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I've always watched their commercials thinking that We the Taxpayers were getting hosed.

Apparently I was correct, so I'm behind this 100%.

 

http://news.yahoo.com/fbi-declares-war-scooter-store-165141419--finance.html

 




FBI Declares War on The Scooter Store

 

20101101-fat-people-on-scooters.jpg


By Dashiell Bennett | The Atlantic Wire – Fri, Feb 22, 2013



Approximately 150 federal and state law enforcement agents launched a massive raid on one of the biggest perpetrators of government fraud in America: The Scooter Store. Yes, that's right. The nation's largest provider of single-person electric vehicles and power chairs is the target of a federal investigation, probably because many of the people who ride around their "personal mobility devices" don't actually need them.

RELATED: Huge Round of Arrests for $450 Million in Medicare Fraud

In January, CBS This Morning ran a cutting exposé on the company, detailing how it "railroads" doctors into prescribing the chair for their patients, most of whom are on Medicare or Medicaid. That way they can bill the government for their highly dubious medical device, while the patient gets a cool new scooter without paying for it, and The Scooter Store makes a nice profit. Doctors and former employees told CBS that the company would harass physicians with non-stop phone calls and offices drop-ins in order to wear them down. The company even has a special department devoted to getting chairs for patients who had already been ruled ineligible by Medicare. No doubt the pressure comes because their ads guarantee that the chair will be free if they can't get you qualified.

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The Scooter Store is so good at getting the chairs that a government audit found that they had overbilled Medicare by over $100 million between 2009-2012. It's no wonder their ads brag that "No other company will work harder to make you mobile."

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FBI agents would not provide details on any crimes or possible charges behind the search warrant, but 1,200 employees of the company were escorted from the headquarters in New Braunfels, Texas, on Wednesday, and were not allowed back into today, as investigators continue to dig for clues. Police also searched a related management company that The Scooter Store's sales records.

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Unfortunately, the FBI won't be going after the handful of customers who know they don't need a scooter or wheelchair, but still want the government to buy them one. Sort of like the people at airports who experience "wheelchair miracles" leaping up and running to their gate after an airport employee has helpfully pushed them most of the way. Officials at Los Angeles International Airport estimate that 15 percent of the people who request wheelchair assistance are faking it, because they want to skip lines and get on board their flights faster. We're sure most Scooter Store customers are unhealthy people, innocently going along with the company's promises of getting out of the house more, but the disability fakers are the real criminals if you ask us.

LOL, yeah I put the pic in.

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They and other companies were practically hounding my grandfather to get one. He does have a lot of knee problems and messed up feet, but he always said as soon as you quit walking you quit being able to. From what I have seen he is right. He finally caved and got a scooter, but he only uses it on the days when he has to.

 

+1 chile about always seeing shennanigans in their ads. All of us know at least one person using one that could get around without it, and you know they need the exercise.

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Not only are they completely screwing the taxpayer, but they are making the country less healthy as a whole.

 

There are many, many people who have gotten govt funding for these scooters. Some really need them and some dont. The ones who could possibly lose weight, get stronger, and feel better by diet and exersize, are becoming chair ridden. Giving borderline sick /immobile people the means to drive anywhere they want to go, declines their over all health as a result.

 

If some of these people would walk where they need to go, maybe they wouldnt need the chair in the first place.

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Just as we don't like our 2nd Amendment Rights messed with they are Innocent Until Proven Guilty
innocentuntilprovenguilty.jpgYou don’t have to be a lawyer to have heard the term “innocent until proven guilty.” A fundamental concept in the United States justice system, the expression was first used in the Bill of Rights to ensure all citizens receive a fair trial if they are ever charged with a crime, a principle known as due process of law.

As the founders of the United States realized, the rights of the accused must be protected if we want to maintain a functioning democratic society and prevent the government from abusing its authority. Therefore, the Constitution grants protections for citizens if they are accused of a crime and details the requirements that must be met before you can be convicted of that crime. Your innocence is assumed until these conditions are met. In other words, you are innocent until proven guilty.

It is very important for you to know your rights if you are ever charged with a crime. You have the right to obtain legal representation and, if you are questioned, you have the right to remain silent until you have spoken with an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, your rights also guarantee that one will be appointed to you by the government. In addition, you have the right to know the charges against you.

Once you are notified of your charges, the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution protects you from self-incrimination, which allows you to refuse to testify during your trial. You may also confront any witnesses who are testifying against you and collect your own witnesses and evidence.

Your rights also protect you from unreasonable search and seizure—meaning the government must have a search warrant in order to search your private property. If evidence was collected illegally, it cannot be used against you in court.

