At the Federal Trade Commission’s request, the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida has temporarily shut down Innovative Wealth Builders, Inc. (IWB), which allegedly operated a credit card interest rate reduction scam, pending resolution of the FTC’s cases against the operation. The case against IWB and its three owners is the seventh […]
Monthly Archives: January 2013
Cord Blood Bank Settles FTC Charges that it Failed to Protect Consumers Sensitive Personal Information
The operator of a leading cord blood bank, Cbr Systems, Inc., agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that it failed to protect the security of customers’ personal information, and that its inadequate security practices contributed to a breach that exposed Social Security numbers and credit and debit card numbers of nearly 300,000 consumers. The […]
FTC Approves Final Revised Energy Labeling Rule for Home Heating and Cooling Equipment
The Federal Trade Commission is issuing changes to its Energy Labeling Rule, which will add regional information to the familiar yellow EnergyGuide label on residential furnaces and central air conditioners. The additional information on the new labels, including a map, will help consumers and businesses install equipment appropriate for their location under new Department of […]
FTC Staff Makes Recommendations to New York Public Service Commission on Competition and Consumer Protection Measures in Retail Electricity Markets
Federal Trade Commission staff submitted a comment in response to a request from the New York State Public Service Commission (NY PSC) for comments on competition and consumer protection rules in New York’s retail electricity markets. The FTC staff comment emphasizes that carefully designed consumer protection policies often can achieve their goals without reducing or […]
FTC Staff: Tennessee Supreme Court Should Decline to Adopt Proposals that Unnecessarily Restrict Truthful Attorney Advertising
Federal Trade Commission staff, in response to a request for public comment from the Supreme Court of Tennessee, has provided comment on proposed amendments to the Tennessee Rules of Professional Conduct regarding attorney advertising. The FTC staff comment recommends that the Court decline to adopt proposals that are likely to unnecessarily restrict truthful and non-misleading […]
FTC Staff Warns 11 Jonesboro, Arkansas, Used Car Dealers for Not Displaying ‘Buyers Guides’
The Federal Trade Commission’s Southwest Region Office has warned 11 used car dealerships in Jonesboro, Arkansas, that their sales practices violate the FTC’s Used Car Rule, which requires used car dealers to display a “Buyers Guide” detailing warranty and other important information on the cars they sell. FTC staff inspections in Jonesboro found that […]
Court Bans Operators of Allegedly Deceptive Timeshare Scheme From the Timeshare Business, Orders $6.3 Million Judgment
As the result of a Federal Trade Commission action, the operators of a scheme that allegedly deceived consumers who were trying to sell their timeshare properties are permanently banned from the timeshare resale business, and from all telemarketing, and one of them has been ordered to pay more than $6 million. The FTC’s case against […]
FTC Seeks $22 Million from Wife and Parents of Ringleader Behind Alleged Utah-based Internet Billing Scheme I Works
The Federal Trade Commission has asked a federal court for permission to charge three persons and five companies they control with improperly receiving at least $22 million from a scheme that allegedly bilked consumers out of more than $275 million with deceptive “trial” memberships for bogus government-grant and money-making schemes. In December 2010, the FTC […]
FTC Asks Court to Shut Down $70 Million Cramming Operation
The Federal Trade Commission has asked a U.S. district court to halt an operation that allegedly placed more than $70 million in bogus charges on consumers’ phone bills – charges for services the consumers never ordered, did not authorize, and often did not know they had. The agency also asked the court to freeze the […]
FTC Puts an End to Bleach Non-Compete Agreement That Whitewashed Competition in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Southern Virginia
The Federal Trade Commission will require bleach producer and seller Oltrin Solutions, LLC to release its competitor, JCI Jones Chemicals, Inc. from an agreement not to sell bleach in North Carolina and South Carolina. This non-compete agreement was part of a 2010 transaction between the two firms that the FTC alleges violated antitrust laws. The […]