I am not now, nor have I ever been, a member of the American Medical Association. Yet, from the time I graduated from medical school in 1993, I have received a current copy of JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association). I have never submitted an address change, yet the newest edition of the magazine duly appears in my mailbox whereever I go.
As does the dues notice. At least yearly, and more recently, MONTHLY, the envelope appears in my mailbox. It has never been paid, although it looks for all intents and purposes like a bill. It is my opinion that it is designed to look like a bill, so that unsuspecting bookkeepers or office managers will see it, and pay it (doctor is too busy to ask about such mundane things……).
It is a well-known technique by magazine-subscription services: send a (or several) magazines to a business office….follow it up months later with a “renewal notice.” I speak from persnoal experience when I state that it is all too easy for the owner of the business to NOT be aware that office staff is happily paying this “bill.” Please note the arrows instructing me to “disregard this notice if already paid.”
AMA, do you REALLY need to stoop to deceptive practices such as this to gain….or keep…. membership?
A post office frient pointed out that the AMA pays the post office to find and forward to, the most recent reported address for any “subscriber.” If I were truly a dues-paying member, I would be LIVID to know that my $420 annual dues were being used to track down and deliver an UNWANTED copy of JAMA (not to mention the innumerable AMA sponsored credit card and life insurance offers) to a physician who DIDN’T WANT IT!
What a poor stewardship of membership money.
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