldn't buy it. Then the price was reduced to $249.900 and the same people who wouldn't pay the $250,000 ended up with a bidding war to buy the house at $249.900. In the end that house sold for $300,000.

OK so I digressed, but here is what I was really going to tell you. LSI is making things look like a bargain and saving money for you.

and it reminds me of this true story that happened 10 years ago after my daughter's friend told me the above story.

I had an item priced at $2.50 for sale at a craft show. All hand crocheted, original design etc.
This woman stopped at my table and really liked it but asked if she could have it for $1.50.
I was quite polite and said no, the price was a firm $2.50 and that this was a craft show and not a yard sale. I hand make every piece I sell and everything is an original design.
She walked away. But she came back more than 5 times. Stopped 2 more times, and just said, "it's just not worth that much money."

Next thing I new my daughter's friend whipped out a 3x5 index card and a marker and wrote the following on it. "Small angel 2/$5.00.
Then she put it beside the display of angels on my table and said, "watch her come back and be so stupid she will think you lowered the price and buy several of them."

About 5 minutes later, there she was, the lady who said that the angels weren't worth $2.50.

I just smiled and said nothing. Next thing I know she says "i'm so glad you listened to me and lowered the price".

Ratter, it was all I could do to keep a straight face as she handed me 6 angels to wrap for her and pay for. She really believed that 2/$5.00 was cheaper than $2.50.

That's what it seems like LSI is trying to do with your letter. Give them money down on more surgery, they will give you a little bit of interest on it, maybe you will even make as much as $100 on the interest, but I doubt it will be that much. Maybe they want you to pay half of it now and then the rest when you have surgery.
Makes it look like the surgery costs less and is easier to pay for that way.
BUT, in the end the cost will still be the same, minus a little bit of interest.

You are also right that who knows if you really do need surgery again now or in the future. If you don't, the money is sitting there with them and believe me when I say you will not be able to get that money back from them.

You are also right that it is a huge risk as to whether they will be there in the future.
Even if they are as good as they say they are, which we both know i don't believe they are but that is besides the point, our economy isn't going to turn around real quick. It is going to be hard for these laser spine facilities to stay in business with people not having money to pay the charges that they have.

if you have money with them on a pre-payment and they went under, you will be at the bottom of the list to get that money back if at all. You would be considered an unsecured creditor and your chances of getting money back are slim and none.

It is interesting too, Ratter, they never contacted you after your surgery to see how you where doing, follow up with you for anything, to see if you where dead or alive, the surgery was a success.

You did call them though,I'm pretty sure you did within the past maybe 8 months.

They didn't need you ratter, after they got their money from you and did your surgery so there was no need to call you.

But, looks like their wallet needs you now, and so they contact you for, essentially, more money.

Forget my opinion on the Laser spine institute or any laser spine facility. IMHO, my opinion on that is not relevant to the letter you just told me about.

Just look at the letter and you know something is not right with it, and something is going on that isn't right either.
Run for the hills with the letter, with the idea and with anything to do with them.
Something is not right with that letter, with them, something is going on and you don't want to get into the middle of this with them or with any other business for that matter.

Ignore the letter, shred it and toss it in the recycle bin and just ignore them for good.

Hope all goes well with your doc appt and let us know what the doc says.

Fran