FTC refunds | November 2024

The Federal Trade Commission sent millions in FTC refunds to consumers harmed by deceptive business practices and other unlawful behavior.

Brigit refunds

The FTC returned more than $17 million to consumers who lost money after paying Brigit for instant cash advances.

Brigit allegedly promised consumers they could receive cash advances of up to $250 if they paid a monthly subscription fee. According to the FTC, the company provided less money than promised and made it difficult for consumers to cancel their subscriptions.

Brigit agreed to pay more than $17 million to resolve the FTC lawsuit. Using these funds, the commission sent 1,818,930 PayPal payments in November. 

Eligible consumers received an email in early to mid-November. Those who receive a PayPal payment should accept it within 30 days.

Consumers can direct additional questions about these refunds to Rust Consulting Inc. at 833-637-5800.

Equifax data breach settlement

The FTC sent payments related to a $425 million Equifax settlement in November, compensating consumers affected by the 2017 Equifax data breach.

The Equifax data breach compromised a massive amount of information and affected 147 million people around the world in September 2017. The FTC, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and state attorneys general filed lawsuits against Equifax, arguing it failed to properly protect consumer data.

Equifax agreed to pay $425 million as part of a settlement with the FTC, CFPB and 50 states. Some consumers received prepaid cards while others who already received a payment were sent additional payments. The settlement also provided free credit reporting and identity theft recovery benefits.

Consumers can direct additional questions about these refunds to JND Legal Administration at 833-759-2982.

Online Entrepreneur Academy refunds

Consumers who lost money to a business scheme called Online Entrepreneur Academy received FTC refunds in November to compensate them for their losses.

According to the FTC, the companies behind the scheme used illegal robocalls, texts, ads, social media posts and events to market their bogus business. Despite promises regarding the program’s efficacy, most consumers allegedly lost their entire investment.

The parties responsible for Online Entrepreneur Academy agreed to a settlement to resolve the FTC’s lawsuit. In November, the commission sent 1,353 payments totalling more than $84,000 to refund consumers who lost money to the scheme. The FTC previously sent $1.1 million in payments for a related scheme from the same defendants called 8 Figure Dream Lifestyle.

Individuals who receive a refund check should cash it within 90 days. Consumers who receive a PayPal payment should accept it within 30 days.

Consumers can direct additional questions about these refunds to JND Legal Administration at 888-691-3551.

Rejuvica Sobrenix refunds

The FTC returned more than $536,000 to consumers misled by Rejuvica’s promises that Sobrenix could reduce alcohol cravings.

The FTC claims Rejuvica made misleading claims about Sobrenix supplements by promising the products could reduce alcohol cravings and use. Despite extensive promotions to the contrary, Rejuvica allegedly lacked any scientific evidence to back up these claims.

Rejuvica agreed to a settlement to resolve these claims. Recently, the FTC used these settlement funds to send 56,686 refund checks totalling more than $536,000 to affected consumers.

Individuals who receive a refund check should cash it within 90 days.

Consumers can direct additional questions about these refunds to Analytics Consulting LLC at 844-716-5800.

BetterHelp settlement

Settlement checks are in the mail from a $7.8 million FTC settlement with BetterHelp to resolve claims the mental health provider shared consumer data without consent.

The FTC lawsuit claims BetterHelp shared private user data with Facebook, Snapchat, Pinterest and Criteo for advertising purposes without getting user consent. The company allegedly shared email addresses, IP addresses and personal answers to health questions.

BetterHelp agreed to pay $7.8 million to resolve the FTC lawsuit. The FTC’s settlement administrator began sending payments in June 2024 and continued through November.

Individuals who receive a refund check should cash it within 90 days. Consumers who receive a PayPal payment should accept it within 30 days.

Consumers can direct additional questions about these refunds to 833-637-4774.

DK Automation refunds

The FTC sent a second round of payments from a DK Automation settlement resolving claims the company operated a bogus business scheme.

