The Federal Trade Commission announced today that, in a case filed by it and the Florida Office of the Attorney General, a federal district court judge has entered eight orders against an intertwined web of Orlando-based individuals and companies that bombarded consumers with illegal robocalls from “Card Member Services,” pitching worthless credit card interest rate reduction programs.
In addition to imposing financial judgments, the orders permanently ban most of the defendants from robocalling, telemarketing, and providing debt relief services. The FTC alleges the scheme operated from 2011 until the court issued injunctions at the agencies’ request stopping the calls in mid-2015.
According to the complaint, filed in June 2015, the defendants, doing business as Payless Solutions, illegally called thousands of consumers nationwide – including many seniors – claiming that their credit card interest rate reduction program would save consumers at least $2,500 in a short period of time and would enable them to pay off their debts more quickly. After convincing consumers to provide their credit card information, the defendants charged them between $300 and $4,999 up-front, but provided nothing in return.
The FTC's full press release is here.
