FTC Approves Panasonic’s Application to Sell Assets It Uses to Manufacture Portable Sub-C Nickel Metal Hydride Batteries

Following a public comment period, the Federal Trade Commission has approved an application by Panasonic Corporation to sell to FDK Corporation assets from Panasonic’s facility in Suzhou, China that produce sub-C portable nickel metal hydride (“NiMH”) batteries. The FTC’s November 2009 order, settling charges that Panasonic’s $9 billion acquisition of Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. was […]

FTC Staff Supports North Carolina Legislative Proposal to Limit Certificate of Need Rules for Health Care Facilities

Federal Trade Commission staff has submitted comments to North Carolina State Representative Marilyn W. Avila in response to her request for a comment on the possible competitive effects of a legislative proposal to narrow North Carolina’s Certificate of Need (CON) laws. Although they vary considerably by state, CON laws, including North Carolina’s, typically require healthcare […]

Auto Loan Relief Scammer Banned from Telemarketing, Debt Relief Services Under FTC Settlement

Regency Financial Services, Inc., and its CEO Ivan Levy have agreed to a permanent ban on telemarketing and the advertising, marketing, or sale of any debt relief products or services to settle FTC charges that they falsely promised consumers auto loan modifications and refunds if they failed to obtain the loan reductions.   In its […]

Supplement Marketers Will Relinquish $1.4 Million to Settle FTC Deceptive Advertising Charges

The marketers of a dietary supplement called Procera AVH will relinquish $1.4 million under settlements resolving Federal Trade Commission charges that they deceived consumers with claims that the supplement was clinically proven to significantly improve memory, mood, and other cognitive functions. Under the terms of the settlements, the defendants will pay $1 million to the […]

FTC Action Puts an End to Fraudulent Debt Collection Scheme that Targeted Spanish-Speaking Consumers

The operators of a fraudulent debt collection scheme have agreed to be banned from the debt collection business and telemarketing, to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that they bilked millions of dollars from Spanish-speaking consumers throughout the country by demanding that they pay bogus debts. The settlements stem from an FTC complaint filed last year […]

FTC Action Stops Massive Payday Loan Fraud Scheme

The operators of a payday lending scheme that allegedly bilked millions of dollars from consumers by trapping them into loans they never authorized will be banned from the consumer lending business under settlements with the Federal Trade Commission. The settlements stem from charges the FTC filed last year alleging that Timothy A. Coppinger, Frampton T. […]

FTC and State of Florida Charge Debt Relief Scammers

A federal court has halted, and frozen the assets of, a nationwide debt relief telemarketing scam that bilked millions of dollars from consumers, pending resolution of allegations made by the Federal Trade Commission and the State of Florida. The scammers, who used a variety of phony business names with associated websites, cold-called consumers with credit […]

Is Solar Power Right for You? FTC Tips Highlight Homeowners’ Options

If you’re thinking about using solar power at home, the Federal Trade Commission has new information to help you sort through the options. Solar Power for Your Home explains costs and benefits of buying or leasing a system, or signing a power purchase agreement. It also has tips to help you evaluate companies and products, […]

FTC, Florida Attorney General Sue to Stop Deceptive Robocalls from Operation That Pitched Seniors “Free” Medical Alert Systems

The Federal Trade Commission has filed a joint complaint with the Florida Attorney General’s Office charging a New York-based operation known as Lifewatch with using blatantly illegal and deceptive robocalls to trick older consumers throughout the United States and Canada into signing up for medical alert systems with monthly monitoring fees ranging from $29.95 to […]

FTC Staff Urges Minnesota Legislature to Weigh Benefits and Risks of Disclosing Terms of State Health Care Services Contracts

Federal Trade Commission staff has submitted comments to Minnesota state legislators Joe Hoppe and Melissa Hortman in response to their request for comment on the possible competitive effects of a recently enacted law that could make contract terms for the State of Minnesota’s health plans subject to public disclosure. The comment, submitted by staff of […]