May 2015 Hot Topics II

Fun Sports Gear is an Indiana online retailer offering custom-made printed items such as t-shirts and cell phone cases.  BBB^® Serving Central Indiana indicates a pattern of complaints.  Specifically, consumers allege female-sized clothing was misrepresented, product was misrepresented as being official team gear and was not, and the quality of the product was poor.  Complainants also allege the company has failed to respond to requests for assistance, is difficult to reach, as well as failed to deliver promised items. Consumers have also stated difficulty in receiving a full refund for product. The company’s website claims “Our quality guarantee: We stand by our high-quality products and guarantee your satisfaction”. According to BBB Code of Advertising section 20. Warranties and Guarantees- advertisers should only use “satisfaction guarantee” or similar representations in advertising if the seller or manufacturer refunds the full purchase price of the advertised product or service at the consumer’s request. BBB Serving Central Indiana has contacted the company regarding the pattern of complaints and as well as initiated an advertising challenge regarding their guarantee posted on their website.  BBB Serving Central Indiana currently awaits a response from the company.  The company currently has an F rating with BBB Serving Central Indiana. View the company’s full BBB Business Review here.

Mobile Cramming Settlement. The Atlanta Governor’s Office of Consumer Protection along with the Attorneys General of the other 49 States and the District of Columbia, in conjunction with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and the Federal Communications Commission announced on May 12, 2015 that a $158 million dollar settlement has been reached with Sprint Corporation and Cellco Partnership dba Verizon Wireless to resolve allegations of a practice that is known as “cramming”.  Cramming is basically the act of a company placing unauthorized charges on a telephone bill. These items may be in the form of ring tones, cell phone wallpaper or “premium” text messages about sports scores, celebrity gossip and horoscopes. BBB^® Serving Central Indiana encourages consumers to make sure to carefully review their phone bill every month.  Consumers who believe they may have a claim may visit www.SprintRefundPSMS.com or www.CFPBSettlementVerizon.com. These websites have been established for consumers to submit a claim, find information about refund eligibility and how to obtain a refund, and can request a free account summary that details PSMS purchases on their accounts.  Consumers may also call the settlement administrators directly at 1-877-389-8787 for Sprint customers and 1-888-726-7063 for Verizon customers. 

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Scholarships: High school graduations are right around the corner and there are many students and families now trying to figure out how to pay for the next step: college. Millions of people depend on grants and scholarships to pay for college. Navigating the process of applying for financial aid can be confusing. While doing your research, you may stumble upon some companies claiming they can help, but only end up providing information and assistance the student can already get free elsewhere or providing no assistance at all.

BBB^® recommends consumers be aware of the following red flags when listening to a financial-aid finder sales pitch:

• "The scholarship is guaranteed or your money back."

In reality no one can guarantee they will get you a grant or scholarship. The refund guarantees that are offered usually have so many conditions or strings attached that it is almost impossible for consumers to get their money back.

• "You cannot get this information anywhere else."

Actually, scholarship information is widely available in books, from libraries, financial aid offices, and on the Internet, if you are willing to search for it.

• "We will do all the work."

Only parents and students can really determine and provide the financial information needed to complete the forms.

• "You have been selected by a national foundation to receive a scholarship."

If you have not entered a competition sponsored by the foundation, this claim is highly unlikely.

• "May I have your credit card or bank account number to hold this scholarship?"

This is never a requirement for a legitimate scholarship offer.

• "The scholarship will cost some money."

Legitimate scholarship offers never require payment of any kind.

For more information on finding financial aid for school, visit fafsa.gov.  To check out a business, please visit bbb.org/indy.

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This list is current as of May 15, 2015. Readers should take into consideration the importance of the practice in question and the total performance of the company. For complete information, please visit bbb.org/indy