Search Results for keywords:"Federal Trade Commission"

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has proposed a consent order to address alleged anticompetitive practices by the private equity firm Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe. The firm was accused of violating several federal laws by consolidating anesthesia services in Texas through its company, U.S. Anesthesia Partners, Inc., which led to increased prices. The proposed order seeks to limit Welsh Carson's influence over this company and requires them to obtain FTC approval for future acquisitions in anesthesia and related medical fields to prevent similar monopolistic behavior. The public has until March 20, 2025, to submit comments on this proposed consent order.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has introduced a final rule called the Rule on Unfair or Deceptive Fees. This rule aims to prevent businesses from misleading consumers about the prices of live-event tickets and short-term lodging. It requires businesses to clearly disclose the total price that includes all mandatory fees, to avoid bait-and-switch tactics that hide the real cost. The rule also prohibits businesses from lying about the nature, purpose, amount, or refundability of these fees, ensuring that consumers have a true understanding of the cost before making a purchase.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has reached a proposed consent agreement with Tapjoy, Inc. to resolve allegations of deceitful practices in its mobile gaming advertising platform. The FTC claims Tapjoy misled consumers by promoting false offers of in-app rewards that were often not delivered, causing harm to both gamers and game developers. The proposed order requires Tapjoy to prevent such deceptive practices by ensuring accurate reward representations and providing a clear method for consumers to report issues. The Commission has invited public comments on this proposal until February 12, 2021.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has announced a request for public comments regarding the renewal of Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) clearance for information collection under the Alternative Fuels Rule. The current clearance is set to expire on April 30, 2025, and the FTC is seeking an extension for another three years. This rule involves labeling requirements for alternative fuels and vehicles to ensure consumers receive clear information for decision-making. Comments are due by May 27, 2025, and the FTC emphasizes that submissions should not include sensitive personal or financial information.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is seeking public feedback on its proposal to extend the clearance for collecting information related to its administrative activities for another three years, as per the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. This involves responding to applications under the Commission's rules, managing consumer reporting systems, and evaluating the FTC's programs. Interested parties are invited to submit their comments by March 12, 2021, and encouraged to do so online to avoid mail delays. The FTC ensures that no sensitive personal or confidential information is submitted in the comments, as all comments will become part of the public record.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is asking the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to extend for three years the current clearance under the Paperwork Reduction Act for information collection related to the Pay-Per-Call Rule. This rule helps prevent unfair acts in pay-per-call services. The FTC is seeking public comments by February 20, 2025, on these information collection requirements. They clarify that previous comments incorrectly viewed the request as proposing new rules, rather than continuing existing requirements.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is asking the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to extend the approval for collecting information related to a rule on home insulation labeling and advertising. This rule, known as the R-value Rule, helps ensure that consumers get accurate information about how well insulation products perform, so they can decide if the cost is worth it. Comments on this request must be submitted by February 11, 2021.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is updating its civil penalties to adjust for inflation, as required by law. These changes increase the maximum fines for violations of various acts, such as the Clayton Act and the FTC Act, and will take effect on January 17, 2025. The adjustments follow a cost-of-living formula and apply to fines assessed after the effective date. These updates fulfill an annual requirement under the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 2015.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has proposed a consent agreement with Amazon regarding allegations of misappropriated driver tips through its Amazon Flex program. Between late 2016 and August 2019, Amazon allegedly withheld nearly a third of tips that customers intended for drivers, amounting to approximately $61 million, despite claiming to pass 100% of tips to drivers. The agreement requires Amazon to pay back the full amount withheld and prohibits the company from changing its tipping practices without driver consent. The proposal is open for public comments until March 12, 2021, before final approval by the FTC.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has announced new adjustments to civil penalty amounts within its jurisdiction to account for inflation as mandated by the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 2015. These changes, effective from January 13, 2021, affect various penalty amounts, including those related to premerger filing notifications, unfair or deceptive acts, and labeling violations. The adjustments are based on a cost-of-living adjustment formula that compares the Consumer Price Index from two preceding Octobers. This ensures penalties are updated annually to maintain their deterrent effect and to reflect economic changes.