What would you do here?

[gimmethesimplelife]

Today I checked the balance on my debit card on which I am paid for my participation in the Pfizer Covid trial here in Phoenix. The balance should have been $10 - unfortunately there was a fraudulent charge of $7.42 on my card. And I found out that it would have been a major PITA to fight for the $7.42. So I cancelled the card and called the Pfizer trial folks about cancelling my participation - I left a voice mail as they are closed on Sundays.

Then I turned around and thought it over - all that is left of my participation is 13 more months of a check in once a week on an app to report whether or not I have symptoms for $5/wk. I called back and offered to continue in the study for free as what is expected of me takes no time at all and I don't have to babysit fraud issues if I am not paid and it's not the clinical research folks fault this happened.

What do you think? Continue on for free - we are talkling small amounts of money here, really - and I do believe in both science and this vaccine. What would you do, what's your take? Rob

[razz]

They still need the info, don't they. Wait for a r.esponse and then decide. People die, move, change their card - this would not be unusual to have happen so see how badly they need your info for their study.

[iris lilies]

My gut response is that I don’t sign up/participate in/continue ventures that pay me $5 per month, not worth it.

I would do something like this for the value I bring to the health research endeavor, tho.

[Teacher Terry]

I would do it for free.

[gimmethesimplelife]

My gut response is that I don’t sign up/participate in/continue ventures that pay me $5 per month, not worth it.

I would do something like this for the value I bring to the health research endeavor, tho.Beyond the $5 a week, my total so far in a separate savings account for my Pfizer trial participation money is $941.00 and some change. My "heavy lifting" participation is over - several office visits that paid $120 each. I have lost none of the "heavy lifting" money to fraud, thankfully. Rob

[rosarugosa]

I would finish it out for free.

[herbgeek]

I would do it for free, but this may not work for them if they are using the app for data collection. so don't be surprised, if they don't get back to you. There may not be a mechanism to collect your information that integrates with their study data.

[SteveinMN]

I would do it for free, but this may not work for them if they are using the app for data collection. so don't be surprised, if they don't get back to you. There may not be a mechanism to collect your information that integrates with their study data.
I would say continue for free, but I think herbgeek is onto something here. I'm always surprised at how big projects are sandbagged by some seemingly harmless deviation that TPTB never thought could happen. It's essentially the same school of thought that asks people to not return items shipped to them in error because accepting it back is a bigger disruption to the system than just writing it off. Rob, wait to see what the study managers tell you.

[gimmethesimplelife]

I would do it for free, but this may not work for them if they are using the app for data collection. so don't be surprised, if they don't get back to you. There may not be a mechanism to collect your information that integrates with their study data.Interesting and I had not thought of that. You may very well be on to something here. All I can do is offer to continue participating for free and if that doesn't suit - well, thanks for the $941 and the two Pfizer shots back in February I guess. Rob

[gimmethesimplelife]

I would say continue for free, but I think herbgeek is onto something here. I'm always surprised at how big projects are sandbagged by some seemingly harmless deviation that TPTB never thought could happen. It's essentially the same school of thought that asks people to not return items shipped to them in error because accepting it back is a bigger disruption to the system than just writing it off. Rob, wait to see what the study managers tell you.Will do. It will be interesting to see what they have to say truth be told. Rob

[happystuff]

Late to this, but I agree - wait until you get a chance to talk to someone and see what they say. Good luck!

[gimmethesimplelife]

Update: I called the clinical research people and I could tell they didn't get it and thought I was insane for waiving payment. They had hard copies of paperwork dated last Friday that showed my account balance at the $10 it should have been and they could not wrap their minds around the fact that the charge that went through that was fraudulent went through yesterday. I found this so depressing - it must be a nightmare to work for these folks as life is not that simple nor that black and white. I personally could not work well in such a culture unless desperate.

But whatever - we came to a solution. They are going to set up another debit card for me and I will continue in the study and I will just keep the debit card at their front desk and leave it be. I told them to let the people at the front desk use it for Starbucks every few weeks but they said they would not do that, that the card would just sit there. Whatever. I'm only staying in this study as I believe in this vaccine and I believe in science. I am however disappointed in both the clinical research folks and the ClinCard debit card folks. Happy to waive the money on this one. Rob