ComplaintsforCanadian Fertility Consulting

• Initial Complaint

  15/06/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Canadian Fertility Consulting (CFC) charged us a consultation fee of $14,000. It was a few minute conversation where we had explained that we already had a surrogate, sperm and eggs and that we did NOT need them to match us with anyone. They told us that they would be the people we would call for help with anything and that they would assist in helping with appointments and advise and keeping track of payments however they do not reach out to us and when I reach out to them rarely is anyone available or gets back to me when needed. I have been told by my clinic and counsellor that it was incredibly unethical of them to charge us a price that high when they have nothing to do with the process, they don’t talk to or work with clinics… and we did not require their full service and they don’t keep track of payments. we have to contact them to give our surrogate money so it has only made things more stressful. instead of just giving it to our surrogate directly there is a “gate keeper”/ middle man… we paid them 14,000 to hold our money. this is an already stressful and VERY expensive process with Dr appointments, lawyers, medication, flying to and from Vancouver clinic for myself and surrogate, counciling…so to have to pay for someone to do a job that we could have done is crazy to me. And out of desperation to start a family I payed that price because I was told and made to believe that it was the only way. When I asked why I have to pay 14,000 despite having matched everything already they said it was because of the consultation and other services yet we have not had any other services

  

  Business response

  28/06/2023

  Hello consulting fees cover a range of items included in the consulting fees which include 
  Services Provided with Initial Admission Fee
  a. Consultation and description of the surrogacy process;
  b. Referral to legal consultation services in relation to surrogacy laws;
  c. Referrals of the Intended Parent(s) to Fertility Clinic(s) that CFC believes
  would most appropriately benefit the Intended Parent(s)’ situation (including
  providing assistance with making appointments, etc.);
  d. Interview with, and gathering of information from, Intended Parent(s) to
  better assess which Surrogate would be the most appropriate match for the
  Intended Parent(s);
  e. Referral of the Surrogate to Fertility Clinic(s) and preferred physicians
  that CFC believes would most appropriately treat, counsel and advise the
  Surrogate prior to proceeding with the surrogacy process (including providing
  assistance with making appointments, etc.);
  f. Referral of the Surrogate to a licensed, qualified mental health professional
  to support, counsel and advise the Surrogate prior to the signing of any
  Surrogacy Agreement;
  g. Referral of the Surrogate to an Insurance Advisor to assist with issuing a
  travel medical insurance policy (NOTE: only required if your Surrogate must
  travel outside of Canada for fertility treatments);
  h. Communication with the Surrogate chosen by the Intended Parent(s) to
  inform her about the surrogacy process and confirm her informed consent to
  act as Surrogate;
  i. Interview with the Surrogate in order to assist with the facilitation of a harmonious
  relationship with the Intended Parent(s);
  j. Require that the Surrogate provide a written pledge that she will act reasonably
  and ethically in relation to moving forward as a Surrogate;
  k. Require that the Surrogate obtain a current and clear criminal records check;
  l. Require that the Surrogate obtain a statement from a qualified medical professional
  that there is no impediment to the Surrogate’s ability to act as a
  surrogate for the Intended Parent(s) and bear healthy child(ren) (which is to
  be sent to the applicable medical professional);
  m. Facilitation of any expense reimbursement in relation to the Surrogate’s
  pre-screening and preparation for surrogacy; and
  n. Provide the Intended Parent(s) and the selected Surrogate with referrals to
  respective lawyers experienced with Surrogacy Agreements in order that all
  parties receive the required independent legal advice prior to entering into
  the Surrogacy Agreement.
  2. Services Provided Subsequent to the Execution of the Surrogacy Agreement
  a. Assistance with coordination of the IVF procedures with the various parties
  involved (Surrogate, Intended Parent(s), Fertility Clinics, etc.);
  b. Coordinate with Surrogate to ensure her attendance at Fertility
  Clinic appointments;
  c. Provide support and direction to the Surrogate throughout the
  surrogacy process;
  d. Ongoing consultations with the Intended Parent(s) with respect to their relationship
  with the Surrogate;
  e. Provide weekly access for Intended Parent(s) to virtually participate in mini
  seminars with **** ******** or a guest speaker;
  f. Regular and ongoing communication with both the Surrogate and
  the Intended Parent(s) to help ensure their understanding of the
  surrogacy process;
  g. Acting, where applicable, as a liaison between the Intended Parent(s), the
  Surrogate and the Fertility Clinic (which includes the ability to keep the
  Intended Parent(s) updated on the progress of surrogacy);
  h. Referrals, where applicable, to OBGYN’s and various other medical practitioners
  that are experienced with, and friendly to, the surrogacy process;
  As these are currently being provided what solution would you find satisfactory?
  

  Customer response

  29/06/2023

  
  Complaint: ********
  
  I am rejecting this response because: they have not done half of those things on that list (for example our clinic is the one who referred us to our counsellor because again they do not deal with CFC, they do not talk with or deal with CFC at all and refer us to the people they do work with).  None of those things on that list require the amount of money we paid to preform. how can they justify $14,525 with "recommendations" that is crazy....it is unethical to take that kind of money from people trying to start a family!! especially in todays economy, that amount is completely insensitive to the fact that we still have to pay for medications, Appointments and travel for us as well as our surrogate and then after raise our child. I would like for CFC to send an invoice of what the $14,525 has gone to thus far in my journey out of that list. we have matched with our own surrogate used our own eggs, and sperm, found our own counsellors for both us and our surrogate. we have been told by our clinic what the next steps are.

  the only thing CFC has done from that list was tell us about create or olive fertility clinic, and take the $25,000 for our surrogate to distribute (witch has been more of a problem then help because we have had to go to them twice to let the money go instead of just being able to give it to our surrogate directly ourselves) again these things do not add up to $14,525 that is a crazy large amount that any person can see is a rip off. we have been told by both our clinic and counsellor to fight this and that CFC is talking advantage of peoples desperation in such hard times.

  
  Sincerely,
  
  ****** *********

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