Fined two years ago, hearing aid salesman faces more complaints
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OREGON CITY, Ore. – A Hillsboro-based hearing aid salesman wanted in Washington for theft was fined and had his license suspended less than two years ago.
Roy Taber was fined $2,500 and had his license to sell hearing aids in Oregon suspended for six months for everything from unprofessional conduct to failure to safeguard client records.
One of Taber's current alleged victims, 85-year-old Norma Anderson of Bellevue, Wash. says the hearing aids she bought for almost $2,800 from Taber didn't work.
According to Bellevue police, an investigation determined the hearing aids Taber purported to be new were actually used. Additionally, Washington state health investigators discovered Taber was not licensed to dispense hearing aids in the state.
In Oregon the state's Health Licensing Agency is now looking into new complaints involving Taber, although it won't say how many there are or what they are about. But it may make a decision based on those complaints in about a week.
Fred and Sharon Wiley filed a complaint with Oregon City police Monday. They say Taber called them out of the blue in 2010 and somehow already knew Fred had been looking for a hearing aid.
They say Taber offered to visit them at home and showed up wearing a white lab coat. But the hearing aids they paid more than $2,000 for, like in Anderson's case, never worked right.
"And I bought batteries from him three different times for 20, 30 dollars just to get him to retune the hearing aids, and after three times they still were terrible," Fred said.
KATU News contacted Rexton, which is the hearing aid supplier Taber sells for, but it has yet to return messages.
Taber told KATU News Monday afternoon that he plans to plead not guilty to the charges in Washington but wouldn't talk about any of the other complaints.
 He paid a small fine as is back in business,as if nothing happened.Clearly the licensing board doesn't care.
There are alot of great,well trained,honest dispensers out there.This guy just ruins it for them.
Hearing Aids have never performed as well as they do today, when properly tested and fitted for. Â The MAJORITY of Hearing Aid Specialists/Audiologists are reputable, trustworthy business people, who often go the extra mile to provide help and support to people seeking to improve their communication through hearing. Â
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Several items in the report need to be flushed out.  First, this individual may have the record for the number of consumer complaints of anyone purporting to sell hearing aids.  Suspended licenses, revoked licenses, etc., still will not keep people from scamming others.  His history is a blemish on the hundreds of professional, licensed, board certified Hearing Aid Specialists and Audiologists.  Viewers should follow some very simple steps to check the "trust" level of anyone coming to their homes selling hearing aids, or for that matter anything.  The Better Business Bureau is a good start. http://alaskaoregonwesternwashington.bbb.org/  Check licensing complaints/history at the state agency charged with regulating hearing aid sales http://www.oregon.gov/OHLA/HAS/pages/index.aspx Â
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To end the story with "He said heâs been doing good business for more than 30 years," is more sad than laughable. Â Anyone checking this person's 30 year history will soon see the facts. Â Â
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Full disclosure here, I have personally worked since 1994 at improving the professional standards of hearing aid dispensing on the local, national and international levels. Â When I first started "selling" hearing aids, our industry was on the Better Business Bureau's top ten list of Scams on Seniors. Â Last year, my company was selected Oregon's 2011 Business of the Year by the BBB. Â Reports like this bring up old news. Â Some people improve over their years of experience. Â Other's just have one year experience, and then repeat it over the next 30 years.
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Hearing Aids Work Great! Â You CAN trust most licensed sellers of hearing aids. Â Don't Wait any longer to get help. Â The earlier hearing aids are applied to hearing loss, the better results the brain has in interpreting what the messages our ears send it!Â
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For almost any health related purchase, (dentures/glasses/hearing aids), I'd say either get referrals from your doctor that they may recommend, or get referrals from friends that had good experiences. The old saying is true, Buy Beware. It's never been truer.
Hearing aids are WAY over price. The whole hearing aid game is a ripoff. ,,,,,,WHAT? I heard that!
There's a special place in hell for people that have the depravity to prey on the elderly. I hope this scumbag sees some real jail time instead of another $2500 fine.
If this guy keeps this up, in another 10 years or so he is going to be in real trouble.
You know, what most folks don't understand is those of us over 60 or so were used to buying major purchases in the home.. But those days are over, so folks if they don't have a building to go to they are a scam...
Don't let anyone in your house selling anything these days.. Period !
I have been trying to shut this guy down since 2003 when I worked for him. I reported him to the state. Â at that time they were already on to him. Â I am shocked it took them this long to get him shut down there were police officers knocking on the door and state auditors then. Â 6 months after I lost my job with him I still couldn't talk about him without yelling it caused me a massive stroke which took about a year to recover from. Â He never reported my hours, he lied on my w-2 forms,he never gave me pay stubs except the three when the state were monitoring him. Â Christmas came early this year when I found out his business had finally been shut down and he couldn't sell hearing aides to innocent elderly victims.
My hearing aids is over ten years old and still work great. I feel bad for those people who spent money on those hearing aids which it can be very expensive depending on brands and styles. You can buy hearing aids at Costco and hearing aid stores in the areas.
My grandmother was also fleeced by this character! I'm glad he's getting attention!
As long as people are ignorant enough to deal with crooks, they will continue to get screwed. Â There is absolutely no reason for anyone to get cheated in this day and age. Â Â Even without a computer, you can bet someone you know has one and will probably help you check out a business before becoming one of it's victims.
Everyone remember the name Rexton. If you can avoid purchasing through Rexton, please do. They wont even return any messages to make a statement. They must be happy that this crook is selling a lot of hearing aids. Seems as though they don't care that multiple customers are being ripped off.
Rexton is a manufacture using  Siemens Circuits and is nearly out of business. They have no control over the conduct of dispensers or the dispensers ability to do ther job correctly.Their product line is(was) Ok and when properly fitted worked well.
He must not have heard them pass judgment on him.
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I wonder why no picture of him was shown. How else will be know who to look out for?
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I think I'll just go to Costco.
 Costco is a great place to buy. Skilled professionals.great price and good product.
 @Mikey Got mine from Costco. Work great. And were top quality for less than those people paid.
 @Yamhill354  @Mikey Same here. Costco was priced right and great quality. Couldn't be happier.
I feel terrible for these folks. I would always recommend seeking out a licensed Audiologist before heading to any "hearing aid" salesman.Â
What?
 @2C7D6152 WHAT?
 @2C7D6152 No, you don't get it. It's WHAT?
 @Jim  @2C7D6152 WHAT?
 @Mikey @Jim @2C7D6152 Second base.