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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Bounty women on maternity wards

157 replies

FasterThanASnakeAndAMongoose · 30/08/2016 22:04

I know this has been done before, but ho hum.

AIBU to say that marketing companies have no place on maternity wards?

After giving birth to my babies I was exhausted and vulnerable. It was a massive invasion of privacy for the Bounty women to barge in trying to harvest my details before my own parents had even met their dgc. They were waiting downstairs for visiting to start.

Hospital should be a sanctuary. Women on postnatal wards aren't necessarily ill, but I've never felt more ill in my life. On no other ward would it be acceptable for a marketing company to prey on patients, so why is it still ok on maternity?

Gives me the rage Angry

OP posts:
charliedontsurf · 30/08/2016 22:37

The bounty rep kept popping her head in when I had the consultant in, then another to check DD, then a midwife helping me bf and then finally when I was then staggering off to piss in a jug (post c section). I said 'sorry can you please just... not?' (run out of polite responses by this point) and she said said 'fine, but you won't be able to get a child benefit form!' Shock

Er I'll get it off their website thanks you rude caaaah Smile get outta my pub.

FasterThanASnakeAndAMongoose · 30/08/2016 22:37

I'm pretty assertive and forthright in normal life. No one is their usual self postpartum though.

I was struggling more than I realised and was really benefiting from the care of the staff.

When I had my youngest I was really desperate to go home (partly because of the scary starey druggie dad opposite). In hindsight I should have stayed a second night, but the Bounty woman was the last straw and I just wanted to leave.

OP posts:
Tiredtomybones · 30/08/2016 22:37

I disagree utterly with Bounty. I put on my birth notes each time that I wanted no contact with them. This was respected. Last time, the midwife came in my room and asked if I wanted the pack. I took that but gave no details. I was absolutely clear that no one who wasn't a HCP would have access to me at a time when even my own mum wasn't allowed in. I stand by that to this day. Shocking practice, IMO.

lotusbiscuit · 30/08/2016 22:39

It's absolutely disgusting that they are allowed to go in and pressure vulnerable women into spending money they can't afford.

^^^ this in spades.

phoenix1973 · 30/08/2016 22:39

I was so out of it that Elvis could have visited and sung love me tender and I wouldn't have noticed. 😂😂😂 bounty woman? I think she left a bag and ran!

SheepOrWine · 30/08/2016 22:39

It's absolute madness that this was ever allowed. My DH was really shocked by it. Also the packs are useless except the child benefit form!

RNBrie · 30/08/2016 22:43

I told mine to fuck off! Ha! I'd never normally be so rude but she came by just after dc3 had failed her hearing test and I was feeling really emotional.

I hate that they are allowed anywhere near hospitals at all. They must know they are ripping people off?! It's a grubby, horrible industry.

That said, no one deserves to be told to fuck off doing their job, so i do feel bad about that. (she passed her hearing test the second time around so I was worrying unnecessarily anyway...)

FasterThanASnakeAndAMongoose · 30/08/2016 22:44

I take it all back! DH has just reminded me that first time around I asked her to reach for my Pringles, and she did.

Fetching hard to reach snacks is fine, but that should be the end of their duties.

OP posts:
MoonriseKingdom · 30/08/2016 22:44

That's a good point space. In no other part of the hospital would it be acceptable for people to go bed to bed gathering marketing details and flogging things. Fortunately my hospital doesn't seem to have them because after 2 days of labour and an emergency c-section with my DD I'd have probably signed anything to make them go away.

TrinityForce · 30/08/2016 22:47

Get your DP tell her it's fucking annoying, those exact words.

She'll soon leave and strop, and it's not you being the bitch.

AnnaT45 · 30/08/2016 22:48

I had DC2 a month ago. Two couples on my ward were bullied into it and spent £130 on the photos!!! I couldn't believe it. One poor couple clearly couldn't afford it but well felt forced into it. Afterwards I heard her say her mum was giving some money for baby clothes so she'd use some of that. Awful.

