Markets Wired

The Federal Trade Commission is mailing approximately 4,450 refund checks to consumers who were tricked by illegal robocalls into buying bogus auto “warranties that were actually extended service contracts. The FTC alleged that “warranty” seller Transcontinental Warranty hired telemarketer Voice Touch Inc., to blast U.S. consumers with prerecorded calls that made them think the callers were affiliated with consumers’ car dealerships or manufacturers, and that their original auto warranty was about to expire. Under a series of settlements with the FTC, the various Voice Touch and Transcontinental Warranty defendants were permanently banned from telemarketing and required to pay approximately $3 million for consumer refunds.

Almost $3.2 million is being returned to consumers; the amount of payment will vary from a few dollars to more than $7,000, depending upon how much the consumer paid for a warranty. Consumers who receive the checks from the FTC’s redress administrator should cash them within 60 days of the date they were issued. The FTC never requires consumers to pay money or provide information before redress checks can be cashed. Customers with questions should call the redress administrator, Analytics Inc., 1-877-720-5908, or visit www.FTC.gov/refunds.

The Federal Trade Commission works for consumers to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices and to provide information to help spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint in English or Spanish, visit the FTC’s online Complaint Assistant or call
1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357). The FTC enters complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to more than 2,000 civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad. The FTC’s website provides free information on a variety of consumer topics. Like the FTC on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

(Voice Touch)