From How to Get Out of Debt

We’ve covered the deceitful acai berry weight-loss products over the past year on our site (see here, here and here). It was announced on Wednesday that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has stopped six operators from using fake news site that allegedly deceived consumers about this product. Six online marketers agreed to settlements with the [...]

Read the full article at GetOutOfDebt.org, click here: FTC Halts Fake News Sites About Deceitful Acai Berry Weight-Loss Products

From How to Get Out of Debt

It was announced today that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) have signed an agreement to coordinate efforts to protect consumers in an effort to avoid duplication of federal law enforcement and regulatory efforts. The memorandum of the two agencies’ understand can be viewed here. The Dodd-Frank Wall Street [...]

Read the full article at GetOutOfDebt.org, click here: FTC And CFPB Pledge To Work Together To Protect Consumers

From How to Get Out of Debt

It was announced on January 9, 2012 that Jennifer Kirk was sentenced to 188 months (almost 16 years) in prison for conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud when Kirk victimized consumers in a timeshare telemarking scam. Kirk will also serve five years of supervised release after the completion of her prison term, during which [...]

Read the full article at GetOutOfDebt.org, click here: Timeshare Telemarking Fraudster Sentenced

From How to Get Out of Debt

Stories like this scare me. Especially when I have family that utilizes these pharmacies and participates in the Medicare program. If you’re using Part D prescription drugs from CVS, read on…. It was announced late last week that the CVS Caremark Corporation has settled with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for deceptive pricing charges that [...]

Read the full article at GetOutOfDebt.org, click here: FTC Charges Settled By CVS After Deceptive Prescription Pricing For Seniors And Disabled Consumers

From How to Get Out of Debt

If you have a child and are saving for their college fund, chances are you’ve heard of the company Upromise. Upromise is a company that offers consumers a membership service that allows them to save money for college. When consumers make a purchase or buy a service from a Upromise partner merchant they then receive [...]

Read the full article at GetOutOfDebt.org, click here: Upromise And FTC Settle Charges Over Internet Toolbar That Deceptively Collected Consumers’ Personal Information

From How to Get Out of Debt

It was announced today that a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) action has banned a payment processor from using a new payment method to debit accounts after allegedly debiting millions from consumers’ bank accounts without their consent. Payment processors provide merchants with the ability to obtain customer payments for products and services via electronic banking. According [...]

Read the full article at GetOutOfDebt.org, click here: FTC Bans Landmark Clearing From Using Remotely Created Payment Orders

From How to Get Out of Debt

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced they are requiring “U.S. Homeowners Relief” defendants to pay millions in their settlement along with banning them from the debt and mortgage relief business. The FTC had charged six defendants (that have agreed to settle) in the participation of a fraudulent mortgage modifications and foreclosure relief scheme. The settlement [...]

Read the full article at GetOutOfDebt.org, click here: Six Required To Pay Millions From “U.S. Homeowners Relief” Scheme

From How to Get Out of Debt

The Federal Trade Commission reached a settlement putting a stop to the phony claims of marketers who told consumers their fuel economy device could boost automobile gas mileage by at least 50 percent and “turn any vehicle into a hybrid.” The settlement bans marketers of the so-called “Hydro-Assist Fuel Cell” from selling fuel economy products. [...]

Read the full article at GetOutOfDebt.org, click here: Marketers Banned Of So-Called “Hydro-Assist Fuel Cell” From Selling Fuel Economy Products

From How to Get Out of Debt

The Federal Trade Commission is taking action against a telemarketing operation that allegedly made illegal robocalls, called phone numbers on the National Do Not Call Registry, and masked Caller ID information, in violation of the FTC’s Telemarketing Sales Rule. The FTC’s complaint seeks to make the defendants pay civil penalties and stop the illegal calls. [...]

Read the full article at GetOutOfDebt.org, click here: Telelmarketers Charged With Illegal Robocalling By FTC

From How to Get Out of Debt

Defendants in a payday lending case have been ordered to pay more than $294,000 for illegal garnishment of consumers’ paychecks. A federal court has ordered, at the request of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), one of the individuals behind a payday lending scheme and two companies he controlled to pay $294,536 for illegally trying to [...]

