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The Federal Trade Commission is mailing 16,590 refund checks totaling more than $700,000 this week to consumers who lost money to a “Rachel from Cardholder Services” scheme that allegedly promised to reduce the interest rate on consumers’ credit cards for an up-front fee. Each check will be for $42.95.

The refunds are being made from funds collected through a November 2013 settlement with Emory L. “Jack” Holley IV, Lisa Miller, and the six corporate defendants they controlled, which include ELH Consulting d/b/a Proactive Planning Solutions, and Purchase Power Solutions, LLC and a June 2013 settlement with four other defendants, which include Key Tech Solutions, LLC, d/b/a Key One Solutions, and 3Point14 LLC, d/b/a Elite Planning Group.

Analytics, the redress administrator for this matter, will mail refund checks to eligible consumers this week. The checks must be cashed within 60 days of the date they are issued or they will become void. Recipients should note that the FTC never requires consumers to pay money or provide information before redress checks can be cashed.

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, follow us on Twitter, and subscribe to press releases for the latest FTC news and resources.