To be really disappointed and angry that NCT allow MLMs so much access to vulnerable new mums

[throwingpebbles]

Just that really. Was discussing with my mum about MLM's like Forever Living and how awful it is that they

• target new mums in particular and exploit their divided wishes to be with their children / need to earn money
• make completely unfounded claims about purported health benefits of the products

I then got on to explaining how these very companies are at nearly every NCT event; and worse still discussions on mumsnet and a Google search suggests many NCT committee members themselves are involved

In the words of my mum " thirty years ago the worst danger at an NCT coffee morning was being given a cup of tea with goats milk in it. Now you risk being sucked into an organisation that exploits women and encouraged them to make ridiculous claims about aloe"

It is just really disappointing. I thought NCT was there to advise and protect women?? Instead they are allowing ready access to MLMs that make it clear in their training that a key "target" for recruitment should be new mums! Plus they are encouraged to make far fetched claims about the health benefits of the products

Fittingly, after ranting away to my mum, I came home and found
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1699236280347393&id=1647635148840840&notif_t=like&ref=m_notif

Wow if they are doing stuff that goes against their articles they could be in serious hot water!

I can see that where volunteers are running the branch level stuff then they need very clear guidance from the centre. It's not fair to leave them exposed.
I guess that is why we as individuals and also concerned committee members /branches do need to alert head office to this problem, for instance.
NCT have been so valuable to me in terms of making friends and a local parenting resource but they could do their reputation really harm by some branches being so entangled with a scam like Forever that preys on new parents in particular

Exactly. But you can only keep making the same points for so long. Which is why it is important that people do complain.

Logical and evidenced based argument from a minority isn't working but maybe from a larger volume it will.

Yes, I need a quite moment with a long enough break from real work/ toddlers jumping on my head and I will compose an email to them with my thoughts. But this will certainly have more impact if others do the same too. This thread has been really useful in highlighting the need for direction from the centre so those at branch level have clear guidance.

just to clarify - NCT does not sell or pass on it's data (clients, those who make enquiries, volunteers, those attending events) to anyone.

If a branch was passing on membership data to anyone outside of NCT the branch would be in very, very deep trouble.

I imagine many branch volunteers will be unaware of the claims that FL make for its products or of it's recruitment strategy so I'll say again - if your local branch is promoting or apparently supporting something that you don't think they should be, please let the branch volunteers know what it is and why you don't think they should be doing it or email [email protected] with your concerns. Thanks!

Most of the branch volunteers at my branch seemed to be involved in FL or best friends with someone who is, but I am planning to email NCT head office and anyone else who is concerned is welcome to do the same

This is weird. When I approach the NCT about one of my products (pregnancy related), I was told they couldn't do that as they couldn't endorse one product in particular (but would be happy to endorse the type of product iyswim)

So it would be something like 'Look at baby slings, they are great!' as an OK thing but 'Look at xx product from BabyGrowsWell. They are great!' wouldn't be OK.

So how can they have such strong links with MLM??

I've just found the details of the NCT's charitable objects, and given what these focus on, and what we know of Forever (exploitative, bullying, cultish tactics and outlandish and unsubstantiated health claims)... I would say that having Forever at NCT events etc is about on a par with the World Wildlife Fund selling poached elephant tusks at fundraisers!!!

To be clear, in my case I don't believe anyone connected to our branch was selling the members data to outsiders...whether they were using it for their own benefit, I wonder. I think it would be pretty hard to prove that these people didn't meet them/know them legitimately as friends - by virtue of the NCT group true - prior to sending a marketing email/text. It's also blurred for other reasons/could be viewed as a 'community' thing and not just business. I do have sympathy for the NCT as I think it can be very hard to police things like this.

Hmm it is tricky. I detest FL's practises but I have bought from other 'home party' type businesses before. I don't think they're all MLM, and of those that are, some don't focus on the recruiting bit at all unless you want to.

I have bought from a local NYR rep before for example, it was easier than for me to get to a shop. I don't mind people selling Usborne books either.

Yeah I guess I should have said forever rather than MLM as my main concern is with them as they are so prevalent at so many NCT branches. But there are others like actiderm/ it works /younique etc that use the same model as FL and are also lurking at some NCT events.

Love the elephant analogy OP!

I think if someone were just selling products on a stall with demonstrations I wouldn't have too many issues (make up or something similar), however I can't see how most of the products that people like FL or JP can be sold "as seen" without the sellers making some sort of claims (an aloe vera juice drink just doesn't sound appetising!). Plus the fact that putting aside any potential vulnerabilities of new mums, the fact is that for some people the products could actually be harmful (especially young infants and the potential transfer through breast feeding) and that's even before starting to think about people then being recruited to sell these products.

Thanks jizzy

And to illustrate my point, here is an example of all the products they try and peddle to pregnant women to

YANBU and I think the anti-MLM activism on MN is a really good thing.

Although parslai is amazing.

Hmmm...

Not NCT but when I was a new mum I was briefly a member of a local "mummy club" (puke) which was run on Facebook and via word of mouth by a woman who claimed she wanted to help local mums build up their friendship circles by organising meet ups- at the local soft play, for example.

Guess what? She was an FLbot and had created this whole thing to try and sell her aloe crap and recruit the other mums to her team. When people twigged onto this it caused beaucoup drama.

I was set upon by so much mlm when I was on mat leave, sometimes via nct (bumps and babies) I thought it was hideous! They were so slimey but ran away the second I explained what my job was, I think because I have a decent career and they're after people who are more desperate

Haha ipity yeah parslai is very good at curing deceptiveness delusions of grandeur

(My phone missed out the "and" there, it's not just MLM-bot bad grammar honest!)

Sunday Times article about forever living is out today!!!

Sunday Times on Forever Living

Or see www.facebook.com/timelessvie for a full copy of the article!

At the moment im deciding whether or not to bother with nct. If this is what nct is about i think ill give it a miss. The nhs goes a small two sessions my midwife told me. Abit shocked this is even allowed by a charity.

If you are really concerned there is also the Charity Commission and Attorney General...

However, a letter to the trustees would be a good start.