The Arizona-based defendants behind an alleged fraudulent credit card interest rate reduction scam will be permanently barred from the telemarketing business, and must turn over all of their remaining funds, in order to settle Federal Trade Commission charges. As part of the FTC settlement, the defendants behind National Card Monitor LLC are banned from all […]
Monthly Archives: July 2013
FTC Staff Makes Recommendations to Arizona Corporation Commission On Expanding Retail Electric Competition
Federal Trade Commission staff submitted a comment in response to a request from the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) for comments on retail electric competition in Arizona. The FTC staff comment agrees with the ACC that it is timely for Arizona to consider retail competition that would enable consumers to select from specialized power suppliers using metering innovations […]
FTC Approves Changes to Energy Guide Labels for Appliances to Reflect New Tests for Measuring Energy Costs
The Federal Trade Commission has approved new EnergyGuide labels for refrigerators and clothes washers, and updated comparative energy consumption information on labels for other appliances, to help consumers compare products in light of new Department of Energy (DOE) tests for measuring energy costs. Under the Energy Labeling Rule, manufacturers must attach yellow EnergyGuide labels to certain products, […]
FTC Settles ‘Rachel’ Robocall Enforcement Case
The Federal Trade Commission has settled with a set of defendants associated with the A+ Financial Center scheme. They were charged in last year’s joint law enforcement sweep against five companies that made millions of illegal pre-recorded robocalls claiming to be from “Rachel” and “Cardholder Services” and pitching credit card interest rate reduction services. In the five […]
FTC Extends Public Comment Deadline on Proposed Telemarketing Sales Rule Changes Through August 8, 2013
The Federal Trade Commission has extended the deadline through August 8, 2013 for public comments regarding recently announced proposed changes to the agency’s Telemarketing Sales Rule (TSR). The proposed changes concern banning certain payment methods favored in fraudulent telemarketing transactions. In a press release issued May 21, 2013, the FTC announced July 29, 2013 as the close […]
FTC Mails Refund Checks to Consumers Who Bought Skechers’ Shape-Ups and Other “Toning” Shoes
An administrator working for the Federal Trade Commission is mailing 509,175 checks to consumers who bought toning shoes from Skechers USA, Inc. that the company promoted through allegedly deceptive advertisements. The checks must be cashed on or before October 10, 2013. The amount consumers will receive is based on the portion of their claims that […]
FTC Approves Modified Final Order in Hertz Acquisition of Dollar Thrifty
The Federal Trade Commission has approved a slightly modified version of a settlement requiring Hertz Global Holdings, Inc. to sell a number of assets in conjunction with its $2.3 billion acquisition of Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc. Under the settlement with the FTC, Hertz agreed to sell its Advantage Rent A Car business to Financial […]
FTC Testifies Before Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Enforcement of the National Do Not Call Registry and Efforts to Stop Illegal Robocalls
The Federal Trade Commission told a U.S. Senate Commerce Subcommittee that it has been aggressively fighting the problem of illegal commercial robocalls through vigorous enforcement of the requirements of the Do Not Call program and seeking to spur innovative technological solutions to block unlawful telemarketing calls. Testifying on behalf of the FTC before the Committee on […]
World’s Largest Debt Collection Operation Settles FTC Charges, Will Pay $3.2 Million Penalty
The world’s largest debt collection operation, Expert Global Solutions and its subsidiaries, has agreed to stop harassing consumers with allegedly illegal debt collection calls and to pay a $3.2 million civil penalty – the largest ever obtained by the Federal Trade Commission against a third-party debt collector. In its complaint, the FTC charged that the companies violated the […]
Economics Director Howard Shelanski Departs FTC
Federal Trade Commission Chairwoman Edith Ramirez announced today that Howard Shelanski, Director of the Bureau of Economics, is departing the agency today to become the Administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory affairs in the Office of Management and Budget, a position to which the Senate confirmed him on June 27. Pauline Ippolito will […]