The Federal Trade Commission is warning 18 Internet websites offering free credit reports that they must clearly disclose that a free report is available under federal law. The FTC’s recently amended Free Credit Reports Rule, which took effect April 2, 2010, requires certain disclosures to help consumers distinguish between ads for free credit reports that […]
Monthly Archives: July 2010
Marketers of “Rapid Debt Reduction” Program To Pay $1.5 Million for Falsely Claiming They Could Lower Consumers’ Interest Rates
The marketers of a “Rapid Debt Reduction” program who promised to lower interest rates on credit cards – for an up-front fee of up to $899 – have settled Federal Trade Commission charges that they misled consumers. Under a court order settling the FTC’s case, the pitchmen have been banned from marketing debt-relief services and […]
FTC, OECD Announce New Policymaking Guide To Help Consumer and Regulatory Authorities Around the World
The Federal Trade Commission today hosted a roundtable presentation of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development’s just-published Consumer Policy Toolkit at FTC headquarters. This publication will help government policy makers around the world who strive to protect and empower consumers in an increasingly complex global marketplace. FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz provided introductory remarks at […]
FTC Extends Order That Removed Intel Case From Adjudication
The Federal Trade Commission has entered an order extending by two weeks the temporary withdrawal of its case against Intel Corp. from adjudication to allow the Commission more time to consider a proposed settlement. The original order was issued on June 21 and was set to expire on Friday, July 23 at 12:01 a.m. This […]
FTC Approves Final Order Settling Charges That U-Haul Invited Its Main Competitor to Fix Truck Rental Prices
For Your Information July 20, 2010 Following a public comment period, the Federal Trade Commission has approved a final order settling charges that U-Haul and its parent company invited its main competitor to fix prices on truck rentals. The settlement order against U-Haul and its parent company AMERCO bars them from colluding or inviting collusion. […]
FTC to Host Roundtable Discussion on New OECD Publication: Consumer Policy Toolkit
WHO: FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz U.S. Ambassador to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Karen Kornbluh OECD Director of Science, Technology, and Industry, Andrew Wyckoff WHEN: Wednesday, July 21, 2010, 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. WHERE: Federal Trade Commission600 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., Room 432Washington, DC WHAT: The Consumer Policy Toolkit provides advice for consumer […]
FTC Joins New Asia-Pacific Multinational Network of Privacy Enforcement Authorities
Advancing its mission to protect consumers’ privacy as their data moves across borders, the Federal Trade Commission has joined an agreement with privacy enforcement authorities from other member economies of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum. The agreement provides a framework for agencies from different APEC member economies to help each other with enforcement investigations. […]
Fidelity National Financial Settles FTC Charges that its Acquisition of LandAmerica Subsidiaries Reduced Competition in Title Information Markets
To settle Federal Trade Commission charges that its 2008 acquisition of three LandAmerica Financial, Inc. subsidiaries was anticompetitive, Fidelity National Financial, Inc. will sell several title plants and related assets in the Portland, Oregon, and Detroit, Michigan, metropolitan areas, and in four other Oregon counties. Title plants are databases used by abstractors, title insurers, title […]
FTC Testifies on Protecting Teen Privacy
The Federal Trade Commission today testified that while teens are heavy users of the digital environment and may benefit from using the Internet to socialize with peers, learn about issues that interest them, and express themselves, it also can pose unique challenges for them. The FTC testimony to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and […]
Nestle Subsidiary to Settle FTC False Advertising Charges; Will Drop Deceptive Health Claims for BOOST Kid Essentials
A subsidiary of Nestlé S.A., the world’s largest food and nutrition company, has agreed to drop allegedly deceptive advertising claims about the health benefits of its children’s drink BOOST Kid Essentials, as part of a settlement resolving the Federal Trade Commission’s first case challenging advertising for probiotics. The FTC complaint charges that from fall 2008 […]