Starting on January 1, we will be updating the policy regarding the time Hall of Fame women have to use funds, from 2 years to 15 months (to account for a 9-month pregnancy + 6-months for breast feeding). We have listened to arguments from both sides and we feel this is a fair compromise. This time period also seems to be the medical consensus.
Those users at risk of passing this new threshold have received an email suggesting they take action by January 1st. Finally, please keep in mind that we will have the ability to grant extensions, determined on a case by case basis.
56 COMMENTS
Leave A CommentThis is a great first step. A few questions:
1) Will the policy be applied retroactively?
2) Will any steps be taken to require activity from those models who are in the Hall of Fame and awaiting surgery?
Drone asked 2 very good questions………..
Just thought I would inform you. Women are actually pregnant for 10 months. 40 weeks is a normal and healthy pregnancy, which falls at the end of 9 months. Just my thoughts.
@Drone:
1: Yes. Starting on the Jan 1, 2010, this policy will go into effect for ALL accounts.
2: Yes. This will be addressed in Q1 of 2010 as well. Not on Jan 1 however, as we’d prefer to stagger the phasing in of these two somewhat related changes.
Regarding #2, we are leaning towards enforcing the same activity requirements as non-HOF members up until the point that model agreement documents are received by MFI. We are open to hearing everyone’s thoughts on this matter, so feel free to leave your feedback below.
Hmm, Maybe this will hush some people up… j-k j-k
then again maybe not.
What if a woman chooses to breastfeed longer? It is recommended by the AAP to breast feed for at least 12 months at the very MINIMUM, and LLLI states that child led weaning is best. I am only saying this bc I breastfed my son for 15 months, and think that child led weaning is best, and nursing up to 24 months is acceptable. (BTW: WHO states 24 months of breastfeeding at minimum, and LLLI stated 36 months. I would be happy to provide you research and documentation for this)
Would this be taken into consideration if a model asked for an extension? I am fully aware that implants should not prevent a mother from breastfeeding, but it may make things difficult when things are changed int the middle of a nursing relationship… I see in your research that the question for this sections sates that this mother will NOT be breastfeeding. Many of the doctors say 3-6 months if you DON’T BREASTFEED!!! If you do should be an entirely different matter.
Also, will you allow for time after weaning to allow the model to revisit the surgeon for another consult, as the female body changes with every pregnancy.
Also, is this period starting from the day the model reaches HOF, or from the first donation? For some of us, this is a very slow process…
When we as models “supplement” our goal with our own money, how will that be handled? Does that put a model into HOF and start her ticking clock?
Thank you for taking the time to answer these concerns. I am a passionate lactivist only pointing these things out bc I don’t want a breastfeeding relationship to be sabotaged unnecessarily.
@Jay: I don’t think I could have thought of a better plan myself. Once the model agreement is in the model should be bound by whatever terms are in that document.
Once again, a much needed improvement which may never have come about if people were to hush, hush. That to me is one of the things that makes MFI different, it is a community with concerns and issues and the Js allow ALL of us to openly discuss our thoughts, opinions and views, which in turn helps the site grow. Looking at it from a benefactor’s point of view, it has to be satisfying knowing they will be able to redistribute funds that have been tied up or the model finally being held accountable for the very thing she signed up for in the first place.
Think that is perfect:) and totally agree with A.N.D
..wonder how many long time hoffers with no surgery/payments will care now??? We’ll see i suppose!
I think this is a very good change, and I totally agree with it. Way to go J’s =)
Cool beans.
Also, this is a good change.
I hope you have at least an ‘in the back of your mind’ idea of what the limit is on case-by-case extensions. There are those few people in the world that will *always* have a new reason to justify whatever it is they want to justify…
I think it is a move in the right direction, however, with the clause of “keep in mind that we will have the ability to grant extensions, determined on a case by case basis”, I do not understand why it was not dropped back to what seemed the universal medium that many models and benefactors alike seemed to agree on. Pregnancy seems to be an exception now, not the rule.
Is there going to be anything done about model who will come out of the HOF to earn a few more dollars to start the clock over again? If so, will MFI be taking into consideration said model’s lack of activity prior to their “new” goal request, as that is clearly written in the rules, yet not enforced?
Another concern: it seems that there are a handful of models who’ve had their surgeons paid, yet have announced they are delaying their surgery for one reason or another. Now that you have a little more help in the office, is MFI considering auditing model accounts against the terms of the contract, and to assure that funds are actually being used for the intended purpose?
While i am pleased that there has been some action on this issue, i am still a little unhappy with the timescale. I don’t understand why the time allowed for pregnancy should be used as the standard. Surely pregnancy should be one of those “exceptional circumstances”, and not the basis for the norm. If a model is not pregnant, why should she be allowed the same 15 months as somebody who is? After all, anyone becoming pregnant WITHIN the 15 months will undoubtedly be given a further extension.
