News Releases for July 1998
July 31, 1998
- For Release: July 31, 1998
FTC Wins Court Order Blocking Mergers of Nation’s Four Largest Drug Wholesalers into Two Companies
The Deputy Director of the Federal Trade Commission’s Competition Bureau today said that he was pleased by the federal District Court order preliminarily enjoining the proposed mergers of the nation’s four largest drug wholesalers into two companies.
July 30, 1998
- For Release: July 30, 1998
FTC and State of Missouri Win Court Order Blocking Merger of Two Missouri Hospitals
The Federal Trade Commission announced today that a federal District Court has issued a preliminary injunction blocking the proposed merger of Lucy Lee Hospital, owned by Tenet Healthcare Corporation (Tenet), and Doctors Regional Medical Center (DRMC), the only two general hospitals in Butler County, Missouri.
- For Release: July 30, 1998
Columbia/HCA to Pay $2.5 Million Civil Penalty for FTC Order Violation
Columbia/HCA Healthcare Corporation will pay a $2.5 million civil penalty to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that it violated a 1995 FTC order to divest hospitals in Utah and Florida in a timely manner.
- For Release: July 30, 1998
Four Companies and Their Principals Agree to Settle FTC/State Charges of Misrepresenting "Credit Repair" Services
The Federal Trade Commission and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts have taken action against fraudulent credit repair firms misrepresenting that consumers can clean up their credit reports even before they clean up their credit.
- For Your Information: July 30, 1998
Announced Actions for July 30, 1998
Applications for approval of transactions: The FTC has received an application for approval of a transaction from the following.
July 29, 1998
- For Your Information:
July 29, 1998
FTC Issues Plain English Guide to Antitrust Laws
The Federal Trade Commission has issued a plain English guide to antitrust laws, "Promoting Competition, Protecting Consumers."
- For Your Information: July 29, 1998
FTC Opposes Bill that Would Grant Antitrust Exemption for Health Care Providers
Federal Trade Commission Chairman Robert Pitofsky today presented Commission testimony to a House Committee opposing proposed legislation that would create an exemption from the antitrust laws for health care professionals.
July 28, 1998
- For Release: July 28, 1998
FTC Supports Legislation To Protect Consumer Credit Privacy
The Federal Trade Commission today told the House Committee on Banking and Financial Services that it favors legislation that would impose civil penalties on information brokers who obtain sensitive financial information about individuals under false pretenses.
July 27, 1998
- For Release: July 27, 1998
Nortek to Settle FTC Charges Deal to Buy Nutone’s Intercom Business Would Violate Antitrust Laws, Ftc Says
Nortek, Inc., has agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that its $242.5 million acquisition of NuTone, its closest competitor in the hard-wired residential intercom business, would violate federal antitrust laws by creating a dominant firm that could drive up prices in the market.
July 23, 1998
- For Release: July 23, 1998
FTC Highlights Efforts to Combat Telephone Bill "Cramming"
In Congressional testimony today the Federal Trade Commission highlighted its law enforcement and consumer education efforts to combat the growing number of consumer complaints about "cramming" -- the practice of causing unauthorized charges for a variety of goods or services to appear on consumers' telephone bills.
- For Release: July 23, 1998
New York Women's Apparel Company Pays Civil Penalty To Settle FTC Charges that It Violated Care Labeling Rule
A New York City-based designer and manufacturer of women's clothing, Zoran Ladicorbic Ltd., has agreed to pay a $14,000 civil penalty to settle charges that it violated the Federal Trade Commission's Care Labeling Rule by failing to attach care labels to the garments it sold.
July 22, 1998
- For Release: July 22, 1998
Gateway 2000 to Pay $290,000 to Settle FTC Charges of False Advertising Claims
Gateway 2000 has agreed to pay $290,000 as part of a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission.
- For Release: July 22, 1998
$5.5 Million in Refunds to Victims of Fortuna Alliance Pyramid
A recent federal court contempt citation has cleared the way for the final mailing of refund checks to victims who invested in an Internet pyramid scheme called Fortuna Alliance.
July 21, 1998
- For Release: July 21, 1998
FTC Tells House Subcommittee that Self-regulation Is the Preferred Method of Protecting Consumers' Online Privacy
The Federal Trade Commission today told a House Subcommittee that the Commission is still hopeful that industry self-regulation will achieve adequate online privacy protections for consumers.
- For Your Information: July 21, 1998
Announced Action for July 21, 1998
Petitions to reopen and modify or set aside orders: The FTC has received a petition from the following entity seeking changes in FTC orders.
