Bounty Reps

[Bellabutterfly2016]

So last night I visited my friend on our local labour ward.
Baby was born at 34 weeks, early but ok and small and my friend very stressed as her milk hadn't properly come in/baby not latching.
Her husband is in the forces flying home today so she was feeling very low and emotional.

Yesterday she had her curtain drawn and was trying to feed with the breastfeeding counsellor and a bounty woman opened her curtains and tried to flog her a photo package!!!!!!!!

I was outraged for her, when I was in 3 years ago they came round handing packs out and then said there was a card attached and to text/ring if we wanted photos doing - no hardsell at all. I didn't have them done anyway because I thought they were too expensive but it was the invasion of privacy I was shocked with.

Fortunately the breastfeeding counsellor told her in no uncertain words to do one but was just thinking - AIBU to think this is bang out of order???

I let them take the photo's of all 3 of my DS's and each time told them I'd just have the free wallet sized ones. I refuse to pay their prices.

Thing is Incy is that in the moment it happens you might not be prepared to tell them to piss off.

I've had two straightforward births at two different hospitals, both times I went in with the view I wasn't going to take any shit from Bounty reps and yet both times they got my details out of me because it was the quickest way to get rid of them.

I knew who they were because of mumsnet but neither introduced themselves so I would have just assumed they were hospital staff if I didn't know better. In fairness neither tried to sell me anything and on the most recent occasion there was actually some useful stuff in the pack. I rebelled slightly and gave them a semi false name this time, so if I start getting a load of marketing crap using that name I will know where it came from...

They are very intrusive. Took photos of my 1st - I can't even remember consenting to it. He was very little and prem and they took the photos when he was asleep. He looked like he was dead. It was awful because he had only just made it, so it was very raw and I was extremely upset. Those pictures haunted me for weeks.

With my second when they came round I told her to leave immediately, She tried to persuade so I said OK let me be a bit clearer - Fuck. Off. She did go away.

I know they've got to earn a living but they shouldn't go about it this way.

Dsd, mum is a bounty rep as far as I know she's had nontraining in photography ,so i cant imagine ,the reps photos will be any better , than anyone else's so why anyone would pay money for them beats me

I thought Bounty had been banned!?

I always hated the bounty photos .... I won't say what they look like to me 😔

Odd question but how are the reps dressed when they're on the wards?

Just asking so I know whether or not I have to divulge newborn DC2's details to some randomner when they burst into the room!!

(i.e. is there a uniform I can look out for and therefore avoid as it seems lots of people hVe mistaken them for midwifes/HCPs)

I had both DD's in Scotland (same hospital), and never came across this. This was 11 and 8 yrs ago.

Na no special uniform.

I’ve had the idiots barge into my room asking WHERES BABY

She’s fighting for her life you fuckwit. Fuck off.

Don’t even take the bloody samples, don’t even let them take your name.

Mine came in cooed over the baby (I didn't mind), offered photos (nope), asked for details (I made them up, husband helpfully tried to correct me until I deathgripped his hand), gave pack and fucked off. The only useful thing out of it was a mini jobby of sudocream which was small enough to fit into my nappy bag.

People have complained about Bounty for years, it's got nowhere.

I'm not sure but I vaguely recall reading something about hospitals getting money in return for allowing Bounty reps access, some contract maybe. But I don't think the hopitals were aware just how far the reps go to get your details.

And it's all about the details. I think reps get paid by the number of emails and numbers they get, that Bounty can sell on for marketing, etc.

The samples are just a teeny, tiny incentive to get women to hand over their details.

I also hate they way they try to imply you can't claim CB without their help, ie handing over your details. I was visiting a new mum in hospital last year, and the rep came round. My friend said clearly she wasn't interested, and the rep tried to say she wouldn't be able to get a form otherwise. I just loudly said "that's fine, my friend can simply apply online on the gov.uk site, it'll be quicker anyway". If looks could kill, I'd have been dead, as my friend was one of the first the rep visited on the ward at that time.

We need to consistenly complain; there's no place for these reps on a ward full of vulnerable women.

They are banned at my hospital (NHS Highland) thank god. I had assumed that was the case in all hospitals these days, but obviously not.

Surely GDPR rules mean they can't do thus anymore? I think if they do it's worth reporting them. They'd be given a hefty fine and would be for each time theyve done it- so fingers crossed put them out of business?

YANBU! Bounty rep came round when DS was born 8 months ago. I was still exhausted and dealing with latch issues myself and didn't really pay much attention to what she was up to and gave her my details and remember being confused when she asked if I wanted a picture!

Then I had shite posted to me afterwards from various companies... including a personalised letter from cow and gate suggesting it was now time for follow on milk around DS turning 6 months

Frankly the entire concept of Bounty coming into wards is a fucking outrage. If people were harassing men for money after they’d just had prostate surgery you can bet your bottom dollar that would be stopped.

Does anyone know why the Mumsnet campaign ended?

Never had a problem with a Bounty rep with my four. They wouldn't approach if you were seeing medical staff. It's a nice chance to get photos of your newborn.
And you don't pay there and then for the photos. You go online and order them under no obligation.

Today 08:06 lookatthetrees

I’m pretty sure Scottish hospitals no longer allow Bounty reps. I heard something to that effect while I was pregnant ( 5 years ago) and was appalled it had ever been a thing.

I think you are right. I had my son in Sept and Bounty was never mentioned, let alone any rep. When I read about the photo package I was thinking it's a bit of an odd thing to do. It's a tough time, a weird time. There was no way I wanted to spend my time getting photos done. It took me days to get over the morphine alone!

They are still in some Scottish hospitals. I had my DD in January this year (NHS Lanarkshire) and one came round but she never had a camera on her, just asked for my details.

Both my babies were whisked straight off to SCBU so Bounty woman was told not to bother me on both occasions... still feel it was innapropriate for her even to have been privy to that information though.

It really is an abomination.

I’m not planning any more DC but would happily support a campaign to get them out of all maternity wards.

It really is outrageous that this is allowed.

My DD obviously had a sixth sense when it came to the Bounty rep. We were in a private side room anyway as I was not in the best way post birth (ended up in for nearly a week but that's another story)! Anyhow DD decided that every time this woman came in waving her pack about that she was going to have an EPIC cry. The woman eventually gave up and just left the pack on a chair. [Grin]

I'll be ignoring them when I go in.

Interestingly they are advertising! See attached!!!!

Sounds a complete nightmare I'll just hijack a pack from somewhere I'm sure when I had my first baby ugly coupons to take to boots for the packs? Does this still happen?

Can you get the CB form without them?