Finally, you have the right to be tried by a jury of your peers if you desire. Individuals who are charged with serious crimes also must be indicted by a grand jury before their case goes before the court.

Because you are innocent until proven guilty, the prosecution must prove your guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. In other words, once all of the evidence against you is considered, no reasonable person should be able to question your guilt—otherwise, you cannot be found guilty. You also cannot be charged with the same crime twice.

If you are facing criminal charges, make sure you obtain the legal counsel you are entitled to. An experienced criminal defense attorney will see to it that your rights are not violated and ensure you get a fair trial. Remember, you are innocent until proven guilty, and it is important that you are treated as such.
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^ ^ WTF is THAT ^ ^??? Looks like an advertisement for legal services.haha.gif

 

Sure they're innocent until proven guilty. But if the evidence shows they're guilty Im glad the Govt is going after them. I dont like that their products make people fatter and lazier but I support their right to do just that UNTIL they start breaking the law to do it.

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^ ^ WTF is THAT ^ ^??? Looks like an advertisement for legal services.haha.gif

 

Sure they're innocent until proven guilty. But if the evidence shows they're guilty Im glad the Govt is going after them. I dont like that their products make people fatter and lazier but I support their right to do just that UNTIL they start breaking the law to do it.

Sure some of their business may be a scam, and some of of it is legitimate. My three time cancer survivor mother depends on a motorized chair because of the effects of chemo. Give them their day in court, and then sound off.

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^ ^ WTF is THAT ^ ^??? Looks like an advertisement for legal services.haha.gif

 

Sure they're innocent until proven guilty. But if the evidence shows they're guilty Im glad the Govt is going after them. I dont like that their products make people fatter and lazier but I support their right to do just that UNTIL they start breaking the law to do it.

Sure some of their business may be a scam, and some of of it is legitimate. My three time cancer survivor mother depends on a motorized chair because of the effects of chemo. Give them their day in court, and then sound off.

I agree, I didnt mean to imply they have broken the law. Everyone deserves their day in court. I fully realize this would not be the first company targeted by the Feds who actually havent done anything wrong. Although I cant imagine the agenda behind targeting the Scooter store.

 

I realize these things really do help people who need them but its the part of their business that "may be a scam" I take issue with. I have no idea how they operate but sounds like they havent been playing fair and got busted for it?? Guess we'll see.

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Based off what they say in their commercials, if I applied for one, they'd get me one. I in no way need one and having one would only decrease my health. I think there is a fundamental problem when the company is so pressuring for people to get one, even if it medically is bad for them

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Based off what they say in their commercials, if I applied for one, they'd get me one. I in no way need one and having one would only decrease my health. I think there is a fundamental problem when the company is so pressuring for people to get one, even if it medically is bad for them

 

I say you take them up on it and just cruise around with it.

 

One of my douche bag neighbors got a free golf cart out of Prez. Comacho's electric vehicle credit and that's what his kids do with it. Too lazy to ride their bikes down the street.

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On a related topic, everyone I see using the "Hospitality Scooters" at places like Wallyworld do not appear elderly or disabled. They are all overweight and can't be bothered to walk around the store. Same goes for Handicap Parking Permits. Most are overweight, not elderly or seriously disabled.

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On a related topic, everyone I see using the "Hospitality Scooters" at places like Wallyworld do not appear elderly or disabled. They are all overweight and can't be bothered to walk around the store. Same goes for Handicap Parking Permits. Most are overweight, not elderly or seriously disabled.

 

I worked retail for 10 years... You should see how PISSED those people get when the cart is in use by another customer or has a dead battery. They completely lose their minds. We had a manual wheel chair as a back-up, not a single person took me up on that offer in over a decade. I once had a guy get so pissed when I told him it was dead that I just told him to take it. Maybe it would get him through his trip? 20 minutes later he was humping around on foot and I was pushing it back up front to go back on the charger. Funny as hell!

 

In a related topic, my fiance fell down the stairs (I shit you not... no kidding) and sprained her ankle and foot really badly a few years ago. When we got done at the hospital I took her to the store so she could get some food that she could easily prepare while she was laid up at home and I was at work. I talked her into using that cart... OMG... It was hilarious.. She HATED IT! People would just stand in front of her, cut her off, give her snooty looks, or be OVERLY friendly. She ended up just staying in the main aisle way while I would go after whatever she asked for. I can't imagine why anyone would willingly use one of those things unless they really had to.

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Hey! I never said I needed the damn thing. I'm just lazy, OK?