I also felt that there should be 2 timescales in operation – one for the return of the model agreement, then a further one for surgery to take place.
In addition, i think i would like to see ALL funds returned when the time is exceeded – meaning both donations and message credits. I fail to see why message credits should wait a further 6 months, particularly when some donors use messages in preference to donations.
@ Drone – i will be saddened to see you leave. MFI needs more “sensible heads” like yours, not fewer, and will be a poorer place without your input. Be well, my erstwhile friend.
Jay thank you for this change. I have 1 HOF that I have helped and this january will be the 2 year mark since she made and no word at all from her. I hope to use her funds to help someone else out. Thanks.
This is very interesting. Thank you for sharing this information ahead of the rule change.
@ Chris.. you took the words right out of my mouth regarding MFI and Drone!
I wrote Drone personally and please take it into consideration.
You are a hugeee part of the community…
What would we do with out Drone’s wisdom ?!?
Back to subject… The model that no ones heard from for two years should be stripped of her money right away since this new rule will be in affect. I doubt shes counting down the days until its her 2 year mark and then decide to schedule surgery.
I agree on there should be a time line where models have to upload and send in model agreement documents…
I have to agree with the panel here…..we truly do not want to see you go Drone. As long as I have been here which almost 2 years now you have been a big part of MFI and made such a difference to all of us who have had the pleasure of getting to know you. You have definitely earned not only my respect but of many others. Sorry…couldn’t help myself
I think Jim made a few very valid points and questions that need to be addressed as well. I am trying to understand something…if a HOFer gets pregnant during that 15 month time frame, then I assume that is the reason for having the case by case extension. Now will the model be held accountable to show some proof of why she should be granted an extension or just because she says she needs one? I did have to postpone my surgery due to health issues, just a short period, but still if it had been longer and I “per say” would have fallen under the new policy change, I would not have had a problem with having to come up with the proper documentation to support it. After all it IS a contract we sign and we are bound by the terms and conditions just like any other.
Another question…”leaning towards the same activity requirements as non-HOFers”. Personally I stay in stealth mode because now I spend my time answering my friends messages mostly. This is because when I go off stealth I am bombarded with countless chat requests. So is there a way to see us HOFers as actually being active yet still be able use this option if we choose to? all my friends know I am here every day but unless I click off stealth no one else knows…unless this has changed.
I would like to hear from the benes what kind of activity they would expect from the HOFers. Just logging in once a month? or would they expect more? Then after the papers have been downloaded and received by MFI, what kind of activity would be expected?
Also what about updating the Before and After link? That is in our contract to provide this. That way the whole community can see who has had surgery.
@ J Coverman… I think that it may be a good idea to have a professional OB/GYN and a Lactation Consultant help you come up with guidelines, so that we know what is healthy for mom AND baby. Are you willing to work with a mom that choses to nurse her baby for longer than 6 months? I think it would be a good idea for the mom to have to submit medical documentation stating that she is nursing a baby.
I think that the idea of holding the models to a timetable is a good idea, and I completely agree! Especially with documentation. If there is a serious illness, pregnancy, or other case, it should be documented by a doctor. And the models should have X amt of time to complete required documents, and have them postmarked by say, 30 days…
I also like Angel’s idea of having a before/after link updated with more recent models. There have been the same ones on there for quite some time now. Also, the same featured girls. We all deserve a chance here!
Just a thought after reading a blog posted today by one of the girls.
Could Jay please amend this news posting to make it clear that the new terms only apply to members of HOF. One poor girl thinks she’s going to lose all her funds before she’s even made HOF – an easy mistake to make if you read the news as its posted.
If Drone and his wisdom are away, you’ll all just have to fall back on my, um… my… whatever it is that *I* have…
But seriously, Drone, be well. Be smart wherever you go. (I assume that’s the case, anyway). The world needs smart.
Meanwhile, I have smart-ass pretty well covered.
First..This was what a particular person has pushed so hard to get! This task has been accomplished so I don’t expect anyone to be leaving the site! Unless of course they do so for other reasons!
As for your delay–You were on top of it and informed everyone about that. You didn’t just disappear! Heck I even remember reading the blog..It was a tooth issue 
This is a great change! Thank you for listening to the community J’s! Your two are really awesome!
AID–You are active when you message your friends. Even in stealth mode it shows the last date you logged in! And I believe you have to actually message someone now in order for your last log in date to change! So just logging in and even changing your profile I don’t believe works! Correct me if I am wrong everyone!
Anyway….Great work J’s..You do run a terrific business in that you DO actively listen and do what it takes to please your consumers!
