Fairfax Cryobank

[Anonymous]

PP, so sorry for all the trouble you went through - that must have been so frustrating. We actually just made decision to order from CA Cryobank because we haven't found many negative postings about them here and other places (unlike Fairfax and others), and we like their sibling registry (as an option if child wants that). Anyone have any other experiences with them that you can share?

[Anonymous]

Did you use IUI vials or ICI vials for traditional IVF procedure? Thank you.

[Anonymous]

Did you use IUI vials or ICI vials for your IVF procedures?
thanks

Anonymous wrote:I'm sorry you are going through that...we did use Fairfax Cryobank & I think the numbers were always ok, but we did 12 (yes 12!) IUI's with no luck. We switched donors & did IVF & were successful. I know it is not an answer & does not address the issue of Fairfax's culpability, but I think that with IVF (especially with ICSI) , the sperm counts don't really matter that much. I know it costs significantly more, but the (emotional & financial) costs of IUI's really add up. I wish we had done IVF sooner.

[Anonymous]

Did you use IUI vials or ICI vials for your IVF procedures? Thanks.

Anonymous wrote:I'm sorry to hear about the bad experiences. We've used Fairfax and tried about 3-4 IUI rounds with no luck, though the Dr. said the counts were good. Having good insurance, we switched to IVF and got pregnant the first try. Haven't dealt with Fairfax much other than to order the sperm, but had no problems. Good luck to everyone...I know this process is an emotional rollercoaster! Hang in there!

[Anonymous]

I have also had the same bad experience with Fairfax. 5 vials, all not meeting their minimum requirements. I spoke with Stephen Pool and he will not refund me the money and I will not use samples from them again. I have spent over 5,000 on their vials not to mention the cost of the drugs and most of all the emotional cost.

I have every intention of pursuing this to the full extent, Fairfax is playing with peoples lives and do not care. The two different donors I order from are still being sold on their website even though they are aware these donors have issues. Unbelievable.

I am doing research on the Internet, with the FDA, and with CBER and am requesting full disclosure on why I am not being refunded as well as why substandard donors are still being used.

During my research I have found so many complaints and issues with Fairfax I see this as something that should/will be given to a Lawyer. This company should be held responsible for both the financial and punitive damages they are inflicting on people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:fairfax screws you over!!!!! I've been screwed by them to many times to count!

I 2ND THAT!!! THEY ARE OUT TO RIP YOU OFF!!!

[Anonymous]

I am the person who wrote the post dated 12/17/2009 20:55. I have been researching the extent of Fairfax's lack of quality and the damage they are doing, both emotional and financial. The two donors for me were 1480 and 2533 and they are both still knowingy being sold on their website.

The amount of complaints I am finding is shocking to say the least. If anyone has more info about what their experieces are please post them and if possible the donor numbers, at least future peple may benefit by avoiding those donors of not Fairfax altogether.

The extent of the damage Fairfax is doing goes far beyond financial, I found the article at the link below

http://www.donoroffspringhealth.com/downloads/donor1084.pdf

That company has no ethics and let alone not pulling vials based on low motility they are not pulling vials when they have been told that the donor's sperm is producing off spring with genetic health problems.

If anyone has anything they want t share please post it here.

[Anonymous]

I have checked and there are reports at the better business bureau aganst Fairfax. The are for billing and refund policies.
The company's size, volume of business and number of transactions may have a bearing on the number of complaints received by the BBB. The complaints filed against a company may not be as important as the type of complaints, and how the company has handled them. The BBB generally does not pass judgment on the validity of complaints filed.

Number of complaints processed by the BBB
in the last 36 months: 2
in the last 12 months: 1

Complaints Concerned:
Credit or Billing Disputes (1 complaints)
1 Resolved

Refund Practices (1 complaints)
1 Resolved

http://www.dc.bbb.org/report.html?national=y&compid=1039232

I am filing a complaint there as well as it seems they were both resolved. If that is what it takes to get a refund then so be it. Not to mention it can be done online.

If anyone out there has had this isuse do the same... there is strength in numbers.

this is the website to file the complaint
http://www.dc.bbb.org/complaints/commoncomplaint.html?step=1

It is a little hard to search the company but it is there. Even if you do not want t get refund make a complaint anyway about any bad service they have given you. If we do nothing then more women will be hurt by them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am the person who wrote the post dated 12/17/2009 20:55. I have been researching the extent of Fairfax's lack of quality and the damage they are doing, both emotional and financial. The two donors for me were 1480 and 2533 and they are both still knowingy being sold on their website.

The amount of complaints I am finding is shocking to say the least. If anyone has more info about what their experieces are please post them and if possible the donor numbers, at least future peple may benefit by avoiding those donors of not Fairfax altogether.

The extent of the damage Fairfax is doing goes far beyond financial, I found the article at the link below

http://www.donoroffspringhealth.com/downloads/donor1084.pdf

That company has no ethics and let alone not pulling vials based on low motility they are not pulling vials when they have been told that the donor's sperm is producing off spring with genetic health problems.

If anyone has anything they want t share please post it here.

