The FTC Refunds Consumers Who Purchased Work-At-Home Opportunities From Bob Robinson, LLC

The Federal Trade Commission just issued refund checks to more than 87,000 customers. The FTC stated that the refunds stem from an FTC settlement in which the defendants used online “native” advertising—promotional content that resembles the non-advertising material beside it—to reach consumers who were researching work-at-home opportunities on the internet. The defendants routinely claimed people could earn, “hundreds of dollars per hour from home, without any special skills or experience.” The FTC alleged the defendants failed to make certain required disclosures to help consumers evaluate the business opportunity and made false and unsubstantiated earnings claims. For more information, read the FTC Press Release here.  Review your scripts and products with your legal counsel to ensure you are not selling (or are properly selling) a regulated business opportunity.
Learn about telemarketing licenses and telemarketing bond requirements. 

Universal Pictures, Legendary Pictures and Handstack settle TCPA Class Action

The Defendants have admitted no fault, but have agreed to settle TCPA-based auto texting and DNC lawsuit for $19.2 million dollars.  The case also involved curfew (calling time) allegations. Although not final, the proposed settlement provides that, “the maximum settlement award for members of the ATDS class will be $35.00, while the maximum settlement award for members of the Internal-Do-Not-Call, National Do-Not-Call, and Out of Time Classes will be $50.00.” For more information, read the settlement proposal here.  Ensure you have well-documented consent before auto texting or calling numbers on the DNC list.
Learn more about TCPA compliance, telemarketing laws, robocall laws, autodialer laws, cell phone do-not-call laws, and do-not-call compliance. All of these things can help you avoid telemarketing lawsuits.

Marketer of Water Filtration Systems to Pay $110,000 Civil Penalty
According to the FTC, a Georgia-based distributor of water filtration systems has agreed to pay a $110,000 civil penalty to settle charges that it violated a 2017 Federal Trade Commission administrative order by making false claims that wholly imported Chinese water filtration systems were made in the United States. As part of the settlement, the defendants have admitted that in March 2018, iSpring Water Systems, LLC, along with company owner and officer Zhuangyong Chen and company vice president Pearl Cai, began making false claims that the water filtration systems it sells are “designed and crafted in USA,” among other claims. For more, see the FTC Press Release here.
Contact a telemarketing lawyer, TCPA attorney, or telemarketing law firm if you need help understanding anything in this post.