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Peaky Parents / Kactus Kids - formerly known as Your Child Freedom Programme (YCFF) and other previous names - Child anxiety programme

342 replies

Daaxy · 18/09/2021 19:21

My son was showing signs of anxiety and I was looking for help for him. I came across an ad on Facebook - Kids Anxiety Disorder Solutions. I watched an hour long webinar and then had a lengthy telephone appointment - this was the point that Peaky Parents was introduced.. The programme comes very close to guaranteeing that your child will be cured within around 8 weeks. it costs either £2500 or £5500 depending on the level of support your child needs. Some aspects of the engagement/sales process with Peaky Parents made me feel uncomfortable - I wanted to do some research on the company before signing up. I came across the link referred to at the start of the thread which has lots of views and information about YCFF, now Peaky Parents.

I would not have come across this information if at the time I had just been researching Peaky Parents. I do not know the reason for the name change.

Radio 4, File on 4, is broadcasting a programme on 21/9/21 at 8pm called Mental Health Profiteers - based on this organisation I believe.

If you are thinking of signing up with Peaky Parents I would suggest you look at the YCFF thread before making a decision.

Concerns expressed about Peaky Parents on the YCFF link include:-

high pressure selling to vulnerable people - specific aim to create a 'marketing machine' to sell this online programme

encouraging vulnerable parents to put themselves under financial pressure to raise funds for the programme

bold statements, approaching a guarantee, that the programme will work, with no evidence to back this up

blaming parents for the programme not succeeding for their child
lack of qualifications held within the organisation

young people giving personal video reviews

lack of professionalism - emotive language designed evoke guilt

criticism of other professional services

no regulation

OP posts:
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platinumplus · 06/12/2023 16:20

Having the sheer amount of different company names that she does is just the biggest red flag ever.

NettieRE · 06/12/2023 16:22

@PipMumsnet what are your thoughts on this? Thanks did protecting my information.

platinumplus · 06/12/2023 16:26

@mnhq also wondering if your legal team have any thoughts on Sam's new website name

NettieRE · 06/12/2023 16:29

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NettieRE · 06/12/2023 16:31

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NettieRE · 06/12/2023 16:32

Posted one image by mistake. I need glasses.

Comfysofa78 · 06/12/2023 16:43

@NettieRE @PipMumsnet looks like they have tried to use the good name of mumsnet by creating a ‘themumsnet’ domain. Easily missed and you would assume it’s affiliated with mums net and anything but.

TeenMinusTests · 06/12/2023 17:25

What gets me is they quote trustpilot reviews on the website from reviews under a different name, which I assume isn't allowed.
Also if anyone trustpilots the new name they will get the true Mumsnet 5star reviews.

NettieRE · 06/12/2023 17:34

Helpful. Thanks. I’ve never known of a credible company that incessantly changes the name, and works so hard to discredit dissent and opinions.

NettieRE · 06/12/2023 17:37

Very helpful. Thank you. You say it better than I do.

Hols12345 · 06/12/2023 17:59

@NettieRE hope you're ok. The emails they are sending you are very threatening and I can imagine quite upsetting. I have sent you a private message. 😊

Hols12345 · 06/12/2023 18:02

Ps. @NettieRE I'm very glad to hear that your husband is ok. And despite what Sam says, that does not detract from your experience with this company.

NettieRE · 06/12/2023 18:04

They are threatening me with an attorney for posting these. @PipMumsnet @mnhq
could you remove these? I didn’t see they had a legal notice that u couldn’t post these. The fine print at the bottom, which I didn’t get to because it was all so confusing coming from mumsnet and then hearing on mumsnet that young vices use this name. Could these be removed. I’m trying and not able. Thanks

NettieRE · 06/12/2023 18:05

I appreciate it.

Mibb2 · 06/12/2023 18:08

@NettieRE best to report the posts you want removed. There's a report button on each post. I think that's the quickest way to get to @mnhq

TeenMinusTests · 06/12/2023 18:09

I really hope that MNHQ get their lawyers on to the deliberate misuse of their name.

I'm so glad we never got involved with this company under any name. True my DD isn't fully recovered yet and they apparently can cure kids in 8-12 weeks, but her anxiety is trauma based and she is way way better than she was 3 years ago.

NettieRE · 06/12/2023 18:10

That is very kind thank of you to notice. I’m not worried. I have “all the receipts” as my children say. I know I have never lied. I know I have been honest. They say I am blackmailing by writing reviews as they won’t give the refund they promised. I am doing what I can so nobody else goes through this. I have all the proof of everything I have said. This is so kind of you to reach out. They go to great lengths to prevent people talking about them. They could put that energy into changing a few things instead.

NettieRE · 06/12/2023 18:11

These emails they send are unprofessional

NettieRE · 06/12/2023 18:13

Perfect! And I need to delete the others as they are threatening me with legal action. I wanted to show they do email from mumsnet. Very confusing

TeenMinusTests · 06/12/2023 18:22

NettieRE · 06/12/2023 18:13

Perfect! And I need to delete the others as they are threatening me with legal action. I wanted to show they do email from mumsnet. Very confusing

Just to check you are clear, the anxiety company are emailing from 'themumsnet.com' whereas the Mumsnet we are using right now is just 'mumsnet.com'.
I think it would be hard for them to justify any claim this is just a coincidence.

NettieRE · 06/12/2023 18:27

Thanks for clarifying that 🤪🤪🤪🤪🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼❤️❤️❤️

3xteens · 06/12/2023 18:31

@NettieRE it's a minefield as they change their name, there charges, their contact etc a lot. I think Sam reacts in such a way because she doesn't believe anything they do or say is wrong. She gets desperate to defend herself. And doesn't care what she says or threatens. Because it's our children involved too I have stayed away from the refund battle so far. She wouldn't and doesn't hesitate to place blame on the parents. This is the last thing you need when trying to help your child at crisis point.

NettieRE · 06/12/2023 18:57

I am not comfortable with her judgement.

NettieRE · 06/12/2023 20:24

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NettieRE · 06/12/2023 20:28

@GoodButNaughty they sure spend a lot of time and money on web domains. Lordy. Now this one is not active.