Read the full article at GetOutOfDebt.org, click here: Defendants In Payday Lending Case To Pay More Than $294,000 For Illegal Garnishment Of Consumers’ Paychecks

From How to Get Out of Debt

Americall, an Illinois-based telemarketing firm will pay $500,000 civil penalty to settle Federal Trade Commission (FTC) charges that it interfered with consumers’ requests to be placed on company-specific do not call lists and transmitted deceptive Caller ID names. The FTC alleged that Americall Group, Inc violated the FTC’s Telemarketing Sales Rule (TSR) in it’s efforts [...]

Read the full article at GetOutOfDebt.org, click here: Americall Will Pay $500,000 To Settle FTC Charges

From How to Get Out of Debt

Earlier in December the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) sent a letter to the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) expressing concern that the organization’s plan to dramatically expand the domain name system could leave consumers more vulnerable to online fraud and undermine law enforcers’ ability to track down online scammers. ICANN is the [...]

Read the full article at GetOutOfDebt.org, click here: The Rapid Expansion of Internet Domain Name System Could Lead To More Online Fraud

From How to Get Out of Debt

Four years after the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) filed a case against Randall Leshlin and his debt management services company, Express Consolidation, the FTC is mailing out refund checks to almost 3,000 consumers across the country that fell victim to worthless debt management services. The reimbursement stems from a February 2009 contempt finding against Florida [...]

Read the full article at GetOutOfDebt.org, click here: Refunds Now Being Sent To Victims Of Express Consolidation Debt Management Services

From How to Get Out of Debt

As part of its ongoing efforts to crack down on illegal pre-recorded robocalls, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is taking action against an operation that allegedly helped clients make illegal robocalls, call phone numbers on the National Do Not Call Registry, and mask Caller ID information, in violation of the FTC’s Telemarketing Sales Rule. This [...]

Read the full article at GetOutOfDebt.org, click here: FTC Continues TSR Crack Down

From How to Get Out of Debt

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC)’s Business Opportunity Rule has been approved for changes that will ensure consumers have information needed when considering buying a “work-at-home” program or other similar business opportunities. Now simplified are the disclosures that business opportunity sellers must provide to prospective buyers. The disclosures will help consumers considering a purchase of such [...]

Read the full article at GetOutOfDebt.org, click here: Considering Purchasing A Work-At-Home Program? The FTC’s Business Opportunity Rule Is Here To Help

From How to Get Out of Debt

Today, the Federal Trade Commission will host the third in a series of roundtables around the country to gather information on consumers’ experiences in the leasing of motor vehicles at dealerships. The roundtable also will address what has been learned about auto sales, financing and leasing at all of the roundtables; what consumer and business [...]

Read the full article at GetOutOfDebt.org, click here: You Are Cordially Invited To The FTC’s Road Ahead Roundtable

From How to Get Out of Debt

It’s official! The last remaining defendants in an allegedly fraudulent mortgage modification scheme called “Hope Now” have settled with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) that will permanently ban them from the mortgage assistance and relief business. They will also be forced to return any fraudulent-earned gains to consumers. The settlement with Michael Kwasnik and his [...]

Read the full article at GetOutOfDebt.org, click here: Hope Now Schemers Officially Out Of The Mortgage Business

From How to Get Out of Debt

Kara Singleton Adams, from Georgia, was found guilty last week on charges of wire fraud, conspiracy, and structuring financial transactions, relating to a $25 million nationwide telemarketing fraud scheme. Already convicted in this scheme are three co-defendants including Adams’ husband, Jason James Eyer, James Adolph Schoenholz, and Brittany Dunphy. All three pleaded guilty to related [...]

Read the full article at GetOutOfDebt.org, click here: Couple Faces Serious Jail Time For Their $25 Million Nationwide Telemarketing Fraud Scam

From How to Get Out of Debt

Yesterday, President Obama and representatives from other Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) economies met to discuss consumer cross-border data privacy protection at a meeting in Honolulu, Hawaii. The meeting focused on the APEC Cross-Border Privacy Rules, a new initiative to harmonize safe data sharing across country borders and enhance the protection of consumer data that moves [...]

