Defendants in an operation that the Federal Trade Commission alleged stole millions of dollars from consumers by making unauthorized charges and debits to their bank accounts have reached settlement agreements with the FTC. In Operation Short Change – a July 2009 crackdown on scammers taking advantage of the economic downturn to bilk vulnerable consumers through […]
Monthly Archives: January 2011
FTC Issues Interim Report to Congress on National Study of Credit Report Accuracy
The Federal Trade Commission has issued a fourth interim report to Congress describing progress the agency has made on a national study examining the accuracy of credit reports. Congress directed the FTC to conduct a study of credit report accuracy and provide interim reports every two years, starting in 2004 and continuing through 2012, with […]
FTC Settlement Ends “Tested Green” Certifications That Were Neither Tested Nor Green
The Federal Trade Commission reached an agreement that will put an end to the deceptive tactics of a company that allegedly sold worthless environmental certifications for hundreds of dollars, and falsely told more than 100 customers that its certifications were endorsed by two independent firms – which it actually owned. The FTC settlement bars Tested […]
FTC Settlement Bans Recidivist Robocaller from Telemarketing
American consumers won’t be getting any more telemarketing pitches from robocaller Fereidoun “Fred” Khalilian, under a settlement reached by the Federal Trade Commission. Khalilian has agreed to be permanently banned from the telemarketing business in order to settle FTC charges that he and his company allegedly used pre-recorded robocalls to sell consumers auto service contracts. […]
FTC and Ohio Attorney General Challenge ProMedica’s Acquisition of St. Luke’s Hospital
Continuing its efforts to protect healthcare consumers, the Federal Trade Commission today challenged ProMedica Health System, Inc.’s consummated acquisition of rival St. Luke’s Hospital in Lucas County, Ohio. The FTC’s administrative complaint alleges that the deal will reduce competition and allow ProMedica to raise prices for general acute-care and inpatient obstetrical services, significantly harming patients […]
FTC Charges Another Defendant as Part of Crackdown on Bogus Medical Discount Plans
The Federal Trade Commission has charged another defendant in a case filed earlier this year against an operation that allegedly defrauded uninsured Americans by selling them “medical discount plans” that were disguised as health insurance. The FTC amended the complaint that it filed in August against United States Benefits, LLC, adding Kennan Dozier as an […]
Georgia Board of Dentistry Proposal to Restrict Services by Dental Hygienists Would Harm the State’s Most Vulnerable Consumers
The staff of the Federal Trade Commission urged the Georgia Board of Dentistry to reject a proposal that would prohibit dental hygienists from providing basic preventive dental services in approved public health settings except under the indirect supervision of a dentist. In a written comment letter to the Professional Licensing Boards Division of the Georgia […]
FTC Approves Final Order Settling Charges that the Minnesota Rural Health Cooperative Fixed Healthcare Reimbursement Rates
For Your Information January 4, 2011 Following a public comment period, the Federal Trade Commission has approved a final Order settling charges that the Minnesota Rural Healthcare Cooperative eliminated competition among its doctors and hospitals members by orchestrating agreements to fix the prices at which they contract with health insurance plans and to refuse to […]