Consumers to be Credited $20m for Online Credit Report Scheme
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the states of Illinois and Ohio secured the consumer redress as part of a settlement of charges against One Technologies and will return almost $20 million to more than 145,000 consumers across the country, who were victimized by the company and its affiliates, in an online scheme that lured consumers with “free” access to their credit scores through MyCreditHealth and ScoreSense. It then billed them an undisclosed recurring $29.95 month
Court Rules Against Supplement Marketers that Claimed to Prevent and Reverse Gray Hair
A U.S. district court granted summary judgment to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and against COORGA Nutraceuticals Corporation and its principal for marketing their “Grey Defence” dietary supplements to reverse or prevent gray hair. The court found that the claims were not scientifically supported. The Court has barred the defendants from making further claims unless they are not misleading and are supported by reliable scientific evidence and over them to pay $300,000 to
Cruise Companies to Pay Millions for Robocalling Consumers
Cruise companies, including Caribbean Cruise Line Inc., The Berkley Group Inc., and Vacation Ownership Marketing Tours Inc., agreed to settle a class action against them alleging they violated the federal Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) by making unwanted calls to consumers. The cruise companies are expected to pay up to $76 million to consumers, who received these calls. Andersen Sleater LLC represents consumers who may have received unsolicited calls or texts. If y
Class Actions Target Outlets for False Advertising
A consumer has filed lawsuits against retailers G.H. Bass & Co., Van Heusen, and BCBG Max Azria Group LLC claiming that they mislead and fraudulently compare pricing at their outlet stores with that of their regular retailers. The class actions claim that the outlet merchandise's "compare at" or "original" prices are false because they do not represent what the products are sold for at the retail locations but are often only products that are sold at the outlets. Similar laws
ITT Technical Institutes Shutdown
After being in business for fifty years and being plagued with legal issues, ITT Educational Services, one of the largest operators of for-profit technical schools, ended operations at all of its ITT Technical Institutes. The decision came two weeks after the Education Department said it would no longer be allowed to enroll new students, who rely on federal loans and grants, award raises, pay bonuses or make severance payments to its executives without government approval. Th
FDA Bans 19 Ingredients in Antibacterial Soap
After consideration for over a decade, the Food and Drug Administration announced its final rule that bans over the next year nineteen ingredients commonly used in 40% of antibacterial soaps and washes that could pose health risks, such as bacterial resistance or hormonal effects. Triclosan and triclocarban are two of the most commonly used banned ingredients and were subject of a 2010 civil suit filed by the Natural Resources Defense Council. The FDA found that the banned in