 

Oh, BTW, thanks for buying it for me. You guys are great!



Is that whale hoisting the bird at the camera?

 

BTW, again. Quit dissing whales please.

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The Scooter Store sucks worse than Walmart Winchester bulk pack ammo. As a family doc in residency in an inner-city setting I had every crack smoking clown under the sun coming in asking for these things. They're already on disability, food stamps, section 8 housing and pass the day using drugs, making babies, and watching TV. So when they run dry on drugs and baby making they watch TV and see the freaking commercial promising them a scooter for nothing. Then the Scooter Store and the patient both start to hound me. I would fill out the paperwork as accurately as I could and when, SUPRISE!!!, they didn't qualify the Scooter Store would start calling about how I could change the answers on the form so they could qualify and they would also sic the patients on me by telling them I had decided they didn't need one. Actually the physician doesn't decide they fill out the form and Medicare decides. After 1.5 years back in rural Utah I haven't got a bogus request for a scooter yet. The few legit ones I have shredded the Scooter Store paperwork and we've gone through a local company. I then have the nurse tell the Scooter Store rep when they call to see what happened with the application that we refuse to deal with them. There's my 2 cents and I hope they are destroyed by the feds.

Edited by well2160
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They promise you a free scooter, and that they will get you approved or they will pay for it themselves.

Believe me, they will go to no end to get a person approved, they have an entire Dept committed to this.

And yes, they will incessantly harass Doctors and their staff to commit fraud for them.

 

I used a scooter more than a few times after shattering my right tib/fib in a sporting injury.

Had a blast in WalMart and another store, yeehaw!

 

My MiL has one, she bought it new with her own money.

She only uses it when the pain forces her to use it, otherwise she hoofs it with a cane or walker.

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On a related topic, everyone I see using the "Hospitality Scooters" at places like Wallyworld do not appear elderly or disabled. They are all overweight and can't be bothered to walk around the store. Same goes for Handicap Parking Permits. Most are overweight, not elderly or seriously disabled.

Yeah its pretty pathetic. Fuckin lazy pricks.

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On a related topic, everyone I see using the "Hospitality Scooters" at places like Wallyworld do not appear elderly or disabled. They are all overweight and can't be bothered to walk around the store. Same goes for Handicap Parking Permits. Most are overweight, not elderly or seriously disabled.

 

I worked retail for 10 years... You should see how PISSED those people get when the cart is in use by another customer or has a dead battery. They completely lose their minds. We had a manual wheel chair as a back-up, not a single person took me up on that offer in over a decade. I once had a guy get so pissed when I told him it was dead that I just told him to take it. Maybe it would get him through his trip? 20 minutes later he was humping around on foot and I was pushing it back up front to go back on the charger. Funny as hell!

 

In a related topic, my fiance fell down the stairs (I shit you not... no kidding) and sprained her ankle and foot really badly a few years ago. When we got done at the hospital I took her to the store so she could get some food that she could easily prepare while she was laid up at home and I was at work. I talked her into using that cart... OMG... It was hilarious.. She HATED IT! People would just stand in front of her, cut her off, give her snooty looks, or be OVERLY friendly. She ended up just staying in the main aisle way while I would go after whatever she asked for. I can't imagine why anyone would willingly use one of those things unless they really had to.

 

I have minor chondromalacia of the patella (in short - inflammation of the underside of the kneecap), and sometimes it flares up badly, especially if I do something stupid like smash my knee into a wall, or kneel for more than a minute or two. Generally, I have no problem walking, up to a few miles at a time. I've used one of those courtesy scooters exactly once, on a bad day when a cane just wasn't cutting it. It's a pain in the ass, literally - those seats are damned uncomfortable. Twenty or thirty minutes riding around in that thing was plenty. Walking is greatly preferable.

 

Any company that has sufficient funds to run constant advertisements on at least dozens of cable channels is clearly raking in a shitload of profit. Medicare fraud is widespread - the scooter store is being nailed for it because they made themselves a gigantic target.

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I understand there may be situations where people really do need these motorized scooters, but I do not think I have ever seen anyone, save fat-assed losers, riding these things while they are shopping the chips and candy isles (OK, am I biggoted against scooters?!). I think I'd use a wheelchair though. I'd do it even as a healthy person. Set yourself to go through one shopping adventure twice a week in a wheelchair! That'd give you some nice upper body exercise. Heck, now I am thinking I have to find a way to work a wheelchair workout to my office!

 

On a more serious note, the raping of the public via outsourcing contracts taken and abused and companies that irritate the government to get what they want is ridiculous these days. It goes way beyond the scooter store.

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