News Releases for February 2004
February 27, 2004
- For Release: February 27, 2004
FTC Releases Staff Report on Mortgage Broker Compensation Disclosures
On October 28, 2002, the Federal Trade Commission staff submitted comments to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) on its July 2002 Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) reform proposal.
February 26, 2004
- For Your Information: February 26, 2004
Announced Action for February 26, 2004
FTC staff participating in antitrust and consumer protection symposium: Several FTC staff members will be participating in the 2004 Antitrust and Consumer Protection Symposium, which is being sponsored by the George Mason University Law Review and will be held on March 2, 2004, at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, DC.
February 25, 2004
- For Release: February 25, 2004
Canadian Company Settles FTC Charges that it Offered Bogus Cancer Therapy to U.S. Citizens
CSCT, Inc., John Armstrong, and Michael Reynolds, defendants in a bogus cancer cure lawsuit, are banned from marketing and selling their cancer treatment as part of a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission.
February 24, 2004
- For Release: February 24, 2004
Initial Decision Released in Rambus Case
Judge Dismisses Complaint Alleging Company Violated Antitrust Laws
- For Your Information: February 24, 2004
Announced Action for February 24, 2004
The Commission has approved the filing of an amicus brief in Willes v. State Farm Fire and Casualty Co., et al. No 03-35848 (9th Cir.).
- For Release: February 24, 2004
FTC Testifies on its Efforts to Combat Unfair and Deceptive Subprime Lending
The Federal Trade Commission has been working to protect consumers from illegal lending practices through enforcement actions and consumer education, Howard Beales, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, told the Senate Special Committee on Aging.
February 23, 2004
- For Your Information: February 23, 2004
Announced Action for February 23, 2004
The Federal Trade Commission has issued a Request for Information (RFI) seeking technical information that could assist in creating a plan and timetable for establishing a National Do Not E-mail Registry as called for by the Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited Pornography and Marketing Act of 2003 (the CAN-SPAM Act).
- For Release: February 23, 2004
Nancy Ness Judy Named FTC’s Public Affairs Director
Federal Trade Commission Chairman Timothy J. Muris has named Nancy Ness Judy the new Director of the agency’s Office of Public Affairs.
- For Release: February 23, 2004
FTC Announces Results of Inspection of Canton, Ohio Area Funeral Homes For Compliance with Consumer Protection Laws
The Federal Trade Commission staff today announced the results of a sweep of 12 funeral homes in the Canton, Ohio area to test for compliance with the FTC’s Funeral Rule.
February 19, 2004
- For Release: February 19, 2004
FTC Commissioner Orson Swindle Receives 2004 Privacy Leadership Award
Commissioner's Proactive Advocacy and Work with Private Industry Cited
- For Release: February 19, 2004
RHI AG to Pay $650,000 Civil Penalty and Perform Asbestos Cleanup to Settle FTC Order Violation Charges
The Federal Trade Commission today announced a settlement with RHI AG (RHI) to resolve charges that RHI has violated provisions of an FTC order issued in 2001.
February 18, 2004
- For Your Information: February 18, 2004
Announced Action for February 18, 2004
The Commission has approved the publication of a Federal Register notice concerning the rule on prohibition against circumventing treatment as a nationwide consumer reporting agency (nationwide CRA).
- For Release: February 18, 2004
UMG Recordings, Inc. to Pay $400,000, Bonzi Software, Inc. To Pay $75,000 to Settle COPPA Civil Penalty Charges
Settlements Address the Rule's "Actual Knowledge" Standard
- For Release: February 18, 2004
FTC To Host Spyware Workshop
The Federal Trade Commission will host a public workshop, “Monitoring Software on Your PC: Spyware, Adware, and Other Software,” on April 19, 2004, from 8:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m.
February 17, 2004
- For Release: February 17, 2004
Administrative Law Judge Dismisses FTC Complaint Against Rambus
Chief Administrative Law Judge Stephen J. McGuire today issued his initial decision and order in the matter of Rambus, Inc.
- For Release: February 17, 2004
Appeals Court Upholds Constitutionality of National Do Not Call Registry
The Tenth Circuit’s ruling represents a major victory for American consumers.
- PARA SU DIFUSIÓN: February 17, 2004
La Corte De Apelaciones Dictamina A Favor De La Constitucionalidad Del Registro Nacional No Llame
Appeals Court Upholds Constitutionality Of National Do Not Call Registry
- For Your Information: February 17, 2004
Announced Actions for February 17, 2004
The Commission has authorized the staff to file a consent order resolving the current court action against defendant Shaun Melville (FTC v. Abraham), EDCV 03-0030 VAP (SGLx) (C.D. Cal. 2003). The FTC has approved the release of the Commission’s Sunshine Act Report for 2002.
February 13, 2004
- For Release: February 13, 2004
Compliance with Do Not Call Registry Exceptional
Over 55 Million Telephone Numbers Registered - Only 150,000 Complaints in 2003
- For Your Information: February 13, 2004
Announced Action for February 13, 2004
Commission authorization of the staff to file amended complaint: The Commission has authorized the staff to file an amended complaint in the matter currently pending against Assail, Inc., et al.
- For Release: February 13, 2004
FTC Challenges Bogus Debt Negotiation Service
The Federal Trade Commission has charged two debt negotiation companies and their principals with violating federal law.
