Bondi
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Legal Newsline) - Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi has announced an agreement with an Illinois-based club membership promotional company that allegedly failed to inform consumers of membership agreement terms.
United Marketing Group offers discounts or gift cards to consumers after they make a purchase online or in response to an advertisement on television. Consumers accepting the offers often do not realize that they will then be enrolled in membership clubs with recurring fees.
Under the terms of the assurance of voluntary compliance, United Marketing Group must make clear in its promotional materials that accepting promotional offers from the company may lead to consumers becoming enrolled in membership clubs.
In addition, the company may not tell consumers seeking refunds that refunds are not available. The company is subject to further civil penalties and sanctions if it violates the agreement in the future. Additionally, for two years after the agreement becomes effective, United Marketing Group must maintain copies of any complaints from Florida residents and must provide them to Bondi upon request.
United Marketing Group does not admit any violations of Florida law in the agreement.