Refunds in rate reduction robocall scam

The Federal Trade Commission will mail 305 checks totaling $314,945 to consumers who paid up-front for worthless credit card interest rate reduction programs pitched by Payless Solutions using illegal robocalls. The complaint filed by the FTC and Florida Office of Attorney General, the Orlando-based defendants illegally called thousands of consumers nationwide—including many seniors—and claimed their program would save them at least $2,500 and enable them to pay off their debts more quickly. After convincing consumers to provide their credit card information, the defendants then charged between $300 and $4,999 up-front for their worthless service. The agencies also alleged that in some cases the defendants illegally charged consumers without their consent. The FTC is providing full refunds, which average more than $1,000 each, to consumers who lost money, as identified by the defendants’ records or by complaints the consumers filed with the FTC or any agency that submits complaints to the FTC’s Consumer Sentinel Network.