to think Dax's parents believe they have got away with pocketing the donations?

[fluffymouse]

Last thread was full and I can't find another one.

scambuster where are you?

And the parents didn't set up "a fundraising and FaceBook page soliciting for donations".

At the time they were set up the parents were rather busy with other things.

these threads say far more about the people posting on them than they do about these parents.

So these people set up a fundraising page and people gave money to them. More fool them. These crowdfunding sites are everywhere, in the past month I've seen one from someone wanting to raise money for tickets to fly home to see her dying father (tickets which she'd already bought,) one from someone wanting to raise money for a new mobile phone, and one wanting to raise money for a seizure alert device (a more worthy cause,) and in every single case people have donated to these sites to the tune of hundreds. No doubt if the national press had been on board with any of them they too could have raised thousands for their own means.

If you give money to complete strangers on the internet then you have no way of knowing that money will go to wherever they claim it will go. And while I agree that using money to spend on prams and furniture and such seems somewhat off the truth is that it's a free country, and if people are gullible enough to give to these funds then they only have themselves to blame when that money disappears into the pockets of the individuals rather than a specific cause.

It's very simple. If you don't agree with what they're doing with the money then don't donate.

But there's a difference between starting a thread saying this story seems a bit off," and one which is a definite witch hunt for the parents, trying to force their hand. There is already a statement from rmh saying that a donation has been made. And the statement has also suggested that they have been inundated with calls and emails wanting to know what's going on. Who instigated that then? people on mn? so you are so desperate to villify these parents and have things your way that you are taking away valuable resources from a charity to ensure that that happens?

All this contacting rmh, posting on the fb page, searching out the family and friends on facebook is harassment IMO. Why are mn hq allowing these threads to stand? Those talking about the police might want to have a look a bit closer to home

I think the police have better things to do with their time, like investigating actual crimes.

I agree. But, where setting up a gofundme page for donations of any kind is not a crime, stalking and harassing people on the internet is. If the family were to report these threads plus those who are posting on their fb page constantly, and the comments about their family and so on which people have obviously gone to great lengths to find they might well have something to say about that.

This isn't a one-off discussion, these threads have been going on for six months, with a new one started every time the last one reaches its maximum number of posts.

This has gone from a few people being a bit to a sustained campaign. I was very in the beginning, but now I am more so about the posters who are keeping this going. It's become personal to them and there really is no need for it to be given they didn't personally donate and presumably those who did were gullible happy enough to do so.

Have the people getting irate on here actually donated? This level of outrage can't be healthy.

The crime they may/may not have committed is a grey area (as the law so often is) but from a legal POV they may well have committed fraud by obtaining money by deception.

I didn't donate, I'm not outraged and nor do I want them vilified. I think it's amusing how persistent they are being about keeping up the charade. If they'd said long ago "we're very sorry but the money has been eaten up by x and the donation to RMHC will be considerably smaller - here is proof of donation" this would not be happening.

They have dug themselves into this pit. I don't care about those who lost their money as individuals, but I do care that a couple have received a lot of money on a false claim and under the promise that any excess would go to charity.

I've said it before, legal wrongdoing isn't the only kind of wrongdoing.

If you don't care at all, great. But why bother posting on these threads at all? To tell people they are 'over invested'? Always thought that kind of posting was odd.

who is posting on their FB? as far as i know (and have seen from here) its only on the 'official page' that people have been posting on (well that one and the scam one)

It's a shame. Next time something like this happens, and it is genuine, people will be suspicious!

I feel bad for anyone in this situation in the future! They won't get any donations!

I read the insurance company flew them home on a private jet. They probably expected a heroes' welcome at Gatwick.

Regarding the private jet, it's possible that it was overall, a more attractive option financially for the insurance company. US hospital fees are amazingly expensive and they may have in fact saved money by opting to fly the family back home, even by private jet.

Yes, I think the private jet was because he was still having treatment and couldn't have gone on a conventional plane. Also a lot of prem parents are told to keep them away from crowded public places etc until they've had their jabs as immunity from the mother is gained in the last month of pregnancy. A London to NY flight probably has hundreds of people on it and perhaps a few with flu or similar might be on.
I agree that was probably cheaper for the insurer than a few months in NY. Typically you get to go home around your due date, so that'd be a 3 month stay

Yes, but the point is that the insurance paid for their transportation and they did not need help to fund that either - just as they didn't need help to fund his NICU care or their accommodation.

I wonder whether the grey area (of the misleading reason given for fund seeking) was eventually flagged to Richard by the fundraising page, and became the reason why it was closed with further donations requested to go to RMH directly. If this is the case then technically, the fundraising website is responsible regarding releasing of funds or not. Has anyone contacted them (GoFundMe) yet?

I'm just still not sure about what the point is of this thread is.
Is it proving Richard/the parents of Dax, legally culpable of fraud which would seemingly not hopelessly difficult to prove (from one of successfully pursuesive legal standing) given all the apparent evidence of the original "mission statement" in which the appeal was based.
Or is it a thread to let off steam over a situation which, understandably, has fired up outrage over money that has been made through murky means?
I'm genuinely confused about the point of this thread.

It's a thread made to carry on discussion since the first hit 1000 post, the first being a thread used to keep track of what develops and any updates they post. Hope that clears up the confusion.

(I worded that terribly so won't be surprised if it doesn't clear up anything).

But yes, it's just a discussion thread. There's no 'purpose' afaiaa.

Like every thread on MN this thread is a facilitator for people with mutual interests to discuss the subject.

yes, obviously it's an MN discussion thread! :-)
What I meant was whether it's a discussion - and for some, a place to let off steam as this particular thread does seem to stir up some very strong emotions, or with that, a driver for any further action. But you have cleared that up for me trufflesnout, thank you.

I think they will get away with it and they will only lose public respect for them. I think that new laws to control crowd funding is needed. I'm sorry for those who donated.

I feel sorry for the new mum that has to deal with parenthood, a prem baby and all this other stuff and I hope this mess hasn't affected her family or friends or her support network. I hope she is looking after herself and doesn't get PND because of what she has gone thru.

I feel sorry for the family as this was not created by them but an employer/friend that looked to make some money for them but they need to take responsibility for going along with it.

As fitness trainers I hope they run races and continue to raise funds for RMH in the future. I like to think they made a mistake when they were stressed and sleep deprived and once things settle down they take responsibility and be honest and don't try to make more money out of this with a book or selling their story to mags and they start campaigning for better provisions for prem babies and their families.

This may die down but it will never be forgotten

There is an update from RMH on the Dax's Tale of New York Page

Oops just realised it had already been posted and don't know how to delete my post

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3056072/British-family-stranded-Benidorm-three-months-mother-gave-birth-baby-weighing-just-2lbs-three-months-early.html#comments

www.gofundme.com/st3kxfk

Getting a sense of deja-vu

Oh for fuck's sake

at least they're not pretending its for medical costs... Any donation will be muchly appreciated to help with transport costs, accommodation and General living costs for Karla and Jordan.

The mail do like to help things along.

I hope these babies are ok, not right having parents pimping them out like the Andre and Beckham kids.