Boston, MA (PRWEB) March 08, 2012
The leading consumer protection law firm of Gilman Law LLP, a national law firm dedicated to protecting the rights of consumers, announced a class action lawsuit filed in United States District Court in Colorado (Case No.: 12-00332). Gilman Law LLP is actively investigating claims and complaints involving discount membership clubs operated by Trilegiant Corporation, Inc. (TLG), Affinion Group, LLC, and their controlling owner Apollo Global Management, LLC (“Trilegiant”). Such discount membership clubs include:
LiveWell
Shoppers Advantage
Travelers Advantage
Great Fun!
Great Options
CompleteHome
Everyday Values
Everyday Privileges Gold
HealthSaver
Simply For Me
Privacy Guard
IdentitySecure
CardCops
PC Safety/Plus
Hot-Line
Car Vantage
Buyers Advantage
The charges for these membership clubs often appear on credit card or charge card statements in the form of “TLG*” followed by an abbreviation of the club. According to Gilman Law LLP, Trilegiant has been accused of colluding with numerous online merchants in an effort to sell memberships in the above named discount clubs. According to the complaints, consumers were induced into “joining” these clubs when they made purchases at websites operated by one or more of the following vendors:
1-800-Flowers.com, Inc.
United Online, Inc.
Memory Lane, Inc.
Classmates International, Inc.
FTD Group, Inc.
Days Inns Worldwide, Inc.
Wyndham Worldwide Corporation
PeopleFindersPro, Inc.
Beckett Media LLC
Buy.com, Inc.
Rakuten USA, Inc.
IAC/InterActiveCorp
Shoebuy.com, Inc
The complaint alleges that Trilegiant paid these reputable online retailers for customers’ billing information, including credit card and debit card numbers, through a process known as “data pass.” According to the complaint, Trilegiant also presented consumers with “Post Transaction Offers” on websites operated by the above named retailers, by which consumers were presented with a membership program that promised incentives such as upfront gifts and cash back rewards. Because of the position of these ads in the checkout process, consumers allege they generally believed they were required to complete the form in order to finish the transaction, or were simply completing part of their original transaction. Once consumers unknowingly enrolled in Trilegiants membership/club programs, they were allegedly subjected to a tactic known as a “Negative Option” by which their credit card was repeatedly charged each month until the consumer opted out. The lawsuit also includes consumers who have reported that Trilegiant used a number of tactics to avoid paying refunds for these unwanted memberships, including requiring consumers to submit their opt-out request in writing, or simply canceling the services without a refund.
In 2006, Trilegiant settled similar charges with attorneys general in sixteen (16) states (California Superior Court Case No.: GIC850483) involving the marketing of some of the same membership discount clubs named above via direct mail campaigns. Trilegiant was accused of failing to disclose that cashing a check for a nominal amount that accompanied the direct mailing would automatically enroll the consumer in the Membership Program. The consumers account was then charged automatic monthly fees until they affirmatively acted to cancel.
Under the agreement, Trilegiant was required to cease certain business practices, including offering “free” or “no obligation” trial memberships in the same membership/clubs listed above through direct mail solicitations. According to the complaint, it now appears that Trilegiant has since branched out to internet marketing, and is evading the 2006 settlements by engaging in the same and similar practices via internet transactions. See the attorney general settlement article.
The consumer protection lawyers at Gilman Law LLP are offering assistance to any consumer whose credit card has been assessed a membership fee for one of the above named discount clubs as a result of the marketing practices outlined here. Free case evaluations are available by calling Toll Free at (239) 221-8301, or by visiting the Trilegiant Membership Club Scam Website.
About Gilman Law LLP
The leading nationwide customer security fast Gilman Law LLP has been known for delivering lucrative results with their customers over a wide range of claims stemming from customer product injury, mass tort, plus class action lawsuits. For over 32 years, the Gilman Law LLP team of very experienced customer lawyers has earned renown for tireless function about behalf of their customers about countless of todays many challenging plus significant legal issues.