Industrial Hearing Clinic

JossyBoy

Like many, I have been cold called by Industrial Hearing Clinic.

As I had worked for British Coal/NCB I was interested as I have suffered from Tinnitus for around 10 years (am now 54 yrs old) and had previously thought about making a claim, but never seemed to get around to it and I didn't want to be part of the "claims culture brigade" so just put up with it.

So , when I got the call, I was easily persuaded to go along with having the hearing test, but in my home, as I was told that as I worked for the NCB I was a "special case". The next step will be being allocated a solicitor to take up my claim.

Now, having read about this company on this site, and read a Panorama report about the company, I am having real doubts about proceeding. I have already given my employment history to them over the phone but now have great reservation about giving them anything else?

Has any other person actually gone through the whole process and been successful and I'm worrying unduly, OR, has anyone been "had" and should I have major worries?

Hope someone can advise.

Many thanks.

Georgiegirl256

My Dad went to something similar, might have actually been that company, I'm not sure? That was a few years ago now I think, and he never heard (no pun intended!) anything back off them, neither did a friend of my parents who went also.

eyeinthesky

I think the statute of limitations would prevent you making a claim after 10 years, and you would also need some proof. Look up on time limits before you have any more dealings with this outfit.

Hear-Hear

Avoid Zahier Hussain Trading as Industrial Hearing Clinic. It's a claims management company (ie. ambulance chasers). Plenty of reports of dubious cold-calling tactics within MSE forums and elsewhere on the net.

If you feel you have a problem with your hearing, the first port of call should be your GP or an audiologist at places like Boots and Specsavers. This will help you to determine whether you have a hearing loss, and to what extent. Once a hearing loss has been established, then go and see your own Solicitor, local to you, to see if you have any grounds for legal action for Noise Induced Hearing Loss. There's no charge for hearing tests, and most Solicitors will give you the first half-hour consultation, and an initial opinion, for free.

If you are 54, you should be having your routine hearing tests every 2 years (every 12 months if over 60, or if you already have hearing aids).

pmduk

No reputable "clinic" would need to make cold calls. They've featured in these forums on previous occasions

Herongull

Avoid dealings with any company that cold calls you.

If a company is reputable and offers a service at a competitive price, does it need to cold call people to drum up business?

No, it's customers to them come as a result of advertising and personal recommendations.

Also because cold-calling=nuisance calls and is heavily associated with dodgy companies, no reputable company would want its reputation damaged by any association with cold-calling.

Even if a cold calling company's spiel catches your interest and seems potentially relevant to your situation, put the phone done and find a reputable company. Googling is quick and easy.

Gli

Hear-Hear wrote: »

Avoid Zahier Hussain Trading as Industrial Hearing Clinic. It's a claims management company (ie. ambulance chasers). Plenty of reports of dubious cold-calling tactics within MSE forums and elsewhere on the net.

Now also trading as National Advice Clinic. Tries to get you to an appointment at a local prestige hotel for a hearing test. I went to one run by Industrial Hearing Clinic and was effectively thrown out when I asked if Zahair Hussain was present and then some other questions. I think they thought I was a journalist.

Same hotel used by both company names.

Avoid at all costs.

ajingar

I received a call from them today (National Advice Clinic). Their phone number was 0113 419 9978. The bloke had a Leeds accent (the number is a Leeds number), but insisted that he was calling from my local town and asked for me by name. He stated that 'it says in my database that you worked in an industrial place for at least 5 years'. Bunch of rogues.

Poppie68

:spam::wave:Bye bye

jellybelly99

Yeah I've had the same call today, apparently I once worked in a factory - found this thread as someone had posted a link to it on one of the Telephone Numbers sites.

Number now blocked although I wish I'd perhaps played along and wasted some of his "valuable" time :rotfl:

alpha2

I too was cold called several times by the National Advice Clinic and eventually I relented and went to a great deal of effort to go to their clinic which was at the Leicester city football club.
I was seen by an ear specialist and told my hearing was sufficiently impaired to qualify for some form of entitlement. Five minutes later I was seen by an assessor who, after a short interview,told me that I didn't qualify as I didn't meet the criteria.
I am retired now but worked in an extremely noisy environment for 45 years. After about five years I developed hearing problems but didn't realise the connection with the noise from my work. I continued in the trade until my retirement. The reason I was rejected by this clinic was because I should have reported my hearing problems within five years of my first visit to my doctors. that would have been way back in 1962.
I am rather miffed about not being entitled.There were people there, one who I knew, who had only worked in the trade for a short time, yet qualified for a payout of some sort.