July 20, 1998
- Media Advisory : July 20, 1998
FTC Tells House Subcommittee that Self-Regulation Is the Preferred Method of Protection Consumers' Online Privacy
Government Must Act If Effective Programs Are Not Implemented And Widely Adopted By Year's End, Commissioners Say
- For Your Information: July 20, 1998
Announced Actions for July 20, 1998
Consent agreements given final approval: Following a public comment period, the Commission has made final a consent agreement with the following entity.
- For Release: July 20, 1998
Two Wedding Gown Manufacturers Settle Care Labeling Charges; FTC Files Complaint Against Third Company
Summer brides may want to check their wedding gowns for drycleaning instructions that may not comply with the Federal Trade Commission's Care Labeling Rule.
- For Release: July 20, 1998
FTC Votes to Clarify Requirements of Appliance Labeling Rule for Bulk Packages of Lamp Products
The Federal Trade Commission has voted to clarify the requirements of the Appliance Labeling Rule to permit manufacturers and others who distribute bulk cartons of incandescent light bulbs and compact fluorescent lamps not packaged for individual retail sale to make the rule's required labeling disclosures on the bulk shipping carton.
- For Release: July 20, 1998
South Lake Tahoe Lodging Association Settles FTC Charges That it Violated Antitrust Laws
South Lake Tahoe Lodging Association ("SLTLA") has agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that it violated antitrust laws when its members agreed to stop posting price signs for motel rooms in the South Lake Tahoe area of Northern California and Nevada.
July 17, 1998
- For Your Information: July 17, 1998
Announced Action for July 17, 1998
The Federal Trade Commission has updated its Rules of Practice to enable it to share information under agreements that comply with the International Antitrust Enforcement Assistance Act (IAEAA).
- For Release: July 17, 1998
FTC Staff Files Comment With Utah Public Service Commission
The staff of the Federal Trade Commission has filed a comment with the Utah Public Service Commission about consumer protection issues related to electric utility restructuring in the state.
- For Release: July 17, 1998
FTC Staff Files Comment With West Virginia Public Service Commission
The staff of the Federal Trade Commission has filed a comment with the Public Service Commission of West Virginia about issues related to electric utility restructuring in the state.
July 16, 1998
- For Release: July 16, 1998
FTC Enforcement Actions Continue to Target "Crammers"
Consumer complaints about crammers -- companies that use deceptive and unfair tactics to cram charges on consumers' phone bills --- are rising rapidly, according to the Federal Trade Commission.
- Opening Statement of Teresa M. Schwartz, Deputy Director, Bureau of Consumer Protection at a Press Conference on Telephone Bill "Cramming"
Today, the Federal Trade Commission announces two law enforcement cases against "crammers" -- companies that use deceptive and unfair tactics to "cram" charges on consumers' phone bills.
- For Release: July 16, 1998
$50,000 in Uncashed Checks and Money Orders Returned to U.S. Consumers Who Sent Funds to Fraudulent Canadian Advance Fee Loan Operation
The Federal Trade Commission and the British Columbia Ministry of Attorney General announced that starting today, uncashed checks and money orders totaling approximately $50,000 will be returned to 139 U.S. consumers who were victims of a fraudulent Canadian-based advance fee loan company.
July 15, 1998
- For Release: July 15, 1998
New Jersey Invention Promotion Firm Settles FTC Charges Defendants to Pay Three-quarters of a Million Dollars in Redress
National Invention Services, Inc. (NISI), an invention promotion firm out of Cranford, New Jersey, and its president and CEO, John F. Lee, have agreed to pay approximately $745,000 in consumer redress under a proposed settlement announced today by the Federal Trade Commission.
July 14, 1998
- Media Advisory: July 14, 1998
Cracking The Code: FTC Charges Companies Illegally Cram Charges on Consumers’ Phone Bills: Consumer Victims Tell Their Stories at Press Conference
An increasing number of complaints about mystery charges on consumer telephone bills are piling up.
- For Release: July 14, 1998
Promoter of Online Pyramid Scheme Agrees to Settle FTC Charges
In its continuing attack on fraudulent unsolicited commercial e-mail (UCE), the Federal Trade Commission today announced that it was publishing for public comment a proposed consent agreement with Kalvin P. Schmidt, an alleged promoter and operator of a high-tech chain letter software program.
- For Release: July 14, 1998
FTC Unveils "Dirty Dozen Spam Scams"- Statement of Jodie Bernstein, Director Bureau of Consumer Protection Press Conference on "Spam"
July 13, 1998
- For Release: July 13, 1998
FTC Seeks Additional Comment on Amplifier Rule
The Federal Trade Commission on July 9 published two notices in the Federal Register about its rule that covers power output claims for amplifiers used in home entertainment products.
- For Release: July 13, 1998
FTC Staff Files Comment With Virginia Task Force
The staff of the Federal Trade Commission on July 10 filed a comment with the Commonwealth of Virginia's Structure and Transition Task Force.
