FTC, Florida Attorney General Sue Chargebacks911 for Thwarting Consumers Who Were Trying to Reverse Disputed Credit Card Charges

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The Federal Trade Commission and the State of Florida have filed suit against Chargebacks911 for unfairly thwarting consumers who were trying to dispute credit card charges through the chargeback process.

In a complaint filed in federal court, the FTC and Florida charged that, since at least 2016, the “chargeback mitigation” company and its owners, Gary Cardone and Monica Eaton Cardone, have used multiple unfair techniques to prevent consumers from successfully winning chargeback disputes.

“Chargebacks911 helped scammers stay in business and defeat chargeback attempts by consumers hit with fraudulent charges,” said Samuel Levine, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “The FTC will continue to take aggressive action against those who undermine consumers’ ability to exercise their rights.”

The chargeback process is a key protection for consumers who wish to contest unwanted, fraudulent, or incorrect credit card charges When a consumer sees a charge they did not authorize, or for which the promised goods of services didn’t arrive, they can dispute the charge with their credit card company. The company then contacts the merchant’s credit card company for information and determines whether to reverse the charge.

According to the complaint, Chargebacks911 has regularly sent screenshots on behalf of their clients to credit card companies that supposedly show that consumers had agreed to the disputed charges—often recurring monthly subscription charges. The complaint notes that, in many instances, these screenshots have not actually been from the website where consumers made the disputed purchases and that the company ignored clear warning signs the website screenshots were misleading.

A screenshot sent by Chargebacks911 and a screenshot of the site actually used by the consumer; both images from the complaint.

The complaint also charges that Chargebacks911 used a system called Value Added Promotions (VAP), which allowed the company’s clients to run numerous small-dollar transactions via prepaid debit cards. By doing so, clients could raise their total number of transactions, lowering the percentage of their charges that were disputed by consumers. The percentage of chargebacks a company faces plays a role in the level of scrutiny a company receives from credit card companies; a higher percentage will likely lead to more scrutiny.

In the complaint, the FTC and Florida note that Chargebacks911 served numerous companies that the FTC has sued for deceiving consumers, including Apex Capital, F9 Advertising, and AH Media. The complaint notes that Chargebacks911 disputed tens of thousands of chargebacks on behalf of each of those companies.

There were many instances, according to the complaint, where Chargebacks911 submitted screenshots of websites on behalf of Apex Capital and AH Media where the name of the product on the sites in the screenshots did not even match the brand name of the product for the disputed purchase. According to the complaint, Chargebacks911 regularly overlooked other suspicious behaviors from their clients, including when clients used a large number of different merchant accounts to process charges.

The FTC and Florida allege that Chargebacks911, Gary Cardone, and Monica Eaton Cardone are violating both the FTC Act and the Florida Unfair and Deceptive Trade Practices Act, and are asking the court to stop the defendants’ illegal activities and order monetary relief, including compensation for consumers and civil penalties.  

The Commission vote authorizing the staff to file the complaint was 3-0-1, with then-Commissioner Christine S. Wilson recorded as not voting. The vote on this matter closed on March 29, 2023, prior to Commissioner Wilson’s departure from the Commission. The complaint was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida.

NOTE: The Commission files a complaint when it has “reason to believe” that the named defendants are violating or are about to violate the law and it appears to the Commission that a proceeding is in the public interest. The case will be decided by the court.

The FTC staff attorneys on this matter are Evan Rose and Bobbi Tonelli of the FTC’s Western Region San Francisco.

Official news published at https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2023/04/ftc-florida-attorney-general-sue-chargebacks911-thwarting-consumers-who-were-trying-reverse-disputed

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ARuVR Becomes First XR Platform to Be Awarded ‘Accredited’ Provider Status by LPI

- ARuVR® awarded 'Accredited Learning Technologies' provider status for its enterprise-grade Extended Reality (XR) training platform - LPI recognises ARuVR® as forerunner in rapidly growing XR industry

ARuVR®, a multi-award-winning end-to-end Extended Reality (XR) training platform for enterprises, today announced that it has been awarded the status of Accredited Learning Technologies Provider by the LPI (Learning and Performance Institute), the leading global authority on workplace learning and development.

ARuVR® counts Coca-Cola, BT, Royal Air Force, Five Guys, ScotRail, NEOM, Amazon, and PWC among a rapidly growing international customer base and is the first and only XR provider on both the UK Government's CCS digital outcomes and specialists framework, and Crown G-Cloud-approved supplier lists. ARuVR® enables organisations to quickly and easily leverage the location-agnostic convenience and results-driven benefits of XR (Virtual and Augmented Reality) all from a single platform, to create and deliver immersive training programmes. 