February 12, 2004
- For Release: February 12, 2004
Sham Site Is a Scam: There Is No “National Do Not E-mail Registry”
Have you submitted your e-mail address to a “National Do Not E-mail Registry” that promises to reduce the amount of spam (unsolicited e-mail) you receive?
February 11, 2004
- For Release: February 11, 2004
FTC Closes Its Investigation Into Caremark Rx’s Proposed Acquisition of Advance PCS
Transaction Involves Two U.S. Providers of Prescription Benefit Management Services
- For Release: February 11, 2004
“Playstation 2 Spammers” Settle with FTC
Court Orders End to Spam Scam that Exposed Consumers to Graphic Adult Content
- For Release: February 11, 2004
FTC/DOJ to Host Joint Workshop on Merger Enforcement
Three-day Public Event Scheduled for February 17-19 in Washington, DC
- For Release: February 11, 2004
FTC Sues Electronic Payment Processors for Facilitating Fraudulent Telemarketing Schemes
The Federal Trade Commission has filed a complaint in U.S. district court charging First
American Payment Processing, Inc., CET Corp., and Check Processing Center, LLC, and their
principals with providing assistance to fraudulent telemarketers.
- For Release: February 11, 2004
FTC Issues Consumer Publication on Charity Scams
The Federal Trade Commission has issued a new consumer publication, “Charitable Donations: Give or Take?”, advising consumers on how to avoid potential charity scams.
February 10, 2004
- For Release: February 10, 2004
FTC Seeks Public Comment on Proposed Amendment of Telemarketing Sales Rule
Proposal Would Require Monthly, Rather Than Quarterly, List "Scrubbing"
- For Release: February 10, 2004
FTC Challenges Hospital Merger That Allegedly Led to Anticompetitive Price Increases
The Federal Trade Commission today issued an antitrust complaint against a corporation - which owns a system of hospitals in Cook and Lake counties, Illinois - that acquired a nearby hospital and shortly thereafter imposed allegedly anticompetitive price increases.
February 9, 2004
- For Release: February 9, 2004
San Francisco’s Brown & Toland Medical Group Settles FTC Price Fixing Charges
San Francisco-based Brown & Toland Medical Group, which was sued by the Federal Trade Commission for allegedly fixing the prices and terms under which its doctors would contract with payors to provide services for preferred provider organization (PPO) enrollees, has agreed to settle charges that its business practices violated federal antitrust laws.
February 5, 2004
- For Your Information: February 6, 2004
Announced Actions for February 6, 2004
Commission approval of amicus brief filing: The Commission has approved the filing of an amicus brief jointly with the U.S. Department of Justice in the matter concerning Hoffmann-LaRoche, Ltd. v. Empagran S.A., No. 03-724 (S. Ct.);: Withdrawal of petition to reopen and set aside consent order: On February 5, 2004, Sasol North America Inc., formerly named Vista Chemical Company and CONDEA Vista Company, withdrew its petition to reopen and set aside consent order in the matter of Alpha Acquisition Corp., et al.
February 4, 2004
- For Your Information: February 4, 2004
Announced Action for February 4, 2004
Publication of Federal Register notice: The Commission has approved joint final rules with the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, setting effective dates for provisions of the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003 (FACTA), as required by law.
- For Release: February 4, 2004
The “Skinny Pills” Do Not Make You Skinny, Says the FTC
Marketers of the Skinny Pill Settle FTC Charges That They Made False and Unsubstantiated Weight-Loss Claims
- For Release: February 4, 2004
FTC Announces Results of Inspection of Northern Houston Metropolitan Area Funeral Homes for Compliance with Consumer Protection Laws
The Federal Trade Commission staff today announced the results of a sweep of 10 funeral homes in the Northern Houston Metropolitan Area and Montgomery County to test for compliance with the FTC’s Funeral Rule.
February 3, 2004
- For Your Information: February 3, 2004
Announced Actions for February 3, 2004
The Commission has approved the following documents and forwarded a copy of each to Congress: 1) the FTC’s FY 2005 Budget Overview Statement; 2) the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) Performance Plans for 2004 and 2005; and 3) an Update of the President’s Management Agenda Exhibit. Following a public comment period, the Commission has approved a final consent order with America Online, Inc. and its subsidiary, CompuServe Interactive Services, Inc., settling charges that they engaged in two separate unfair practices. Following a public comment period, the Commission has approved a final consent order in the matter concerning Tenet Healthcare Corporation and Frye Regional Medical Center, Inc.’s participation in a matter involving Piedmont Health Alliance. The Commission has approved a stipulated final consent order in settlement of charges filed against Leslie Anderson through “Operation Protection Deception” in 2000.
February 2, 2004
- For Release: February 2, 2004
FTC Issues Horizontal Merger Investigation Data
The Federal Trade Commission today released a staff analysis of horizontal merger investigations for fiscal years 1996 to 2003.
- For Release: February 2, 2004
Phoney Location Service Provider Settles FTC Charges
Defendants Banned From Selling Business Opportunity Location Services
- For Release: February 2, 2004
Subprime Loan Victims to Receive Additional Redress
First Alliance Borrowers to Receive Another Round of Checks, Bringing Total Consumer Redress to $65 Million
- For Release: February 2, 2004
FTC Charges Arizona Firm With Misleading and Threatening Consumers in Pitch to "Protect" Their Personal Information
Defendants Allegedly Violated FTC Act and Telemarketing Sales Rule