Read the full article at GetOutOfDebt.org, click here: FTC Gives APEC Cross-Border Privacy Rules Thumbs Up For Consumer Information Protection

From How to Get Out of Debt

Last month I wrote about the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and their halting of the operation “Grant Connect” which was a program that deceived and mislead consumers about bogus products and services with unsubstantiated claims. The program marketed free government grants endorsed by President Obama, dietary supplements endorsed by Oprah, fake work-at-home opportunities and exclusive [...]

Read the full article at GetOutOfDebt.org, click here: Ding-Dong The Grant Connect Is Dead! FTC Wins $29.8 Million

From How to Get Out of Debt

(Try saying that title ten times fast) In March of this year the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) stepped up it’s efforts against scams that targeted financially strapped consumers with more than 90 actions brought by the commission and its law enforcement partners in a investigation called “Operation Empty Promises.” Within this investigation the FTC looked [...]

Read the full article at GetOutOfDebt.org, click here: Scam Recovery Kits Business Continues To Scam Buy Selling Scam Recovery Kits

From How to Get Out of Debt

The operator of SkidEKids.com has settled charges from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) after collecting children’s information without parental consent. The website, SkidEKids.com, has been marketed and advertised as a website similar to Facebook or Myspace but for children, providing for them a safe and educational place on the internet. According to the FTC, Skid-e-kids [...]

Read the full article at GetOutOfDebt.org, click here: FTC Settles Charges Against Children’s Social Media Network After Collecting Personal Information Without Parental Consent

From How to Get Out of Debt

In April of 2009 the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) charged makers of a “Hoodia” weight loss supplement with deceptive advertising. The companies, Nutraceuticals International, Stella Labs and key company players and controllers David Romeo, Deborah Vickery, Craig Payton, and Zoltan Klivinyi claimed that using their product would lead to weight loss and appetite suppression. In [...]

Read the full article at GetOutOfDebt.org, click here: Defendants Lose The Weight Of Their Assets In “Hoodia” Weight Loss Case

From How to Get Out of Debt

I feel it’s safe to assume that since Halloween is now over we can officially label this time of the year as the Holiday Season! Which I am super excited about! I love Thanksgiving and December’s holidays – mostly for the food – but often find the obligation and burden of buying gifts a heavy [...]

Read the full article at GetOutOfDebt.org, click here: Online Shopping Tips For The Holiday Shopping On The Horizon

From How to Get Out of Debt

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has released a report of data pertaining to the 2011 fiscal year which showed that pharmaceutical companies continued an anticompetitive trend of paying potential generic rivals to delay the introduction of low-cost prescription drug alternatives for American consumers. If you’re like me, generic pharmaceutical drugs save my life, not only [...]

Read the full article at GetOutOfDebt.org, click here: FTC Asks To Restrict Pay-For-Delay Deals To Lower Consumers’ Health Care Costs

From How to Get Out of Debt

A few years ago my life used to revolve around shoes. No, not pretty, girly, snazzy shoes but legitimate, athletic, training shoes. There’s no business like shoe business! Back then, I could tell you anything you wanted to know about any shoe on the market. Around the time that I stepped down from the industry [...]

Read the full article at GetOutOfDebt.org, click here: Reebok Owes $25 Million Settlement And Customer Refunds For EasyTone Shoes

From How to Get Out of Debt

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has halted a countrywide scheme that falsely promised consumers help to get federal government jobs through exclusive listings. According to the FTC, Frontier Publishing, doing business as American Data Group, targeted and charged consumers for information pertaining to federal government jobs (jobs that the federal government provides for free) but [...]

Read the full article at GetOutOfDebt.org, click here: Federal Government Job Scam Halted

From How to Get Out of Debt

Looking for free government grants endorsed by President Obama and Vice President Biden? Dietary supplements supported by scientific research and endorsed by Oprah? How about exclusive credit offers? …Keep looking. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has halted an operation called, the “Grant Connect” program, that allegedly deceived and mislead consumers about bogus products and services [...]

Read the full article at GetOutOfDebt.org, click here: Free Government Grants, Diet Pills and Credit, Oh My!

