Delaware News

Yellow Pages, Inc. agrees to halt deceptive trade practices

Criminal Division | Department of Justice | Department of Justice Press Releases | Fraud | Date Posted: Wednesday, April 26, 2006



(Wilmington, DE): Attorney General Carl C. Danberg has joined with twenty-six other states in reaching a settlement agreement with Yellow Pages, Inc, Electronic Directories Company, LLC and John Wurth to stop their deceptive practices in connection with the use of check solicitations and renewal notices. The States investigated complaints that Yellow Pages, doing business as YellowPagesInc.com, sent solicitations to consumers in the form of a check described as an instant cash back offer but did not adequately disclose that by cashing the check, consumers were contracting for services. Yellow Pages then engaged in aggressive collection efforts against consumers that cashed the checks which resulted in many consumers paying for services they never intended to order.

As a result of the settlement, Yellow Pages will permanently cease all collection efforts arising out of the check solicitation program and will refrain from using solicitations in the form of checks obligating consumer to pay for goods or services if the check is deposited or cashed. Contracts for consumers who cashed checks but did not pay for any services are deemed canceled and consumers will not be billed. In Delaware, 311 companies and non-profit organizations will have their contracts cancelled and will not receive additional billings.

In addition, Yellow Pages will refund payments made by consumers who paid for services they did not want after receiving collection notices. , or any third party collect In Delaware, 146 companies and non-profits may be entitled to refunds averaging $179. If you believe that your company or non-profit organization may be entitled to a refund, please call the Attorney Generals Consumer Protection Unit at 800-220-5424 or 302-577-8600 for more information on how to file a complaint. Only complaints received by June 16 can be considered for a refund, so please call as soon as possible.

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Yellow Pages, Inc. agrees to halt deceptive trade practices

Criminal Division | Department of Justice | Department of Justice Press Releases | Fraud | Date Posted: Wednesday, April 26, 2006



(Wilmington, DE): Attorney General Carl C. Danberg has joined with twenty-six other states in reaching a settlement agreement with Yellow Pages, Inc, Electronic Directories Company, LLC and John Wurth to stop their deceptive practices in connection with the use of check solicitations and renewal notices. The States investigated complaints that Yellow Pages, doing business as YellowPagesInc.com, sent solicitations to consumers in the form of a check described as an instant cash back offer but did not adequately disclose that by cashing the check, consumers were contracting for services. Yellow Pages then engaged in aggressive collection efforts against consumers that cashed the checks which resulted in many consumers paying for services they never intended to order.

As a result of the settlement, Yellow Pages will permanently cease all collection efforts arising out of the check solicitation program and will refrain from using solicitations in the form of checks obligating consumer to pay for goods or services if the check is deposited or cashed. Contracts for consumers who cashed checks but did not pay for any services are deemed canceled and consumers will not be billed. In Delaware, 311 companies and non-profit organizations will have their contracts cancelled and will not receive additional billings.

In addition, Yellow Pages will refund payments made by consumers who paid for services they did not want after receiving collection notices. , or any third party collect In Delaware, 146 companies and non-profits may be entitled to refunds averaging $179. If you believe that your company or non-profit organization may be entitled to a refund, please call the Attorney Generals Consumer Protection Unit at 800-220-5424 or 302-577-8600 for more information on how to file a complaint. Only complaints received by June 16 can be considered for a refund, so please call as soon as possible.

# # #

image_printPrint


Graphic that represents delaware news on a mobile phone

Keep up to date by receiving a daily digest email, around noon, of current news release posts from state agencies on news.delaware.gov.

Here you can subscribe to future news updates.