The Federal Trade Commission today announced a federal district court action against ValueAct Capital Partners, L.P. alleging violations related to the acquisitions of stock of three companies that required filings with the government under the Hart-Scott-Rodino (HSR) Premerger Notification Act. In settling the Commission’s charges, ValueAct, an investment firm based in San Francisco, will pay […]
Category Archives: Federal Trade Commission
Financial Literacy: A Sound Investment National Consumer Protection Week Moves to March
Mark your calendars: the 10th annual National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW), a week to highlight consumer protection and education efforts across the country, will take place from March 2 to March 8, 2008. This year’s theme, “Financial Literacy: A Sound Investment” encourages consumers to take steps to build a firm financial foundation. During NCPW, federal, […]
Undercover Funeral Home Inspections in Nine States Yield Mixed Results; FTC Reminds Providers They Must Give Price Lists to Consumers
The Federal Trade Commission today announced that in 2007, law enforcement sweeps of 174 funeral homes in nine states found significant violations of the FTC’s Funeral Rule at 26 funeral homes and minor compliance deficiencies at 66 others. “Consumers making funeral arrangements are entitled to price information by phone and a written price list at […]
FTC Testifies on Efforts to Combat Identity Theft and Protect Consumer Privacy
The Federal Trade Commission today told the House Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security that identity theft remains one of the highest priorities for the Commission, and that the agency is playing a lead role in preventing identity theft and helping those who are victimized. Testifying for the Commission, Joel Winston, Associate […]
Scammers Accused of Deceptively Selling ATMs Give Up Frozen Assets
The ringleader behind an operation accused of deceptively selling automated teller machine (ATM) business opportunities is banned from ever selling business ventures again. The entire operation will give up all of its frozen assets, worth over $700,000, including a BMW automobile, a Harley Davidson motorcycle, and Rolex watches, to settle the Federal Trade Commission’s charges. […]
Company Will Pay $50,000 Penalty for Tossing Consumers Credit Report Information in Unsecured Dumpster
A mortgage company that left loan documents with consumers’ sensitive personal and financial information in and around an unsecured dumpster has agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that it violated federal regulations. The FTC’s complaint alleges that Northbrook, Illinois-based American United Mortgage Company violated the Disposal, Safeguards, and Privacy rules by failing to properly […]
Telephone Records Seller Settles FTC Charges
Parties who obtained and sold consumers’ telephone records, including information on calls placed and received, without the consumers’ knowledge or consent, have agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that their practices violated federal law. The settlement bars the defendants from marketing or selling consumers’ phone records and requires them to give up their ill-gotten […]
FTC Issues Statements Regarding Recusal Petition for Review of Proposed Acquisition of Hellman & Friedman Capital Partners V, LP (DoubleClick, Inc.) By Google, Inc.
This statement responds to the “Complaint Requesting Recusal of the Federal Trade Commission Chairman From the Pending Review of the Proposed Google-Doubleclick Merger” (“Petition”), which was filed with the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) by Messrs. Rotenberg and Chester on December 12, 2007. After reviewing the relevant facts and consulting with the FTC’s Designated Agency Ethics […]
FTC Reminds Businesses: Don’t Print Full Credit and Debit Card Numbers on Customers’ Purchase Receipts
As merchants get busier with holiday shopping, the Federal Trade Commission reminds them to be sure the credit and debit card receipts they give customers comply with federal law. To reduce the risk of fraud and identity theft, the electronically printed credit and debit card receipts given to consumers must not include more than the […]
FTC Approves Filing of Staff Comment with the Office of Thrift Supervision Regarding Its Review of Regulations on Unfair or Deceptive Acts and Practices
For Your Information December 13, 2007 The Commission has approved the filing of a staff comment with the Office of Thrift Supervision (OTS) in response to its request for information concerning whether it should expand its current regulations prohibiting thrifts from engaging in specific unfair or deceptive acts and practices. The staff comment sets forth […]