ARuVR®'s LPI Accredited Learning Technologies Provider status recognises the company's dedication to high quality and process improvement in providing learning, development, and training services to clients. This accreditation covers the Extended, Augmented and Virtual Reality products and professional services supplied by ARuVR® to their clients on a worldwide basis. ARuVR® followed a rigorous and in-depth process and was assessed on several key performance indicators, including business integrity, client value proposition, delivery capability, quality and performance management, people development, and business stability. ARuVR®'s overall KPI score was near an outstanding 100% across all sections.

Edmund Monk, CEO of the LPI, said: "We have extremely high standards for accreditation, and we are proud to commend ARuVR on their achievement. We work with our accredited organisations to ensure that they not only meet our standards but that they continue to improve. This way, organisations can be confident that they are working with the best." 

The LPI is the foremost accreditation and membership body for the learning and development profession with a global reputation. The accreditation process employs a highly robust framework, developed over many years by learning experts and validated by data from thousands of organisations to measure, benchmark and improve the capability and performance of learning professionals and learning providers.

Frank Furnari, CEO & Founder, ARuVR®, said: "As the market for XR training solutions grows exponentially, we are delighted to be the first in the sector to achieve accreditation status by the LPI. We are committed to providing our global clients with not only the highest levels of quality and service but also to bring AR and VR to the training industry, in a way in which any organisation can embrace and benefit from."

Contact Information:
Andrew Durkin
Director
andrew@mustardpr.com
0044 7887998407


Original Source: ARuVR Becomes First XR Platform to Be Awarded 'Accredited' Provider Status by LPI

Keen’s Buildings Extends Partnership With RJ Hampshire for the 2023 Pro Motocross Season

"RJ is an incredibly talented rider, and we have no doubt that he has what it takes to bring home the championship this year," Keen stated.

Keen’s Buildings Extends Partnership With RJ Hampshire for the 2023 Pro Motocross Season
RJ Hampshire #24

RJ Hampshire, Kicking off the 2023 Pro Motocross Championship Season with Keens Buildings and the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team

Keen's Buildings, a leading provider of high-quality storage solutions, is thrilled to announce the extension of their partnership with RJ Hampshire #24 for the upcoming 2023 Pro Motocross Championship season. RJ Hampshire, an accomplished rider representing the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team, has proven to be an outstanding brand ambassador for Keen's Buildings.

Kevin Keen, CEO of Keen's Buildings, expressed his excitement about the continued collaboration with RJ Hampshire. "We are excited to extend our partnership with RJ for the 2023 Pro Motocross season," said Keen. "RJ has been an incredible asset to our brand, and we are confident in his abilities to excel on the track."

As a prominent figure in the motocross industry, RJ Hampshire has showcased immense talent, determination, and sportsmanship throughout his career. His achievements on the track and his dedication to his craft align perfectly with Keen's Buildings' values and commitment to excellence.

The partnership between Keen's Buildings and RJ Hampshire has proven to be mutually beneficial. It not only highlights the shared passion for motorsports but also underscores the importance of quality, durability, and reliability - qualities that both Keen's Buildings and RJ Hampshire embody.

With the 2023 Pro Motocross season on the horizon, Keen's Buildings and RJ Hampshire are eager to pursue their shared goal of championship success. Kevin Keen has expressed his confidence in RJ's abilities and believes that "RJ is an incredibly talented rider, and we have no doubt that he has what it takes to bring home the championship this year," Keen stated.

The 2023 Pro Motocross Championship, Race Schedule kicks off tomorrow, May 27, 2003, at the Fox Raceway in Pala, CA.

The extended partnership between Keen's Buildings and RJ Hampshire signifies the continued commitment to excellence and the shared vision of pushing boundaries and achieving greatness in the world of motocross.

About Keen's Buildings:

Keen's Buildings is a trusted provider of high-quality storage sheds, metal garages, carports and steel buildings, offering customized solutions to meet diverse storage needs. With over 75,000 installs and an unwavering commitment to craftsmanship, durability, and customer satisfaction, Keen's Buildings has established itself as a leading name in the industry.

About RJ Hampshire:

RJ Hampshire, representing the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team, is a highly talented and respected motocross athlete. With an impressive track record and a relentless drive for success, RJ has established himself as a prominent figure in the sport.

Contact Information:
Craig Heineman
Marketing
craigh@keensbuildings.com
(386) 364-7995


Original Source: Keen's Buildings Extends Partnership With RJ Hampshire for the 2023 Pro Motocross Season
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