According to the FTC, DK Automation and its owners made misleading income claims when marketing its online business. They claimed to create successful businesses on Amazon and Walmart but allegedly caused consumers to lose money.

DK Automation agreed to a settlement to resolve this FTC lawsuit. The commission sent initial payments in March 2024, returning more than $2.5 million to consumers. With remaining settlement funds, the FTC sent a second round of 771 payments totaling more than $282,000 to eligible consumers who accepted their first refund payments.

Individuals who receive a refund check should cash it within 90 days. Consumers who receive a PayPal payment should accept it within 30 days.

Consumers can direct additional questions about these refunds to Rust Consulting Inc. at 833-637-3833.

Life Management Services refunds

This November, the FTC sent a second round of refunds to consumers who lost money to Life Management Services’ debt relief schemes.

The FTC and Florida attorney general claimed Life Management Services bombarded consumers with illegal robocalls to promote its credit card interest rate reduction and debt relief schemes. These services allegedly promised to lower interest rates or eliminate debt but charged consumers large upfront fees and failed to provide any relief.

The FTC and the Florida attorney general secured summary judgement against Life Management Services, allowing consumers to receive refunds. The commission sent initial refunds in July 2023, which returned more than $365,000. With remaining settlement funds, it sent a second round of 2,633 payments in November that returned more than $152,000 to consumers who cashed their first check and paid more than $599 to the debt relief schemes.

Individuals who receive a refund check should cash it within 90 days. 

Consumers can direct additional questions about these refunds to JND Legal Administration at 877-381-0342.

Chaucer/Bates accessories refunds

Consumers received FTC refunds in November to compensate them for misleading Chaucer/Bates accessories that were allegedly mislabeled as “Made in USA.”

According to the FTC, Chaucer/Bates falsely advertised its accessories as “Made in USA” or “Hand Crafted in USA” when the products were imported or used mostly imported materials. Chaucer/Bates sells accessories under numerous brand names, including Chaucer Accessories, Chaucer Leather, Bates Accessories, Thomas Bates, TB Phelps, David Spencer Shoes, Custom Brand Footwear and Bates Retail Group.

Chaucer/Bates Accessories agreed to a settlement to resolve the FTC lawsuit. Using settlement funds, the FTC sent 4,061 payments totaling more than $143,000 to affected purchasers. 

Individuals who receive a refund check should cash it within 90 days. Consumers who receive a PayPal payment should accept it within 30 days.

Consumers can direct additional questions about these refunds to Epiq Systems at 877-817-1384.

Warrior Trading refunds

The FTC sent a second round of refund payments to consumers who paid for Warrior Trading’s investment programs and lost money.

The FTC lawsuit claimed Warrior Trading promised consumers its system was profitable, scalable and helpful to consumers in securing big investment gains. In reality, most customers allegedly lost money trading with Warrior Trading.

Warrior Trading agreed to a settlement to resolve the FTC lawsuit. The commission used settlement funds to send an initial round of payments in January 2023 that returned more than $2.4 million to consumers. In November, the FTC sent a second round of $17,121 payments totaling more than $410,000 to consumers who accepted their initial FTC payment.

Individuals who receive a refund check should cash it within 90 days. Consumers who receive a PayPal payment should accept it within 30 days.

Consumers can direct additional questions about these refunds to JND Legal Administration at 844-633-0694.

MyScore refunds

The FTC returned more than $1.9 million in refunds to consumers charged for credit monitoring services through certain programs promoted as free.

The FTC claimed the defendants placed fake rental ads and then told consumers to get free credit reports through MyScore, eFreeScore.com, CreditUpdates.com, FreeCreditNation.com and Credit Bureau Center LLC before seeing the properties. The companies then charged consumers who signed up for a free report a monthly subscription.

A federal judge found the defendants guilty of breaking the law and ordered them to pay money to the FTC, which returned these funds to consumers in November, sending 42,849 checks totalling nearly $1.9 million to eligible consumers.

Individuals who receive a refund check should cash it within 90 days.

Consumers can direct additional questions about these refunds to Simpluris at 844-804-5464.

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