- For Release: July 13, 1998
Touchnet Defendants Settle FTC Charges Agreement Would Ban Operators From Any Business Opportunity, Franchise or Business Venture Operation In The Future
Operators of a company that used the allure of the Internet to peddle a fraudulent business opportunity have agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that their scheme violated federal laws.
- For Release: July 13, 1998
Credit Card Scam Telemarketers Settle FTC Charges
Telemarketers who "guaranteed" consumers they could obtain unsecured credit cards -- even if the consumers had past credit problems -- for up-front "processing fees" have agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that their claims were false and violated federal laws.
- For Your Information: July 13, 1998
Announced Actions for July 13, 1998
Applications for approval of transactions: The FTC has received an application for approval of a transaction from the following.
July 10, 1998
- For Release: July 10, 1998
California Law Firm Agrees to Settle FTC Charges of Violating Fair Debt Collection Practices Act
Alvin R. Lundgren, principal of Lundgren & Associates, P.C., has agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that he repeatedly violated the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) and Section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act when attempting to collect debts by threatening to take legal action when none was intended and by misrepresenting the amount he was entitled to collect under state law.
July 9, 1998
- Media Advisory: July 9, 1998
FTC Press Conference on "Spam"
The FTC and the Center for Democracy and Technology offer some answers, some insight and some solutions at a Press Conference.
- For Your Information: July 9, 1998
Announced Actions for July 9,1998
Commission action regarding applications for approval: Following a public comment period, the Commission has ruled on an application for approval of a transaction from the following:
- For Your Information: July 9, 1998
FTC Issues Revised Dealer and Consumer Guides about Used Car Rule
The Federal Trade Commission has revised its dealer and consumer publications that explain the Used Car Rule.
July 8, 1998
- For Your Information: July 8, 1998
Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 (SBREFA)
The Federal Trade Commission has amended its Rules of Practice to incorporate the provisions of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 (SBREFA) concerning congressional review of certain agency rules and the issuance of small business compliance guides for certain rules.
- For Your Information: July 8, 1998
FTC Votes to Amend Hart-Scott-Rodino Rule to Exempt Certain Acquisitions Required by FTC Orders or Court Orders
The Federal Trade Commission has voted to amend the Hart-Scott-Rodino (HSR) premerger notification rules that require the parties to certain mergers or acquisitions to file reports with the FTC and the Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Antitrust Division at the Department of Justice, and to wait a specified period of time before consummating such transactions.
July 7, 1998
- REGULATORY REFORM UPDATE: July 7, 1998
Federal Trade Commission Votes to Retain Hobby Protection Rules
The Federal Trade Commission, as part of its periodic review of its rules and guides, has voted to retain in their present form the rules and regulations issued under the 1973 Hobby Protection Act.
- FOR RELEASE: July 7, 1998
Telemarketer Agrees to Settle FTC Charges of Misrepresenting Travel Packages
Travel Bahamas Tours, Inc., of Deerfield Beach and Palm Beach Gardens, Florida; and company president Richard A. Raskin, of Boynton Beach, Florida, and Dallas, Texas, have agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that they misrepresented that the travel packages they were selling were sponsored by certain hotels, and that they offered a 30-day unconditional refund.
July 2, 1998
- For Your Information: July 2, 1998
FTC Withdraws Proposed Consent Agreement, Closes Pacificorp Investigation
The Federal Trade Commission today announced that it was withdrawing a proposed consent agreement with PacifiCorp and closing the investigation into the company’s proposed acquisition of The Energy Group PLC.
- For Release: July 2, 1998
U.S. District Judge Finds Couple in Violation of 1996 FTC Order
Defendants in Office Supply Scheme Banned from Telemarketing and Ordered to Pay More than $2 Million for Consumer Redress
July 1, 1998
- FOR RELEASE: July 1, 1998
FTC Sues to Prevent Sale of Franchise Promoting "U.S. Consumer Protection Agency" Business Opportunity
While it’s been said that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, the Federal Trade Commission announced that it has sought a permanent injunction in federal District Court to stop the sale over the Internet of a franchise promoting sales to "... individuals interested in owning and operating a local agency" -- the U.S. Consumer Protection Agency (USCPA).
- FOR RELEASE: July 1, 1998
Better Business Bureau Copycat Settles FTC Charges;Sham Organization Shilled For Bogus Business Opportunity Scheme
A defendant who used a sham better business bureau -- the National Bureau of Better Business, Inc. (NBBB) -- to promote a display rack business opportunity business that misrepresented earnings potential, availability of profitable locations and used phony references has agreed to settle FTC charges that he violated federal laws.