AGO News Releases With Topic: Consumer Protection

OLYMPIA — In light of his office’s investigation into an addiction treatment marketing company, Attorney General Bob Ferguson is urging Washingtonians to be aware of marketing websites that pose as neutral sources of information about addiction treatment facilities.

Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced today that Denver-based collection agency Machol & Johannes must return approximately $475,000 to as many as 5,000 Washington consumers, and forgive up to $250,000 in fees and costs for hundreds more to resolve Ferguson’s lawsuit over the company’s unlawful debt collection practices. In addition, the debt collector will pay $414,000 to the Attorney General’s Office to cover the costs of the investigation.

Attorney General Bob Ferguson filed a lawsuit against Landmark Technology A for its predatory “patent troll” practices that harm small businesses. Landmark unlawfully sent threatening letters in bad faith to over a thousand small businesses nationwide. In the letters, it demanded $65,000 in patent licensing fees. When five Washington small businesses refused to pay, Landmark sued them. The businesses settled to avoid the expense of a lawsuit.

OLYMPIA — Attorney General Bob Ferguson urges consumers to be on the lookout for websites posing as the state’s health insurance marketplace.

СИЭТЛ — Генеральный прокурор Боб Фергюсон (Bob Ferguson) сегодня подал иск о защите прав потребителей против клининговой компании Нэшнл Мэйтенанс Контракторз (National Maintenance Contractors). Компания Нэшнл пользовалась услугами иммигрантов с ограниченным знанием английского языка и обещала им собственный независимый бизнес. К сожалению, в действительности компания Нэшнл предлагала своим франчайзи контракты, по которым они часто получали меньше минимальной заработной платы, платили завышенные взносы и практически не имели возможности защитить свои права.

SEATTLE. El Procurador General Bob Ferguson ha presentado hoy una demanda de protección al consumidor contra la empresa de servicios de limpieza National Maintenance Contractors. National se aprovechó de los inmigrantes con un dominio limitado del inglés y les prometió la independencia de ser dueño de su propio negocio. Lamentablemente, en realidad, National sometía a sus franquiciados a contratos que, a menudo, los permitían ganar menos del salario mínimo, pagando tarifas exorbitantes y con poca capacidad para defenderse.

SEATTLE — Attorney General Bob Ferguson today filed a consumer protection lawsuit against janitorial services company National Maintenance Contractors. National took advantage of immigrants with limited English proficiency and promised them the independence of business ownership. Unfortunately, in reality, National locked its franchisees into contracts that often left them earning less than minimum wage, paying exorbitant fees, and with little ability to advocate for themselves.

Following trial in Attorney General Bob Ferguson’s lawsuit against CLA Estate Services, Inc. and CLA USA, Inc., a King County Superior Court judge ruled that the companies must pay a total of more than $6.1 million plus 12 percent annual interest to 1,100 Washington seniors for misleading them about estate planning and other deceptive conduct. The company must also pay $6.5 million in civil penalties, which by law will go to the state general fund. The court also ruled that CLA must pay the Attorney General’s Office more than $1.8 million in attorney’s costs and fees.

Continuing his Honest Fees Initiative, Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced today that Bothell-based TV and broadband internet provider Wave will pay $900,000 to more than 23,000 customers who ordered the company’s services online. Wave failed to adequately disclose taxes and fees added to their bills, and did not clearly disclose its fees on some of its advertising.

Attorney General Bob Ferguson today announced that, as a result of his lawsuit, Seattle-based ticketing company Brown Paper Tickets must fully refund all consumers who purchased tickets to canceled events, and pay all money it owes to organizers of past events. An estimated 45,000 event organizers and ticket purchasers nationwide, and internationally, will receive a total of approximately $9 million from today’s resolution. The company is also required to pay the Attorney General’s Office $70,000 for attorney’s costs and fees.