FTC Settles Claims Against Negative-Option Sales Operators

FTC

On February 1, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced a settlement with two individuals alleged to have operated businesses that improperly collected consumer information and then used that data to enroll consumers in negative-option programs that promised to match consumers with payday lenders. The FTC claimed the operators enrolled consumers in the payday lender matching program without consumer consent and refused to provide promised refunds. Under the settlement agreement, the individuals must pay nearly $10 million and will be prohibited from marketing secured loan products. The agreement also bars the individuals from making certain misrepresentations and prohibits the conduct at issue.