Benzo-Help: Are Fees and Donations Appropriate?
Our goal is to spread the benzo-facts as far as possible, but you will not be paying for that effort. We do not ask for donations, and we do not accept them. This site's information is offered freely to the Benzo-Victim from real-life Benzo-Victors.
However, you should be aware that there are sites that ask for and accept donations. These sites claim that your money will ensure better rankings with search engines in an effort to reach more people. These sites may say that they need your money to pay for operating costs. These sites may be taking advantage of your generosity.
Higher rankings with search engines cannot be bought. Higher rankings come from earning those rankings; Google does not accept money for ranks. Yes, you can place Google-AdWords, but this is something different from paying for a higher ranking with a search engine.
Advertising Costs:
Ads do not always cost a lot. Some web-hosts will give free "credits" at sign up. In some cases, this can be as much as $200.00 in free credits. These credits can be used for programs such as Google AdWords and Microsoft adCenter. Because these ad accounts offer no locked in time frame, the user can stop them at any time. For example, they can be stopped as soon as the free credits run out, having cost the user only the $5.00 registration fee. What appeared to have been expensive ad-placement, may simply have been ads placed for a $5.00 activation fee. When the free credits run out, the ads simply no longer appear.
Cost of Maintaining a Site:
Then there is the ruse of the cost to operate a site and forum. Actually, these costs can be nominal. Forum software can be obtained at no charge, and there are web-hosts that will give you web space for free. Even some of the big name web-hosts have more than adequate hosting plans for under $4.00 per month. It is clear that a benzo-help site is not in need of donations to remain afloat.
Selling Products for Benzo-Withdrawal Relief:
Some sites offer supplements for sale. The supplements may be of good quality. They may enhance health. However, these do not directly affect recovery.
It is your choice whether or not to try these. Supplements could correct the longstanding deficiencies known to accompany long term psych-drug use. This would be a legitimate reason to use supplements, but be wary of inflated claims.
Some sellers call their product-order-takers volunteers. These businesses may claim that they make no profit from the sale of these products. Some entrepreneurs have said they only receive "royalties" on the sale. Don't be misled. They can call it "cake", and it still is business-profit. The seller earns the difference between his cost and the selling price.
In some cases, paying for a particular brand makes sense. You may be willing to pay more for something like established purity of a product comes into question. Oftentimes you aren't paying for purity; you are paying for the privilege of purchasing a big name on a fancy label...packaging.
Non-Profit Organizations and Tax-Deductible Donations:
And last, but certainly not the least issue, is the talk of tax-deductible status. Be aware that even if the money really is tax-deductible, this may not mean that your donated dollars go directly to support anything other than the individual who owns and operates the site. This person can be paid a wage or administrative fee from the so called "non-profit" organization they have set up. Yes, this is perfectly legitimate.
Some donations go directly to a site owner. This may be done by personal check, but usually it is done through a service like PayPal. The owner implies that he will use the money to serve the cause. He may be serving his own cause, his personal income. He may obscure that fact by saying that you will receive a "full receipt". He may imply that the that "full receipt" means tax-deductible. The question is: Is supporting this person's lifestyle really what you want to do with your money?
Do your homework before donating your money to fund the fight against benzos. The fact that an organization is set up as non-profit, does not mean that your donation to them is legally tax deductible. In order for your donation to be truly tax deductible, an organization must qualify under IRS code section 501(c). You have the right to ask for a copy of the organization's letter granting them this status from the IRS, or you can click here to search online for the organization. Use the government link. It's that simple. It's that easy.
You also have the legal right to ask for copies of certain IRS documents from private foundations, charities, fraternities, and even social clubs with 501 (a), (c), and (d) status. An organization has thirty days to respond to a written request for documents such as: its exemption application and its annual return including Form 990. Please be advised that the organization has the right to charge a reasonable fee for the copies of these documents, and can request payment in full before the copies are provided. However, the fee charged should be in line with the current amount the IRS charges for copies. This should be in the area of $0.20 per page.
Ask where your donated dollars go. Ask to see a copy of the organization's annual report. This should detail out how the donated dollars are being spent. It should also include accomplishments that the organization has made in the past year. If the organization is not cooperative, there is a reason.
We must all be vigilant. Not everyone who claims to help benzo victims is well-intentioned. Some people are in the benzo-victim-help business, because it can be a very profitable business indeed.
DISCLAIMER AND COPYRIGHT
Remember, you alone are responsible for making decisions regarding your health. We are not medical professionals; we do not engage in the practice of medicine. We do not diagnose or treat medical conditions. We do not diagnose or treat psychological conditions. We offer plain facts, our own histories, and the ways that we came to benzo freedom.
This site is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment. By using this site, you agree not to hold the owners or any participators liable for any damages, costs, or expenses resulting from your reliance on the information presented.
All content of this site is protected by copyright, and all rights are reserved. Members and visitors of this site are prohibited from modifying, copying, displaying, publishing, creating derivative works, or using any information available on this site for commercial or public purposes.
The Business of Benzos
- We do not solicit nor do we accept donations. We charge no membership fees. We freely give our time in attempt to change the face of benzodiazepine withdrawal.
- But not everyone is in the business of helping benzo victims as a way of giving back to a community of fellow benzo sufferers. Some are in the business of helping benzo victims, because it can be a very profitable business indeed.