Texas Business Lawyer

A collections agency in Maryland has agreed Thursday to pay an $85,000 penalty and change its business practices as part of a settlement with state regulators.

According to court documents, the Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation had “reasonable grounds” to believe Worldwide Asset Management was breaking state law barring unfair and misleading collections practices as well as attempting to collect debts from consumers without the required license.

Representatives did not admit any wrongdoing under the terms of the settlement. The company told state regulators that it has stopped filing suits against Marylanders, but it agreed to seek a license if it does resume debt collection.

The settlement does not affect cases the company had already started against Maryland residents.

If you are an individual or business that is owed money, the debt collection lawyers of Slater, Kennon & Jameson, LLP, are here to help. Please contact an Austin Business Attorney by calling 512-472-2431.

A woman in Wisconsin is suing Westwood College for deceptive practices, after learning the college was operating without the required state approval.

According to court documents, 23 year-old Melissa Willes contends that Westwood College was operating in Janesville, Wisconsin without state approval. Willes claims that misleading marketing tactics by Westwood enticed her to enroll in a substandard education program and take on excessive tuition debt in pursuit of a degree which is now “largely useless.”

Willes says a Westwood recruiter assured her that a $75,000 online bachelor’s degree in interior design would be approved in Wisconsin by the end of her three-year program. It was not.

Westwood spokesman Gil Rudawsky did not deny the college lacked official approval in Wisconsin but said “licensing of online colleges in individual states is an ongoing and developing issue across the country.”

Willes’ lawsuit was moved to U.S. District Court in Madison on August 6.

If your business is facing accusations of deceptive practices, please contact an Austin Business Lawyer of Slater, Kennon & Jameson, LLP, by calling 512-472-2431.

A Utah home-security company has agreed to pay restitution after a probe into allegations it used deceptive tactics to sell services to New Yorkers, New york Attorney General Andrew Cuomo said Thursday.

According to court documents, Pinnacle Security Group LLC will pay a $150,000 civil penalty as well as pay full restitution to homeowners who signed contracts since January 2008 and believe they were deceived by the company.

Sales representatives allegedly misled homeowners into believing their existing home-security provider had gone out of business, merged with pinnacle, or was in some way affiliated with the company, Cuomo said. As a result, homeowners found themselves paying two different companies for the same security services.

“Pinnacle used dirty tricks and deception to pressure New Yorkers who were simply trying to ensure the security of their homes,” Cuomo said.

If your business is facing accusations of deceptive trade practices, contact an Austin business attorney of Slater, Kennon & Jameson, LLP, today by calling 512-472-2431.