Consumer Rights

Employment law and consumer protection, explained by the attorneys who litigate it. Straight answers on your rights at work and in the marketplace.

Consumer Rights

Welk Resort Sues Telemarketers For Scamming Its Timeshare Owners Out Of Money

March 12, 2013

The Welk Resort Group. located in San Diego has sued VO Financial, its CEO Adam Lacerda, and co-founder Ashley Lacerda in Federal Court, claiming that VO Financial made “repeated and harassing phone calls” to Welk’s timeshare owners to “fleece” them and the resort.According to the complaint: “VO Financial falsely represents itself as a ‘timeshare research and resolution firm that offers mortgage reduction programs […]

Consumer Rights

FTC Investigates Instant Response Systems For Falsely Trying To Collect Money From Elderly Consumers

March 12, 2013

The FTC is alleging that Instant Response Systems of Brooklyn New York used deception, threats, and intimidation to bully elderly consumers to pay for medical alert systems they neither ordered. According to the Federal Trade Commission, IRS’s telemarketers called elderly consumers using high pressure tactics in an attempt to get them to buy medical alert services and if they did not purchase […]

Consumer Rights

Cracking Down On Spam Text Messages

March 9, 2013

The Federal Trade Commission, (FTC) has filed 8 complaints against nearly 30 defendants just this week alone for sending spam text messages to consumers. According to the FTC, the defendants spammed consumers with more than 180 million text messages offering “free” $1,000 gift cards to popular retailers but then required consumers to pay for a subscription to a service, […]

Consumer Rights

How To Spot A Debt Collector Who Is Violating The Law

March 9, 2013

Federal and State Laws have been put in place to protect consumers from debt collection abuse. It does not make a difference whether you are behind in your payments or not, debt collectors are not allowed to harass you. Debt Collectors are not allowed to call you before 8:00am or after 9:00pm. Threatening you, cursing at you and insulting you are not allowed. They may […]

Consumer Rights

Wells Fargo Sued For Spam Text Messages

March 8, 2013

While Wells Fargo does offer a free service to its customers known as “text banking” in which customers are able to receive account information via text message. In order for this service to comply with the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, (TCPA), customers must enroll in the program in order to receive the messages. Additionally, under the FCC’s […]

Consumer Rights

Spotting a Telemarketing Scam

March 7, 2013

Usually, telemarketing scam artists won’t give you time to think about their pitch, out of fear that if they give you time you will figure out that they are not legitimate. Consequently, they pressure you into saying “yes” immediately. The following are some red flag examples… “You have been specially selected.”“You have won one a valuable prize!” (but you have not entered any contests)“You’ve won money in […]

Consumer Rights

Vishing and Smishing - the new phone scams…

March 7, 2013

Vishers (Scammers) will pose as a local bank or other legitimate business that consumers find trustworthy in order to con them into providing their personal information. These scam artists will use “spoofing” to make the number that appears on your caller ID match the number of a trusted establishments If you have received a vishing call claiming […]

Consumer Rights

BMW faces class action lawsuit due to defective alloy tires

February 27, 2013

According to the lawsuit the 17-inch and larger alloy wheels in 2007 or later BMW 5 Series cars are subject to premature cracking under ordinary driving conditions, putting drivers at risk. Lead plaintiff Ki-Teh Kim bought a used 2007 BMW 5 Series covered by a 4-year/50,000-mile limited warranty and when a low tire pressure warning appeared on the […]

Consumer Rights

Are Debt Collectors Harassing You About A Dead Family Member’s Debts

February 27, 2013

Because the number of consumers dying in debt has grown in recent years, the FTC has gotten numerous complaints from people who are being pursued by debt collectors regarding their loved ones’ debts. Often times, debt collectors will tell the grieving family members they have a moral obligation to pay, especially if they benefitted from the purchases […]

Consumer Rights

Caribbean Cruise Line Sued For Spam Calls To Cell Phones

February 26, 2013

The lawsuit alleges that Caribbean Cruise Line made unsolicited robo-dial calls to consumers on their cell phones, in violation of Telephone Consumer Protection Act, (TCPA). According to the plaintiffs, the robo-calls were made under the guise of conducting a political survey. However, in reality, the survey was a ruse to gain the opportunity to sell cruises to consumers. Caribbean Cruise Line submitted […]

Consumer Rights

FTC Targets Fake FTC Robo-Dialing Scammers

February 20, 2013

The Federal Trade Commission, (FTC) sued Credisure America and MyiPad, following allegations that they used robocalls to get financial information from consumers by offering them bogus “refunds.” “The Defendants placed illegal robocalls to consumers and played a prerecorded message alerting consumers to visit the website ftcrefund.com,” according to the complaint. During the message, a prerecorded […]

Consumer Rights

Settlement Reached In Spam Text Message Case

February 14, 2013

A settlement has been reached following allegations that International Academy of Design and Technology, (IADT) sent mass unsolicited text message advertisements to consumers in violation of the federal Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA). According to the lawsuit, a third-party marketing firm allegedly sent out text messages regarding IADT. A Federal Court granted preliminary approval to the settlement, which establishes a fund […]