Actually I log on every day but I am on stealth mode To my surprise the other day it said I had been inactive for 22 days!!!
I thought what the heck??!?! lol People musta thought I up and fled, had they not been reading my blogs so I had to un-stealth myself to show that I am active.
The J’s know whether we’ve been active or not w. sending msgs but public does not.
Italianita hits on a great point that I hope is remedied in the new platform launch. Since the new “stealth” functionality was added, we really do not have a clear idea of activity, or if that functionality does actually work. Which leads me to throw out there: if this functionality is NOT working, are benes getting donations moved back to them after 30-days of true inactivity?
Stealth should only hide a member’s chat function, not their true activity.
Hi so I am wondering I recently got back on here and active…broken computer etc…and lost alot of funds but wasnt active do i get an extension or is that it again you will take money back from me and no tits?? I mean al my pics were gone and what not so i wasnt utilizing that time is this 15 months from sign up or 15 months to use it??? I guess the economy is tyhat bad for this website huh??
The money you lost was due to not being active at all for 30 days.
The 15 month rule is for women who have reached the Hall of Fame.
I think most of the models who come out of the HoF to earn more money either had a change in their quotes (perhaps for their surgeons refusing MFI payments), or suffered from the weakening US dollar. I think very few women will come out of the HoF just to extend their surgery windows. The J’s aren’t idiots. Surely we can trust them to handle those rare cases when and if it happens.
As for a strict timetable for requiring the paperwork to be completed, I think the proposed Q1 requirement of activity by HoF members until said paperwork has been returned directly addresses that concern. I believe the 30 day inactivity rule will provide enough of an incentive for those who truly want their surgery. Conversely, the 30 day inactivity rule until the paperwork is returned will likely catch the ones who aren’t serious.
What were we arguing about again?
Oh, the list of what is considered activity by MFI was listed in a comment in an article when they announced the stealth mode feature.
http://myfreeimplants.com/free-breast-implants/index.php/2009/08/03/minor-bug-fixed-in-reported-last-activity/#comments
Comment #5 lists the activities.
“Activity types include:
Wrote a blog entry
Edited a blog entry
Created new account
Updated profile
Sent a message
Uploaded a photo
Placed an order
Left some feedback
Created a contest
Entered a contest
Voted for a blog
Sent a photo/video
Surgery goal update”
Hmm… I didn’t know models could vote for a blog. Interesting.
Great questions Drone, thank you Jason for the prompt reply! It’s nice to see some progress & positive discourse taking place!
HA! I apologize very blonde moment! lol I did not read it and therefore feel like an idiot! And I knew why I lost the money btw ..
Anywhoo yes i say great plan! 15 months is plenty of time it shouldnt be a problem we all know what we want here if you want it that bad you should be here to get your donations and plop in your boobs!
<3 betty
The origins of this policy date back to a time when there was a woman who needed an exception granted due to pregnancy. In fact, it seems that right around that same time there were at least 2 other women that I can recall off the top of my head that needed the same exception for the same reasons. At the time 2 years seemed like a nice round number and gave women the time needed to have their surgery.
When this website first started, the issue of pregnancy was something we never even thought would become an issue. It was just something we had to adapt to on the fly. Which as AnGeLnDiSgUiSe says adds something exciting to MFI that you don’t get very many places — the ability to shape the future of MFI!
Another thing that we never anticipated was the demographic makeup of the female members. We see far more mothers or expecting mothers than I would have guessed had you asked me on day 1. In hindsight, it makes perfect sense. The women that need the most help with the shape of their breasts are ladies that have gone through childbirth and/or breast feeding. So I think there is some logic behind the idea of basing this policy around child birth.
At the end of the day, it’s really about trying to strike a balance between allowing women the flexibility to get the surgery they have dreamed of, and ensuring the donors that their money is going to good use. And right now it feels like this is the best way to achieve those goals. And like I alluded to earlier, nothing is set in stone. We can roll with this for a while and see how it works out, and adjust as necessary.
@Jim: In regards to your question, as is often the case, you guys usually have a much better grasp on individual ladies accounts than we do as far as their surgery intentions. We obviously know of those that are actively in the payment pipeline, but don’t know why girls that aren’t yet in the pipeline have not done anything to move forward with their surgeries. We could run a report of ladies that are eligible to send in their documents but have not yet been received, but we can’t force anyone to send them in. I would assume that a girls MFI friends would know better than we would since you all get to interact with them much more often. And if she had a good reason for not moving forward with her surgery her friends would know about the reason and not have a reason to complain to us about the delay. But maybe I’m missing something here?