I didn't even know what it was. I said I didn't want more paper and crap in my nice new house... She then said I needed it for child benefit but I told her we don't qualify. She was really shirty but left.

They clearly pay to be on the wards. I would prefer someone selling clothes or something of use rather than really expensive photos that feature knackered parents looking crap!

TrinityForce · 30/08/2016 22:48

Oh god so sorry, wrong thread.
It was actually for the "Jangley bracelet SIL" but it kind of fits here, so I best clarify quick...

FasterThanASnakeAndAMongoose · 30/08/2016 22:49

£130!! Jeez that's outrageous and very very sad. I'm betting they're not professional photographers!

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LuluJakey1 · 30/08/2016 22:50

DH just stood infront of her and said 'No thanks. Could you just leave us please and don't come back' She just went.

Sara107 · 30/08/2016 22:50

What on earth is Bounty all about anyway ( except for extracting money from parents and selling your details). I remember being quite excited about getting my Bounty pack, having had the 'freebies' really bigged up by midwife and ante natal teacher etc. There were a few advertising leaflets, a pot of Sudocream the size of a thimble and a 50ml can of diet coke!. I can't remember exactly what happened about the visit from the Bounty woman and photo but it did not happen!
The only freebies that were more disappointing were the ones handed out on the way into the NCT nearly new sale (also bigged up by ante natal teacher). A bag containing a couple of sachets of laundry liquid and a selection of tena pads.

FasterThanASnakeAndAMongoose · 30/08/2016 22:50

Trinity Grin

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RNBrie · 30/08/2016 22:50

Your post probably works on most threads trinity good work!!

Mouikey · 30/08/2016 22:51

I understand that the reason they are allowed on wards is to hand out the child benefit forms, in return they get paid and can do the photos - not sure how true that is.

My DD went to SCBU and had a canular, I didn't really want pics of her hand like that so asked for them to come back when it had been taken out. Because of the time we never got to do it which wasn't a bad thing when I looked at the prices!!!!

AnyFarrahFowler · 30/08/2016 22:51

After reading the previous thread about this, I felt sure when I had DS in January of this year that this would no longer be going on. I was really surprised when the Bounty lady popped her head round the curtain! I was ready for her though - I heard her taking all the personal details of the lady opposite me Shock so when she pulled my curtain back I cut her off with "No thank you, I'm not interested" and to be fair, she put the Bounty pack on my chair and left.
Never even thought about putting it in my notes that I wasn't to be disturbed by a Bounty lady - I'll remember that for next time!

angeldiver · 30/08/2016 22:52

Oh wow, glad I didn't see one!

I would hate that. I wasn't exactly looking my best and visitors were only my dm and ddad. A random wafting around would have tipped me over with dc2 for sure!

barefootbird · 30/08/2016 22:52

I can't believe that they are still doing the rounds!

I had it down to a fine art by the time I got to DC4, I didn't even have to say a word to get rid of her, just a death stare and the palm of my hand and we were left in peace.

goldleaf123 · 30/08/2016 22:53

I'm pregnant with DC1 and I was asked to fill out a bounty form as they were doing my bloods at my 12w scan. I had no idea what it was for I was just used to filling out forms for my pregnancy so I did it - I'm regretting it now reading this, I just didn't know any better! If anyone comes up to me when I've just given birth I know I told be able to hold back what I want to say!

BertieBotts · 30/08/2016 22:53

When I was pregnant with DS (2008) I used to go on moneysavingexpert forums and they were obsessed with the bounty packs and used to go on and on about how great they were. I couldn't wait to get mine. It turned out to be full of leaflets Hmm

I think they are really rubbish these days though. Do you still get the weeny pot of sudocrem?

FasterThanASnakeAndAMongoose · 30/08/2016 22:53

Just to reiterate what a pp said, you don't need the bounty pack for child benefit forms!

Here is the form: www.gov.uk/government/publications/child-benefit-claim-form-ch2

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Noodlesg · 30/08/2016 22:54

They get 1.72 per baby they take pics of. £1.72... This isn't on top of an hourly rate. The whole thing is an exploitative scam