From How to Get Out of Debt

A United State district court has shut down two related operations who apparently failed to provide promised debt relief services and jeopardized clients’ privacy by at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC)’s request. Apparently one firm charged consumers a $1,495 up front fee for a mortgage relief assistance program that was never given as well as [...]

Read the full article at GetOutOfDebt.org, click here: Deceitful Debt Relief And Mortgage Operation Shut Down

From How to Get Out of Debt

A year ago this month the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) barred debt settlement companies that used telemarketing from accepting up-front fees. Although it’s been an entire year since this change we are still see companies trying sneak in those up-front fees with businesses trying to exploit loopholes. The whole purpose of the Telemarketing Sales Ruling [...]

Read the full article at GetOutOfDebt.org, click here: It’s Been A Year Since The TSR – What’s Changed With Debt Settlement?

From How to Get Out of Debt

“Dear Andy, Tried twice to to get a modification with BOA with no success,have ask a law firm to help, but cant find any info on the firm Should I retain this law firm from calif. THEY WHAT THREE PAYMENTS ONE TO START, THEN ONE IN THE MIDDLE AND THE REST AT THE END. 1500-1000-500. [...]

Read the full article at GetOutOfDebt.org, click here: Should I Hire All State Law Group to Modify My Bank of America Mortgage? – Charles

From How to Get Out of Debt

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) comprised a report, Homeownership Preservation: Federal Efforts to Combat Foreclosure Rescue Schemes Are Under Way, but Improved Planning Elements Could Enhance Progress, based on “information available to federal and state agencies and nonprofit organizations, such as consumer complaints and the number of enforcement actions.” The report revealed two predominant schemes [...]

Read the full article at GetOutOfDebt.org, click here: GAO Takes Closer Look at Home Loan Modification Scams

From How to Get Out of Debt

Overdraft “protection” as we know it in America will make a positive change August 15, 2010. Considering to protect something means to cover or shield from exposure, injury, damage, or destruction, overdraft “protection” is anything but that. I view it as one of those “convince” fees. Let’s just call it what it is: a service [...]

Read the full article at GetOutOfDebt.org, click here: Banks Target MVBs, Most Vulnerable Bankers, to Keep Overdraft “Protection” Before Regulation E Comes Into Effect

From How to Get Out of Debt

It isn’t a big shock to find out that the credit craze and panic is exploding around the world. The credit craze and panic works like this: Stage One: Craze – apply and get approved for credit and go crazy racking up the balance. Stage Two: Panic – after you’ve expended your credit resources you [...]

Read the full article at GetOutOfDebt.org, click here: In China, Credit Card Debt Enslaves. Anyone Surprised?

From How to Get Out of Debt

The Christian Science Monitor posted an article, “Does the FTC really protect consumers?” straight from Mises Economics Blog. The article claimed that the FTC was putting protecting consumers from fraud on the back burner and appeared to be more concerned with “expanding the federal government’s monopoly over food-and-drug-related speech”. This bold statement was made over [...]

Read the full article at GetOutOfDebt.org, click here: FTC Catches Bad Press For Doing Job Over Nestlé Milk

From How to Get Out of Debt

A report released by the Federal Trade Commission Monday featured the FTC’s complaints about debt collection in our country today. The report featured the conclusion that “consumers are not adequately protected in either debt collection litigation or arbitration.” The FTC put forth recommendations to both the federal and state governments on how to make the [...]

Read the full article at GetOutOfDebt.org, click here: FTC Hopes to Eradicate Broken Debt Collection Litigation and Arbitration

From How to Get Out of Debt

I feel the personal need to thank a one, Vanessa Romo, a reporter at NPR for her most recent and compelling article “Elusive Debtors Foiled By Their Social Media Sites“. This article delved into a world I had never considered existed. No not Pandora, but a realm of debt collectors using social media and networking [...]

Read the full article at GetOutOfDebt.org, click here: Caught In The Web : Debt Collectors Find Fleeting Debtors Via Social Networking Websites

From How to Get Out of Debt

CNN Money’s recent article, “Debt collectors get nasty” showed some real insight into the current debt collection process in this country. They touched on information reported by the Federal Trade Commission, FTC, about the number of complaints of debt collector harassment issues on the rise. Apparently these debt collectors haven’t heard of a little thing [...]

