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Remote Hearing Aid Reprogramming

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I am currently overseas and need to have my hearing aids reprogrammed remotely. Unfortunately, the provider who originally sold and programmed them is no longer responding to my emails.I have been told that only the original provider can reprogram them. Is this really the case? It is concerning that after purchasing hearing aids costing many dollars, a customer could be left without support simply because the original provider is no longer available.

I would appreciate your advice on what options are available to me.  Thank you.

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Edited

In reply to @Blancmo

Weren't you the one who was living in Argentina and has United Healthcare (UHC) Relate hearing aids and, asked this question months ago? I remember you sent me a private message and I explained the situation/options.

I answered back then: UnitedHealthcare's private-label Relate hearing aids are locked devices, meaning they can only be programmed, adjusted, or serviced within the authorized Relate/UHC network. My advice at the time was to contact a Relate partner.

Soundly.com1 is selling Relate hearing aids and their founder (Blake) sounds knowledgeable in his videos -- maybe they can point you in the right direction. Because these are a UHC private label, I am almost sure there are no partners in Argentina.

In your case, it is not that you are without support because your left but because you moved to Argentina where these aids are not sold or serviced.

Maybe Abram knows someone in that network who can help.

Dear Sir,

I understood your first message clearly. I have tried every possible channel available to me in an effort to resolve this situation, and I am fully aware that I currently live in Argentina. What I still fail to understand is how I have effectively become a hostage to an audiologist who neither answers my emails nor returns my phone calls.

You, as well as others, have recommended that I contact an authorized Relate/UHC network provider. However, I have been told that the only person who can reprogram my hearing aids is the person who originally programmed them. To me, this simply defies reason. I cannot understand how a customer who has purchased hearing aids can be left without any alternative simply because the original provider is no longer responsive.

I appreciate your answer. However, if for any reason you do not approve of my asking further questions in an effort to resolve this matter, please simply disregard them.

Thank you for your time.

In reply to @Blancmo

@Blancmo said:

However, I have been told that the only person who can reprogram my hearing aids is the person who originally programmed them

If they are locked it is likely the chain’s code that locks it. If you go (physically) to another site in the chain, they should be able to reprogram your aids. It is likely that only the original provider could have remotely programmed your aids, although none of us are certain. That would be the case with Phonak aids.

You’ve bought a special car for which a proprietary wrench is needed even to open the hood. Only the dealerships in that brand have the wrench. You only need to find another dealership. Folks on this forum generally discourage buying from dealers whose cars need the proprietary wrench.

Best wishes,

WH

It's a difficult situation because there are no Relate partners where he lives (Relate is a UHC brand in the US), so he/she can't go physically there.
I recommended him/her to contact Relate partners earlier this year but, I don't know if he/she did and what was the outcome.
Your wrench analogy is an excellent one :-)

It seems you need to try to contact UHC. Explain the situation.

You could also try to find a dealer of the hearing aids.

Explain the situation to them

Look on UHC's Web site for authorized hearing aid dealers.

Contact your states attorney general.

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