It’s one of those things that even the most casual Scientology watcher is well aware of: If you find yourself on Scientology’s mailing list, you may never get yourself off of it.
And for those who may have once been members, or even just bought a single book or took a single course, Scientology can be particularly aggressive about tracking down your latest address or your unlisted phone number to harass you endlessly about watching a new DVD or coming back for more auditing. We’ve written about people who were being pursued forty years after they had ended their association with the church. (Or even 46 years!)
Of course, former members will tell you that there are workers on staff whose entire job is to put these harassing letters out by the thousands. And yes, that job gets so monotonous, sometimes the letter writers get a little loopy and send out some doozies.
But a tip from a reader suggests that Scientology is so desperate now to bring back former members, it may be hitting on yet another way to get their attention: By sending out fake invoices.
“Since I left the Church in 1984, I have been receiving all types of calls, emails & snail mails from them. That’s 35 years! Evidence of their latest tactic is in the attachment: Billing me for things I never ordered,” says our tipster.
“This one is from ASHO, as you can see, saying that I owe them $9.04 for Briefing Course cassettes I never ordered. I think I received two such notices previously but they were from AOLA saying I owed something like $65-$70 for something else I never ordered (it might have been for Clearing Course materials). This is especially funny as I’ve been Clear since 1983-84 (I don’t remember exactly). Why would I suddenly owe them Clearing Course materials from 35 years ago? It’s just crazy which I’m sure doesn’t surprise you.”
Actually, we are a bit surprised, but as a way of getting someone’s attention, claiming that they owe you money is sure to get some kind of reaction, we suppose.
Creative, Miscavige. Very creative.
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HowdyCon 2019 in Los Angeles
THURSDAY NIGHT OPPORTUNITY: This year’s HowdyCon is in Los Angeles. People tend to come in starting on Thursday, and that evening we will have a casual get-together at a watering hole. But we also want to point out that Cathy Schenkelberg’s “Squeeze My Cans” will be running at the Hollywood Fringe, and we encourage HowdyCon attendees to see her show on Thursday night, June 20. Tickets and more dates available here.
Friday night June 21 we will be having an event in a theater (like we did on Saturday night last year in Chicago). There will not be a charge to attend this event, but if you want to attend, you need to RSVP with your proprietor at tonyo94 AT gmail.
On Saturday, we are joining forces with Janis Gillham Grady, who is having a reunion in honor of the late Bill Franks. Originally, we thought this event might take place in Riverside, but instead it’s in the Los Angeles area. If you wish to attend the reunion, you will need to RSVP with Janis (janisgrady AT gmail), and there will be a small contribution she’s asking for in order to help cover her costs.
HOTEL: Janis tells us she’s worked out a deal with Hampton Inn and Suites, at 7501 North Glenoaks Blvd, Burbank, (818) 768-1106. We have a $159 nightly rate for June 19 to 22. Note: You need to ask for the “family reunion” special rate.
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Scientology’s celebrities, ‘Ideal Orgs,’ and more!
We’ve been building landing pages about David Miscavige’s favorite playthings, including celebrities and ‘Ideal Orgs,’ and we’re hoping you’ll join in and help us gather as much information as we can about them. Head on over and help us with links and photos and comments.
Scientology’s celebrities, from A to Z! Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!
Scientology’s ‘Ideal Orgs,’ from one end of the planet to the other! Help us build up pages about each these worldwide locations!
Scientology’s sneaky front groups, spreading the good news about L. Ron Hubbard while pretending to benefit society!
Scientology Lit: Books reviewed or excerpted in our weekly series. How many have you read?
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THE WHOLE TRACK
[ONE year ago] How to get fired from a Scientology job the easy way — a real-world example
[TWO years ago] Scientology and kids: L. Ron Hubbard talks about small children as ancient beings
[THREE years ago] Scientology’s ‘Battlefield Earth’ campaign, featuring Frank Frazetta and a crashed saucer
[FOUR years ago] Jon Atack: Scientology’s early history is something most members don’t actually know
[FIVE years ago] More proof of Kerri Kasem’s Scientology involvement, and Laura Prepon lies like a rug
[SIX years ago] Scientology Doesn’t Want You to See Documents in Laura DeCrescenzo’s Forced-Abortion Lawsuit
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Bernie Headley has not seen his daughter Stephanie in 5,475 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 1,604 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 2,108 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 1,628 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 648 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 539 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 3,846 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 1,714 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 2,488 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 3,262 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 2,608 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 11,174 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 7,094 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 3,261 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 2,842 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 3,103 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 2,142 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 1,854 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 1,380 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 5,469 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 2,609 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 2,929 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 7,785 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 2,904 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 1,259 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 5,562 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 1,668 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 2,070 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 1,942 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 1,525 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 2,020 days.
Mary Jane Sterne has not seen her daughter Samantha in 2,274 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 13,383 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on June 12, 2019 at 07:00
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Our new book with Paulette Cooper, Battlefield Scientology: Exposing L. Ron Hubbard’s dangerous ‘religion’ is now on sale at Amazon in paperback and Kindle formats. Our book about Paulette, The Unbreakable Miss Lovely: How the Church of Scientology tried to destroy Paulette Cooper, is on sale at Amazon in paperback, Kindle, and audiobook versions. We’ve posted photographs of Paulette and scenes from her life at a separate location. Reader Sookie put together a complete index. More information can also be found at the book’s dedicated page.
The Best of the Underground Bunker, 1995-2018 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2018), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)
Other links: BLOGGING DIANETICS: Reading Scientology’s founding text cover to cover | UP THE BRIDGE: Claire Headley and Bruce Hines train us as Scientologists | GETTING OUR ETHICS IN: Jefferson Hawkins explains Scientology’s system of justice | SCIENTOLOGY MYTHBUSTING: Historian Jon Atack discusses key Scientology concepts | Shelly Miscavige, ten years gone | The Lisa McPherson story told in real time | The Cathriona White stories | The Leah Remini ‘Knowledge Reports’ | Hear audio of a Scientology excommunication | Scientology’s little day care of horrors | Whatever happened to Steve Fishman? | Felony charges for Scientology’s drug rehab scam | Why Scientology digs bomb-proof vaults in the desert | PZ Myers reads L. Ron Hubbard’s “A History of Man” | Scientology’s Master Spies | The mystery of the richest Scientologist and his wayward sons | Scientology’s shocking mistreatment of the mentally ill | The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ
Watch our short videos that explain Scientology’s controversies in three minutes or less…
Check your whale level at our dedicated page for status updates, or join us at the Underground Bunker’s Facebook discussion group for more frivolity.
Our non-Scientology stories: Robert Burnham Jr., the man who inscribed the universe | Notorious alt-right inspiration Kevin MacDonald and his theories about Jewish DNA | The selling of the “Phoenix Lights” | Astronomer Harlow Shapley‘s FBI file | Sex, spies, and local TV news | Battling Babe-Hounds: Ross Jeffries v. R. Don Steele
