FTC Refunds | March-April 2021

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued several refund payments to consumers in March and April.

March

Fourth Round of J.K. Publications Refunds

Those who lost money in an illegal credit-card billing scam operated by J.K. Publications and others are receiving a fourth round of refund checks.

The FTC had sued J.K. Publications alleging the company charged consumers’ debit and credit cards for online entertainment services they neither ordered nor wanted.

A previous round of checks went out in November 2018, but because additional funds were recovered, the FTC is mailing an additional 187,664 checks worth more than a combined $3.2 million.

These checks are going to individuals who had cashed their previous check.

Questions on the J.K. Publications refunds may be directed to administrator Epiq Systems at 1-877-670-0862.

A1 Janitorial FTC Refunds

Small businesses that lost money in an office-supply scheme to a business using the names A-1 Janitorial, Target Supplies, Century Manufacturing, and CMC are receiving a second round of refunds.

The defendants had allegedly called businesses in the United States and Canada to offer a free sample of cleaning product or office supply, according to the FTC. They would then ship the sample and bill the business for the product’s full cost, even if the business did not accept the product.

Checks were initially mailed in December 2019, but money remained in the fund, so the FTC is mailing another 21, 775 checks that total more than $643,000.

Those with questions about this refund should call refund administrator JND Legal Administration at 1-844-908-0194.

University of Phoenix Settlement Payments

More than 147,000 University of Phoenix students are receiving payments totaling nearly $50 million.

The university’s advertising allegedly gave the false impression the school worked with companies such as Microsoft and AT&T to create job opportunities for students and tailored its curriculum for such jobs.

Students had to meet the following criteria to be eligible for a payment:

• First enrolled in a master’s, bachelor’s, or associate’s degree program at The University of Phoenix between Oct. 15, 2012, and Dec. 31, 2016
• Paid more than $5,000 with cash, grants, student loans, or military benefits
• Did not receive debt cancellation as part of the FTC’s settlement with the school 
• Did not opt out of the University of Phoenix providing their contact information to the FTC
• Was no longer enrolled at the university as of Jan. 8, 2020

Anyone with questions about their payment is advised to call the refund administrator, Rust Consulting, at 1-877-310-0487.

Fashion Nova FTC Refunds

More than 500,000 consumers are receiving FTC refunds thanks to a settlement between the agency and online fashion retailer Fashion Nova.

When Fashion Nova did not ship merchandise to consumers in a timely fashion, the FTC says, the company did not notify customers, offer an option to cancel the order, and illegally issued gift cards as compensation instead of providing refunds.

Those with questions may contact refund administrator Rust Consulting at 1-866-483-0376.

Next-Gen FTC Refunds

The FTC is sending refunds to more than 300,000 people who lost money in a deceptive sweepstakes and prize scheme by Next-Gen Inc., Opportunities Unlimited Publications Inc., and other companies.  

The FTC and state of Missouri sued the companies in February 2018, accusing them of sending deceptive sweepstakes and “game of skill” mailers to consumers throughout the United States and other countries.

The mailers allegedly promised cash prizes in exchange for a small fee; according to the FTC, many people paid the fee several times before they realized no prize was coming.

The defendants agreed to give up cash and assets worth about $30 million in order to settle the case.

April

Vision Solution Marketing FTC Refunds

Consumers who paid Vision Solution Marketing and other companies for alleged business coaching services will be receiving a second round of checks.

Allegedly, the people who paid for these services didn’t develop a functioning business, earned little money — if any — and often went into debt.

The first round of checks was sent out in July 2019, but because additional funds were recovered, the FTC is now sending an additional 1,068 checks worth nearly $1.3 million combined.

Questions should be directed to the refund administrator, Rust Consulting, at 1-877-456-1189.

ABCmouse FTC Refunds

More than 200,000 people will be receiving FTC refunds thanks to a settlement between the agency and Age of Learning Inc., the company responsible for ABCmouse, a children’s learning program.

The company allegedly did not make clear to users signing up for ABCmouse that certain memberships would be renewed automatically if they weren’t canceled.

The FTC claimed the company charged users for these renewals without consent and also made it difficult for them to cancel the memberships, leading to additional charges.

Those who will be receiving a payment have been notified by email.

Anyone with questions regarding these payments may call refund administrator Rust Consulting at 1-800-351-7154.

Stark Law Refunds

Nearly 11,000 people who lost money to a phantom debt collection scheme will be receiving payments from the FTC and the Office of the Illinois Attorney General.

The debt collectors used several business names, including Stark Law, Stark Recovery, Capital Harris Miller, and CHM Capital Group.

The collectors targeted people who had applied for payday loans or short-term loans and issued threats pressuring them into paying fake debts, according to the FTC and the Illinois attorney general.

Questions may be directed to refund administrator Epiq at 1-800-858-3430.

American Student Loan Consolidators FTC Refunds

The FTC is sending a second round of payments to consumers who lost money in a student loan debt relief scam.

American Student Loan Consolidators, United Processing Center, and other defendants allegedly falsely promised to forgive student loans, lower students’ monthly payments, and reduce their interest rates. 

According to the FTC, the defendants pretended they were affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or loan servicers, leading people to pay hundreds in illegal upfront fees for student loan help.

A first round of payments was sent out in July 2020. Money remained in the fund, so an additional 20,743 checks totaling more than $462,000 are being mailed

Those with questions regarding this refund program are advised to call Rust Consulting, the refund administrator, at 1-877-251-1450.

E.M. Systems and Services FTC Refunds

Consumers who lost money in a credit card interest rate reduction scheme will be receiving full refunds from the FTC.

E.M. Systems & Services and its affiliates operated the alleged scheme, using fake business names to call people with credit card debt and make false promises about saving them thousands of dollars by reducing their interest rates, according to the FTC.

The company allegedly charged illegal upfront fees ranging from about $695 to $1,495, then failed to deliver the promised results.

The full refunds total more than $11 million.

Contact refund administrator Epiq at 1-800-239-6082 with questions.

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