\
Caryn is a good frin of mine

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am having the same experience except I've spent over $3000 (I bought a number of vials at once). I spent over $500+ per vial and each time, the quality was WAY below their "warranty". One was at 3 million. When I complained and asked to be reimbursed for the money I spent on the vials. They dragged their feet and finally reimbursed me pennies on the dollar. I gave them multiple chances to make it right and even had to switch to another donor to get better quality and that donor sperm was below their warranty level as well. There is obviously no quality control at Fairfax and when they are called on it, they refuse to stand behind their warranty. I've wasted so much money (doctor's fees, shipping fees) not to mention taking fertility drugs, monitoring my cycle and taking time off work just to get in there and have the doctor tell me that once the sperm was thawed it was practically useless. They were very dismissive as well and didn't even care when I told them I would sue. They were practically laughing when they gave me the name of the person to which I should address the suit to (Dr. Stephen Poole). They are playing with people's lives and they don't care. They still have those two donors with the low counts up on their site. So I'm sure other women will be getting the same experience as me.

did you ever actually sue them, or do you know of any open lawsuits. I have been poorly treated by them and plan on pursuing this.?? Any info of this nature would be helpful.

[Anonymous]

Wow! I am shocked. We used Fairfax and a great NP and with IUI conceived our beautiful baby boy on the first try. Actually getting ready to log on for an attempt at baby 2 now and saw this on a google search and thought I'd read a bit. Just for the sake of a bit more balanced thread, I personally would like to add that at least from our experience it has been a good one! I can't really say much about your bad customer service experiences, but one thing I might try to keep in consideration is whether or not the vials are handled properly upon arrival too! I'll be definitely paying closer attention to how we are treated from Fairfax now that I've read this though!

[Anonymous]

As part of the complaint procedure Fairfax communicated with my doctors office and determined that the lab at my doctors office did everything right during the thaw process and still they are refusing to budge. So that was not it.

I have been doing alot of research on Fairfax and their parent company givf.com and have found FDA warning letters against givf (issued just recently) and on a slew of websites I am finding all negative complaints and comments about them, you are one of the very few which had a positive experience. The scariest complaints are the ones being about Faifax knowingly selling vials after there have been complaints not only for low motility but for genetic issues in offspring.

I have also found that Fairfax is not even accredited with the American Tissue Bank Association as most credible sperm banks are. Further, their motility guarentee is at the threshhold count level. Studies have been done which prove that the 10 Million value is the absolute minimum but the probablity of a preganancy at that count is very low. To have the odds in your favor the count must be above 30 million.

I am so happy for you it worked the first time, we have attempted IUI and IVF about 5 times combined costing us so much emotionaly, physicaly and financialy. I hope it works for you on the second one just as quick so you do not have to experience a doctor telling you that he does not think the IUI will work due to the donor sperm being virtually useless and then Fairfax not even standing by their own warranty.

I am reporting Fairfax to the better business bureau after the holidays and based on their low quality standards for simple motility count I am concerned about their other testing procedures. I will also be contacting the FDA, CBER, and the Health department as they fall under the jursidiction of these agencies.

BTW, what was the donor's number?

[Anonymous]

From what I have read on the Internet you can complain about Fairfax or any other cryobank selling substandard vials of donor sperm, this includes motility and concentration as it relates to the quality of the product.

Below are the numbers to call and a link to the form you will out and send to the FDA. It is very easy and quick to fill out and the FDA takes comants like this seriously.

This link is to the phone number to call in your area,
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/ReportaProblem/ConsumerComplaintCoordinators/default.htm

This link is the form to fill out and send in.
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/HowToReport/DownloadForms/default.htm

It is form 3500, voluntary reporting and it can be used for product quality.
By acting on this based on your bad experience you could be saving others from the difficulties you have faced.

[Anonymous]

sorry to hear of your experiences, our donor was successful before, and we were on the second try. the boy is beautiful and healthy. IUI

[Anonymous]

Fairfax has so many complaints on virtually every fertility and sperm bank info website I have visited. Do not use them as you will be wasting your time and money

These complaints range from
Vials being sent out that are far below their published quality standards, this mean the possibility of the treatment resulting in pregnancy is virtually zero.

They do not give refunds for samles that do not meet their quality standards, they do not live up to their warranty.

Unethical warranty in that you have to report within 5 days, there is no need for this except to minimize their risk of giving a refund, they also say if you get pregnant there will be no refund. The test for pregancy is about 2 weeks after the treatment... so why the 5 days?

After having a complaint about low post thaw motility about a donor they continue to sell other vials from that donor.

After havng complaints about genetic illnesses in offspring on a donor they still continued to sell from that donor, See info on donor 1084 and this is not the only one. Consult the donor sibling registry for the others.

They do not tell you about the warranty, they send it to the doctor and rely on the doctor, a third party to communicate their policies.

They are dismissive and rude when you have a problem with them particulary Stephen Pool who makes the decisions.

If they cannot test correctly for simple motility count how can they be trusted to test properly for communicable deseases??

Fairfax is responding to complaints not by doing the right thing and improving, they instead direct you to the website to read testimonials, these testimonials should be called false marketing lies. Of course they are not going to tell the truth about all the complaints they have. Of course they are going to post how good they are. Do not listen, do your research and see what Faifax really is.

To anyone who has suffered because of Faifax, my heart goes out to you. Image how it feels to go through drug treatments, spending all that time, money and emotion only to be told the donor sperm is useless and will never work. I do not have to image this, they did it to me.

To anyone who has suffered there is something you can do. There is a form to fill out on the FDA website:

http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/HowToReport/D
ownloadForms/default.htm

It is the MedWatch form 3500 which is used to make complaints to the FDA on biological product quality. The form is easy to fill out and is completely confidential. The FDA has authority over Fairfax and can make Fairfax improve their quality and their policies but the FDA needs to be made aware of the problem.

All the best wishes to those of you trying. I hope none of you have to go through what I did due to Fairfax, If this review saves one person from that misery then I am glad I posted it.