Read the full article at GetOutOfDebt.org, click here: Victory and Disappointment for the Debt World Today: Total Debt Falls While Harassment Complaints Rise

From How to Get Out of Debt

So your credit’s not so hot. A few late payments, maybe an account or two that went to collections. What’s the big deal? As you’ve probably found out, it may be a very big deal. You’ve probably already been turned down for the best credit cards and maybe you’ve had trouble getting a car loan. [...]

Read the full article at GetOutOfDebt.org, click here: Do It Yourself Guide to Credit Reports: 10 Ways to Improve Your Credit

From How to Get Out of Debt

Think your money and peace of mind are safe from thieves? Think again. Identity theft is one of the fastest growing types of robbery today. As many as 300,000 people are defrauded each year by crooks using stolen identities. Guess who ends up paying for the millions of dollars that stores and lending institutions lose [...]

Read the full article at GetOutOfDebt.org, click here: Identity Theft: How to Protect Yourself and What to Do If You Are a Victim

From How to Get Out of Debt

When you are in debt, sometimes you may feel that you are a “sitting duck” waiting for the debt collector to call. What you may not realize, however, is that there are laws which protect debtors from collection practices that you may find troublesome or harassing. The federal Fair Debt Collections Practices Act (hereafter referred [...]

Read the full article at GetOutOfDebt.org, click here: How to Make the Debt Collector Do What You Want

From How to Get Out of Debt

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Read the full article at GetOutOfDebt.org, click here: Federal Trade Commission – Consumer Protection News Alerts

From How to Get Out of Debt

A story by CNN today makes my article on How to Hide From Debt Collection, the Debt Collector and Creditors even more timely. After several years in which Americans were buying stuff on credit they couldn’t afford, a rapidly increasing number are complaining about getting harassed and abused by bill collectors. Nearly 71,000 people filed [...]

Read the full article at GetOutOfDebt.org, click here: Complaints About Bill Collectors Rocket as Debt Collectors Get Tough

From How to Get Out of Debt

For decades, credit-card companies and other firms would eventually give up after attempting to collect from deadbeat customers. Now, companies are packaging and selling many of those overdue accounts for pennies on the dollar to debt collectors. The collectors then aggressively pursue the debtors to repay, or they turn around and resell those same debts [...]

Read the full article at GetOutOfDebt.org, click here: There’s Big Bucks in Bad Debts

From How to Get Out of Debt

There is no doubt that the workshops and hearings by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) are going to result in changes that will significantly impact the debt settlement industry. The FTC has been carefully looking into the industry and is disgusted with the actions of many companies. These would be the companies that charge large [...]

Read the full article at GetOutOfDebt.org, click here: 85% of Debt Settlement Companies May Be Closing Soon and Taking Your Money With Them

From How to Get Out of Debt

The Federal Trade Commission issued a report today recommending that the debt collection legal system be reformed and modernized to reflect changes in consumer debt, the debt collection industry, and technology. The report describes the changes the FTC believes will provide better consumer protection without unduly burdening the debt collection industry. The Commission also issued [...]

Read the full article at GetOutOfDebt.org, click here: Reforms Recommended for Debt Collectors and Debt Collection Industry

From How to Get Out of Debt

I understand that the Federal Trade Commission has been looking into regulating the debt settlement industry. I feel the time has come to finally address the needs of consumers for representation in credit counseling and debt settlement matters. I have provided a statement to the FTC in order to support the acceptance and regulation of [...]

Read the full article at GetOutOfDebt.org, click here: Federal Trade Commission Should Allow For-Profit Credit Counseling and Debt Settlement Firms to Assist All Consumers

From How to Get Out of Debt

Credit repair, or how to make your credit report lie, is not something you want to get involved with. It is much better for you to focus on dealing with a bad credit issue and resolve it, focus on rebuilding your credit report and credit score and just don’t waste one minute or one penny [...]

Read the full article at GetOutOfDebt.org, click here: Credit Repair Firms In Crosshairs of Federal Trade Commission