The operators of a New Jersey-based telemarketing scheme will pay a record $18.8 million and leave the charitable donation business to settle charges that they violated a Federal Trade Commission order by misleading consumers to believe that they were donating directly to legitimate charities serving police, firefighters, and veterans, when in fact only a small […]
Monthly Archives: March 2010
OnGuardOnline.gov Off to a Fast Start with Online Child Safety Campaign
The Federal Trade Commission today reported to Congress that it is getting the word out about Internet safety for children by aggressively promoting a new booklet, Net Cetera: Chatting with Kids About Being Online, to schools, police and sheriff’s departments, and PTAs nationwide. Net Cetera explains to parents and their children how to deal with […]
Commission Approves Carilion Clinic’s Application to Sell Center for Surgical Excellence to Fairlawn Surgery Center, LLC
The Federal Trade Commission has approved a proposed divestiture by Virginia-based health care company Carilion Clinic. Under a December 2009 settlement with the FTC, Carilion must divest a medical imaging center and an outpatient surgical center in Roanoke, Virginia, to FTC-approved buyers. That settlement resolves charges that Carilion’s ac. quisitions of the centers were illegal […]
Marketing Company Settles FTC Charges; Falsely Told Consumers They Were Pre-Approved for Auto Loans
A marketing company that solicits prospective customers for automobile dealers has agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that it falsely told low-income and “credit-challenged” consumers that they were pre-approved for auto loans and improperly obtained their names from a consumer reporting agency. According to the FTC, the company prepared sales solicitations for automobile dealers […]
Statement by FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz Regarding Today’s District Court Decision Denying a Motion to Dismiss the Commission’s Pay-For-Delay Case Against Cephalon Inc.
Today’s decision seems to reflect a growing understanding—first in Congress now in the courts—that brand name drug companies must not be allowed to make pay-offs to their generic competitors to keep low-cost generic drugs off the market. These deals are costing American consumers $3.5 billion a year in higher drug costs. Related posts: FTC Files […]
FTC Order Preserves Competition That Would Have Been Eliminated by SCI’s Acquisition of Keystone North America Inc.
Service Corporation International (SCI), the nation’s largest provider of funeral and cemetery services, will be required to sell 22 funeral homes and four cemeteries in 19 local markets to ensure competition is preserved following its acquisition of Keystone North America Inc., the Federal Trade Commission announced today. The consent order detailing the requirements resolves the […]
Loan Pitchman Permanently Banned from Telemarketing
The telemarketing business will be permanently off limits to a deceptive pitchman whom the Federal Trade Commission sued last year for allegedly tricking consumers into paying hundreds of dollars for a credit card that could only be used to buy merchandise from his companies’ Web sites. Under a settlement order with the FTC, pitchman James […]
Dave & Buster’s Settles FTC Charges it Failed to Protect Consumers’ Information
Entertainment operation Dave & Buster’s, Inc. has agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that the company left consumers’ credit and debit card information vulnerable to hackers, resulting in several hundred thousand dollars in fraudulent charges. Dave & Buster’s operates 53 restaurant and entertainment complexes across the country under the names Dave & Buster’s, Dave […]
Auto Warranty Robocallers To Pay Over $655,000 and Sell Assets For Consumer Redress
A deceptive robocall operation that allegedly used millions of pre-recorded telemarketing messages to fraudulently pitch extended auto warranties to U.S. consumers will pay more than $655,000 in consumer redress and will be permanently banned from telemarketing, as part of a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission. The company that arranged to blast out auto warranty […]
FTC Seeks Comment on Children’s Online Privacy Protections; Questions Whether Changes to Technology Warrant Changes to Agency Rule
In light of rapidly evolving technology and changes in the way children use and access the Internet, the Federal Trade Commission is seeking public comment on the costs and benefits of an FTC rule designed to protect children online. The FTC’s Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) Rule became effective on April 21, 2000. COPPA […]