Get it Right
The email popped up in my inbox at 10:22 a.m. yesterday, although I wasn't there to read it. It said:
So I did. I left a voice mail message for the staff member, L, explaining that they had sent me information that had been intended for someone else. Later that day, I received a voice mail message, asking me to return her call. So I did that, too, although I wondered what they could possibly want from me.
Well, here's what she wanted: the name of the intended recipient. Yes, that's right, I had to give to the staff member of the sperm bank the name of the person whose identity she should know. L could have, I would think, asked me to confirm the email address that was used, because I would think the company would have a database of emails they could search. Instead, L asked for Christine's name. Her full name. A name I'd like to forget (even though I don't know this person) simply because I feel bad that I now know it. (Not that there's anything wrong with using a sperm bank, in my opinion.) And before you say it, I already checked the FAQ site of the sperm bank. Sadly, HIPPA laws don't cover sperm banks, so I guess it was within L's rights to ask for her name, but professionally, I think L took the wrong path.
Moral of the story? Be wary of this sperm bank. If they can't get an email account right, how can you be so sure a client will be getting the correct sperm?!?
*Thinking of using a sperm bank? Feel free to leave a comment with your email address. I'll be sure to get back to you and let you know which company NOT to use.
Hello Christine-
This is your email to confirm the details of your free XYZ Basic Sperm Bank account.
The following is the account information you registered with:I laughed out loud. First off, my name is Christina (emphasis on the a at the end, of course), and secondly, I asked my husband to get a vasectomy! At this point in time, I have no need for a sperm bank. Right? And could this possibly be a phishing scheme? I wasn't sure, so I went on to read the rest of the email:
-----------------------------
First Name: Christine
Last Name: DXXXXX
Email: c*******@gmail.com
User Name: XXXXXX##
Password: XXXXXX
-----------------------------
Please confirm that all of the above is correct by clicking the button below and also please save this information for your records.
Choosing a donor that's right for you can seem confusing, even overwhelming at times. After all, you're making a decision that's deeply personal to you and your family. And it's going to affect the rest of your life.Sure enough, time-stamped at 11:00 a.m., I received another email from the company, this time from the aforementioned staff member. I scrutinized the words. The email looked legit. The company looked legit. Clearly, this was no phishing scheme. Clearly, they'd incorrectly entered an email address. Clearly, I needed to contact this company and tell them they were sending information to the wrong person.
We've heard from past, successful clients that it really helps to have someone:
So in the next few minutes, you're going to get a brief email from one of our support specialists. In that note, she'll give you her name, email, phone number and a link to our live chat line (along with a few tried-and-true tips that have helped others in the past).
- You can talk to right from the start
- Who understands how you're feeling
- Who also knows how the entire donor selection process works – inside and out
She's at your service anytime (M-F 9 to 5 EST) to support you and to answer your most pressing questions.
Look for that email in the next few minutes.
Sincerely,
Your XYZ Team
So I did. I left a voice mail message for the staff member, L, explaining that they had sent me information that had been intended for someone else. Later that day, I received a voice mail message, asking me to return her call. So I did that, too, although I wondered what they could possibly want from me.
Well, here's what she wanted: the name of the intended recipient. Yes, that's right, I had to give to the staff member of the sperm bank the name of the person whose identity she should know. L could have, I would think, asked me to confirm the email address that was used, because I would think the company would have a database of emails they could search. Instead, L asked for Christine's name. Her full name. A name I'd like to forget (even though I don't know this person) simply because I feel bad that I now know it. (Not that there's anything wrong with using a sperm bank, in my opinion.) And before you say it, I already checked the FAQ site of the sperm bank. Sadly, HIPPA laws don't cover sperm banks, so I guess it was within L's rights to ask for her name, but professionally, I think L took the wrong path.
Moral of the story? Be wary of this sperm bank. If they can't get an email account right, how can you be so sure a client will be getting the correct sperm?!?
*Thinking of using a sperm bank? Feel free to leave a comment with your email address. I'll be sure to get back to you and let you know which company NOT to use.
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