Important Settlement Information
- DeVry University
- Amazon Refunds
- Trudeau Refunds
- Amer. Business Builders
- Nopalea Refunds
- Dolce Refunds
FTC RETURNS MORE THAN $49 MILLION TO DEVRY STUDENTS
The FTC’s settlement with DeVry included $49.4 million to provide partial refunds to eligible students. Checks were mailed on July 5, 2017.
According to the FTC, DeVry’s advertisements made deceptive claims about the likelihood that graduates would find jobs in their fields and earn more after graduation than those graduating with bachelor’s degrees from other colleges or universities.
Here are FAQs about the refund program:
Who was eligible for a refund?
To be eligible, a student had to meet all four of the following conditions:
- You enrolled in a bachelor’s or associate’s degree program at DeVry University between January 1, 2008 and October 1, 2015.
- You paid at least $5,000 with cash, loans or military benefits.
- You did not get debt or loan forgiveness as part of this settlement.
- You completed at least one class credit.
Why didn’t I get all my money back?
The check you received is your share of the settlement between the FTC and DeVry University. Please be aware that accepting this payment does not prevent you from seeking other relief that may be available under federal or state law.
Do I need to pay anything to get a refund?
Absolutely not. The FTC never asks you to pay money to file a claim or get a refund. Don’t pay anyone who promises you an FTC refund in exchange for a fee. If you received a DeVry settlement check, you can cash or deposit it immediately.
Where can I get more information?
For the latest information about refunds, you can:
- View ftc.gov/devry and check the site regularly.
- Call the refund administrator at the Federal Trade Commission, 844-578-2645.
AMAZON WILL REFUND IN-APP PURCHASES MADE BY KIDS
May 2017
Amazon is sending emails to notify customers who may be eligible for refunds.
Amazon didn’t require a password for in-app purchases, which allowed children to spend hundreds of dollars playing “free” games by buying virtual goods—like coins, stars, and pet food—without their parents’ permission. A federal court found Amazon liable for these charges and ordered the company to provide refunds.
Who is eligible for a refund?
If a child under 18 made in-app purchases without your permission between November 2011 and May 2016, you can apply for a refund.
How do I apply for a refund?
Amazon is sending emails to people who may be eligible. To apply for a refund, use the link in the email, visit this Amazon webpage(link is external), or log on to your Amazon account and look in the Message Center under “Important Messages.” The deadline to apply is May 28, 2018.
Who will get the email?
People who had in-app purchases added to their Amazon accounts between November 2011 and May 2016. If a child made these purchases without your permission, follow the instructions in the email or use this Amazon webpage(link is external) to apply for a refund.
What happens next?
Amazon will review your request and may contact you for additional information if necessary. If your request is approved, you will be refunded for the unauthorized charges that were added to your account. If you have questions about your refund request, you can contact Amazon at 866-216-1072.
CONSUMER INFORMATION
BUSINESS INFORMATION
Refunds for The Weight Loss Cure by Kevin Trudeau
August 2017
PRODUCTS: The Weight Loss Cure “They” Don’t Want You To Know About
FTC SENDS REFUNDS TO PEOPLE WHO BOUGHT KEVIN TRUDEAU’S BOOK
The FTC is mailing a second round of checks to people who bought Kevin Trudeau’s book The Weight Loss Cure “They” Don’t Want You To Know About. The FTC sued Kevin Trudeau for making false claims in infomercials about his book. The Court ruled that Mr. Trudeau broke the law and ordered him to repay people who bought the book through an infomercial.
The first round of checks mailed in June 2016.
If you received a check, please cash or deposit it within 60 days.
If you have any questions about the case, please call the FTC hotline at 1-844-828-4437.
CONSUMER INFORMATION
Blog Post: Refunds for Kevin Trudeau’s victims
Frequently Asked Questions About Refunds in the Kevin Trudeau Case
Weighing the Claims in Diet Ads
FTC RETURNS MONEY TO VICTIMS OF BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY SCHEME
The FTC is mailing 2,711 checks totaling more than $372,000 to people who paid money for a business opportunity that promised them substantial income for providing payment processing services, credit card terminals, and merchant cash advances to small businesses.
Under a settlement with the FTC, the defendants—which include American Business Builders, ENF, Network Market Solutions, UMS Group, United Merchant Services, Universal Marketing and Training, and Unlimited Training Services—are banned from selling business and work-at-home opportunities and related services.
If you get a check, please cash or deposit it within 60 days. If you have questions about the case, contact the FTC’s refund administrator at 800-373-9651.
CONSUMER INFORMATION
Blog: A “work at home” scheme that didn’t work
Business Opportunity Scams
BUSINESS INFORMATION
Franchises, Business Opportunities, and Investments
PRODUCTS: Diet supplements
FTC SENDS REFUNDS TO PEOPLE WHO BOUGHT NOPALEA
The FTC is mailing a second round of checks to people who bought Nopalea, a cactus-based fruit drink. TriVita Inc., the company that marketed Nopalea, claimed that the drink would treat a variety of health problems, but didn’t have scientific evidence to back up its claims.
The first round of checks mailed in May 2015. Because money still remains in the fund, the FTC is mailing an additional 58,000 checks totaling more than $791,000.
If you get a check, please cash it within 60 days. If you have questions about the case, you can call the FTC hotline at 1-888-289-0252.
CONSUMER INFORMATION
BUSINESS INFORMATION
July 2017
PRODUCTS: Auto Service “Warranties”
FTC PROVIDES REFUNDS AFTER AN AUTO WARRANTY ROBOCALL SCHEME
The FTC is mailing 5,970 refund checks totaling more than $4 million to people who were bombarded with illegal robocalls and tricked into paying thousands of dollars for bogus “extended auto warranties.” These refunds are the result of a lawsuit against Fereidoun “Fred” Khalilian and his company, The Dolce Group Worldwide, LLC.
According to the FTC, the defendants, doing business as My Car Solutions, led people to believe that the company was affiliated with auto dealers and manufacturers, and that it was offering to sell them extended auto warranties. In reality, no one received an actual warranty extension, and people who tried to get their money back found it nearly impossible.
If you have questions about the case, please call the refund administrator at 1-877-703-3427.
