Budget Rent-A-Car has agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that it failed to adequately disclose a “fuel” fee automatically charged to customers who drove fewer than 75 miles. According to the FTC, Budget falsely claimed that renters who returned a car with a full gas tank would not incur any fuel charges. The agency […]
Monthly Archives: November 2007
Court Halts Bogus Check Scam Targeting Lottery Winners; Money Transfers Used to Defraud Consumers
A federal district court has halted a bogus lottery and prize-promotion scam that provides victims with counterfeit cashier’s checks and false promises of large cash prizes, pending trial. According to the Federal Trade Commission, the defendants mail letters congratulating consumers on winning a lottery or sweepstakes, and enclose a fake check. They tell consumers the […]
FTC Challenges Schering-Ploughs Acquisition of Organon BioSciences N.V.
The Federal Trade Commission today announced a complaint challenging Schering-Plough Corporation’s proposed $14.4 billion acquisition of Organon BioSciences N.V. from Akzo-Nobel N.V., alleging that the deal would harm competition in the U.S. markets for the manufacture and development of three poultry vaccines. In settling the charges, the companies have entered into a consent order with […]
Commission Approves Final Consent Orders in Five Alternative HRT Matters
For Your Information November 16, 2007 Commission approval of final consent orders: Following a public comment period, the Commission has approved the issuance of final consent orders in five matters related to the advertising and sale of alternative hormone replacement therapy (HRT) products. The matters in which the orders are now final concern Health Science […]
FTC, Tennessee Attorney General to Sponsor Advertising Workshop
A one-day “back to basics” workshop on complying with truth-in-advertising laws is being presented on Tuesday, December 4, 2007, by the Federal Trade Commission and the Office of Tennessee Attorney General Robert E. Cooper, Jr. Green Lights & Red Flags: Rules of the Road for Advertisers and Businesses features a roster of national experts discussing […]
Skipping the Mall for Holiday Shopping? Stay On Guard When You Are Online
Experts are predicting that consumers will spend more online this holiday season than ever. Consumers can easily avoid crowds by shopping online, but if they’re not careful they may run into hackers, identity thieves, and other spammers. The Federal Trade Commission, together with the National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA), a non-profit organization devoted to cyber […]
FTC to Host One-Day Workshop on Unilateral Effects in Merger Review
Delivering the keynote address at the American Bar Association (ABA) Antitrust Section’s 2007 Fall Forum today, Federal Trade Commission Chairman Deborah Platt Majoras announced that the agency will host a one-day workshop in early February 2008 in Washington, DC, to examine the application of unilateral effects theory to mergers of firms that sell competing, but […]
FTC Chairman Provides Keynote Address at Seventh Annual Antitrust Fall Forum
Federal Trade Commission Chairman Deborah Platt Majoras today presented the keynote address at the ABA Antitrust Section’s 2007 Fall Forum in Washington, DC. Entitled “Maintaining our Focus at the FTC: Recent Developments and Future Challenges in Protecting Consumers and Competition,” the Chairman’s address highlighted key aspects of the Commission’s competition agenda, focusing on industries that […]
FTC Issues Performance and Accountability Report (PAR) for Fiscal Year 2007
Issuance of Commission report: The Commission has authorized the staff to release publicly the FTC’s Performance and Accountability Report (PAR) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2007. In accordance with the Reports Consolidation Act of 2000, the PAR combines the Performance Report and the agency’s financial statements and audit opinion. This is the FTC’s fifth consolidated report […]
FTC Testifies on Cigarette Testing for Tar and Nicotine Yields
The Federal Trade Commission renewed its recommendation that Congress consider giving authority over cigarette testing to one of the federal government’s science-based public health agencies. In testimony presented today before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, Commissioner William Kovacic discussed the FTC’s responsibilities in the area of tobacco advertising generally, and specifically explained […]