Also once phase 2 of this change kicks in, it will be a lot harder for a lady to go for an extended period of time without either having her surgery or at least staying active on the site (i.e. keeping in touch with her friends). Which I think is really what people want: use the funds or inform people why you haven’t yet used them.
15 months is reasonable for pregnancy even extensions of a few months seams fair for a hofer that got pregnant a few weeks after making the HOF or even when she was still earning, but what about the girl that comes to the j’s in 13 or 14 months after downloading her papers and says I need an extension I am 4 or 6 weeks pregnant,would she still be entitled to an extension,what happened to the past 11 to 12 and a half months before she got pregnant,would that be fair to the guys who are waiting to see if their donations were put to good use,I mean 11 or 12 months is way more than enough time to get the new girls you have always wanted,if you don’t have a pregnancy or medical issue.I thought I took a long time to get my new girls,I made the HOF on may 7th and I got my girls on Sept 14th that was 4 months and 7 days from the day I made the HOF,that was with the 30 day wait the time it took to down load my papers and the wait for the J’s to get them back, the 8 days for the review and the advanced time I needed to give my job to arrange for the time off, So when does an extension really come into play.Is ,I am 6 week pregnant after 13 or 14 months after downloading the papers a good enough reason for an extension…….LISA…..HOF
@Jason: Hopefully this will clarify it. My point was not about those who are eligible to download paperwork, but haven’t. My point is those who have downloaded paperwork, gone through review, had their surgeon paid, and to the benefactors, that is all we see. There are two points I am concerned about, and both pertain to a perception of misuse or embezzlement of funds by the models or even MFI. (Yes, if there can be unscrupulous benes, there can be unscrupulous models.)
First, I know that part of the contract between MFI and the models is, in marketing terms, a proof-of-performance clause, that does not seem to be enforced. Simply, if I am paying for something, I want to see the end result. MFI does not seem to be enforcing this clause, unless a model asks to have her account deleted, which is very reactive, especially if the model just let’s her account hang out there. This reactive and lax nature of actually enforcing the contract only undermines it if in the future MFI ever actually has to enforce the contract.
Second, which further highlights the lax enforcement during the post-contract period, is if a model has not proved she had the surgery, what is to say that the surgeon has not refunded the payment made by MFI to the model herself? I’ve always felt this scenario is very likely, and what furthered my sentiment was, innocently enough, a HOF model who wrote in a blog in the last few months that she was 1 week from getting her surgery when she found out she was pregnant. Her surgeon had the funds, but she is now easily 15-18 months out from getting the surgery. Do these funds revert back to MFI for protection?
What is MFI doing in ensure in any case where proof is not provided that the funds are actually being used for the intended purpose? It seems to me an obvious checks-and-balances situation, that can easily be managed in a database. It’s the same thing retailers use with vendors who participate in their Sunday newspaper circulars.
On Lisa’s note, should there be a min/max in the clause?
@Jason: One thing no one has mentioned or even touched, is ladies in HoF and which also are suspended by the management. Obviously the same suspension rule for earning ladies are not enforced on HoF ladies. Many of the ladies in HoF who are border for this new rule and time limit are also suspended. Suspended for months with obviously no active interest to resolve or solve what they were suspended for. I feel like an idiot about this, as i do not understand how the management let these ladies go by month after month with no active interest to resolve or solve their suspension , while earning ladies get (as far as i have understood from the new suspension rules) get deleted/banned after 30 days if the do nothing about their suspension. What will the management do towards all these inactive and suspended HoF ladies?
I think Jim makes some valid points! I to have often wondered about possible fraud! MFI sends the money, the model never goes through with surgery and the surgeon then has funds not legally his! So who do they return those funds to? More than likely they will refund them to the model! It’s a third party check or cashiers check. Its the same as cash and goes to the models account! They are not bound by any contract to return it to the sender! And with as much greed as I’ve seen around here, I wouldn’t doubt that this has happened!
Perhaps by sending a contract with the amt sent to the surgeon with an agreement that the funds are to be used for breast augmentation, give a time limit in which they are to be used by, and if not used for that specific surgery, they are to be returned to you? Obviously I am probably leaving out some details..but that is just an idea!
When do we vote for Jim to be the new Drone?
I agree Coverman! Someone needs to be a voice around here. After all, wasn’t it the voice of Drone and a few select others that got the message credits returned? And honestly, I wish he wouldn’t leave because of someones attempt to make him look bad in the public eye. We all know Drone is awesome and always has meant well for this site!!! I say Jim is a great candidate
Jim might be a good candidate for a voice of mfi but, no one can or ever be able to take the place of Drone!!!!!!!!!!
I am in full agreement with Lisa and Ginger and a few others.. The changes are for the best..Thank you Drone for being the voice of reason..If you leave it just will not be the same.