Class action suit against ConsumerInfo.com / TripleAdvantage

-Adam- · 01-30-2007, 08:15 PM

I just got this in my email.

Quote:

NOTICE FROM FEDERAL COURT. PLEASE READ.

You may be eligible to receive a benefit from a class-action settlement if you purchased and paid for a credit score or credit monitoring from ConsumerInfo.com or an Experian Entity between June 17, 1998 and December 27, 2006.

A federal court has directed that this notice be sent to inform you of a proposed class-action settlement. Records show that you entered into an agreement over the Internet with ConsumerInfo.com or an Experian Entity to purchase any Credit Check or Credit Check Monitoring (which were formerly known as CreditCheck® Monitoring Service), Credit Manager (including Yahoo! Credit Manager), Triple Alert, or Triple Advantage credit-monitoring product, or you paid for a credit score sold on a website that also sold one of these credit-monitoring products, between June 17, 1998 and December 27, 2006. If so, you may be eligible to receive a benefit under the proposed settlement.

The settlement will resolve a lawsuit over whether Defendants violated the federal Credit Repair Organizations Act or are liable for claims where the stated basis is about improvement of a consumer's credit record, history, or rating. Under the settlement, Defendants deny that they are liable, but have agreed not to make certain statements on particular websites and to provide all Settlement Class Members with the opportunity to obtain their choice of a settlement benefit: either (i) a credit score or (ii) 60 days of credit monitoring, as described below and on the settlement website. To see if you are a Class Member and to obtain full notice of the proposed Settlement, the required procedures, the Effective Date, the deadlines, your obligations, and your options, you must visit www.browningsettlement.com. This email is only a brief summary of the full notice that is posted on the website.

If you are an eligible Settlement Class Member, you have rights, obligations, and options under the proposed settlement. You have until May 15, 2007 to make your decision. Your legal rights are affected whether you act or not.

1. Submit A Registration Form Online Or By Mail

This is the only way to get a settlement benefit of either a credit score or 60 days of credit monitoring. You will choose your benefit, and you must keep all of your registration information updated. If you choose credit monitoring, and you don't cancel your credit-monitoring membership after using your code to obtain the credit monitoring benefit but prior to the expiration of the 60 day, settlement benefit period, you will be billed at the then-applicable rate, which is currently $9.95, for each month that you continue your membership. Beginning on the Effective Date of the settlement, you will be able to register online or by mail. If you register online, your registration must be completed no later than sixty (60) days after the Effective Date, and submitted online by midnight Pacific Time. If you register by mail, your registration must be mailed and postmarked on or before sixty (60) days after the Effective Date. For more information on these deadlines, the Effective Date of the settlement, the registration procedures, and the settlement benefit, you must visit www.browningsettlement.com. Do not contact the Court.
????: NamePros.com http://www.namepros.com/warnings-and-alerts/288296-class-action-suit-against-consumerinfo-com.html

2. Exclude Yourself

This is the only option that allows you to ever be part of any other lawsuit about the claims in this case. You will not be eligible for a settlement benefit. Your request for exclusion must be mailed and postmarked on or before May 15, 2007. Any request for exclusion must be mailed to the Browning Settlement Administrator. Do not contact the Court.

3. Object

Write to the Browning Settlement Administrator in order to tell the Court about why you don't like the settlement. Your objection must be mailed and postmarked on or before May 15, 2007. Do not contact the Court.

4. Go to a Hearing

Write to the Browning Settlement Administrator to ask to speak in Court about the fairness of the settlement. Your request to speak at the hearing must be mailed and postmarked on or before May 15, 2007. The final fairness hearing is set for July 31, 2007, at which time the Court will consider whether to finally approve the settlement and a request by the lawyers representing all Class Members for no more than $2,550,000 in attorney's fees and costs.

5. Do Nothing

You will automatically be included in the Settlement Class and give up your right to be part of any other lawsuit about the claims in this case, but you will not be eligible to receive a settlement benefit unless you submit a registration form.

????: NamePros.com http://www.namepros.com/showthread.php?t=288296
To get complete information about the proposed settlement, the required procedures, the Effective Date, the deadlines, your obligations, and your options, you must visit www.browningsettlement.com. Do not contact the Court.

Please do not reply to this message. We are unable to respond to inquiries sent in reply to this email. To contact us, please access the official settlement website at www.browningsettlement.com.

The website is listed just above this text but this is not adding up for me. Can anyone identify this as a scam or legitimate?

neville212 · 02-13-2007, 05:09 AM

one of the biggest scams i have ever experienced has involved the company which is referenced in the letter, which we both received. Read the settlement.... it is just another trick trying to get people to sign up again.... if you dont cancel after the trial period, they just continue billing your credit card..... even if you dont have a credit card on file with them... THEY PICK ONE FROM YOUR CREDIT REPORT. If you try to get in touch with them its like visiting the circus. If you want a refund..... ha. - you'll have to write a letter, and it still won't fully be refunded.... enjoy the process if you sign up..... wait till you hear the "echo-box" phone message.... advice, stay on the line.... just for kicks, and to blow steam when someone does pick up(only after yelling into the echo box)

ysbordain · 02-13-2007, 08:20 AM

Thanks a lot. I got the same email and had no idea whether or not it was scam.
I now know.

BATeller · 02-13-2007, 02:09 PM

I too received this e-mail today. I’ve never heard of any class action suit contacting by e-mail, nor have I ever seen a class action law suit requesting benefactors to sign up for a $9.95/mo service.

When I didn’t find any reference to “Browning Settlement” “ConsumerInfo.com” or “Experian” on Garden City Group’s list of current class actions: http://www.gardencitygroup.com/cases/index.html my initial assumption was browningsettlement.com was using Garden City Group’s name in an effort to legitimize their claim. However further investigation shows gardencitygroup.com and browningsettlement.com to have IDENTICAL Whois records.
????: NamePros.com http://www.namepros.com/showthread.php?t=288296

This means one of two things:.
1) browningsettlement.com mimicked Garden City Group’s Whois records to further identify themselves as a legitimate Garden City Group class action case.
2) Garden City Group is also part of this fraudulent deception.

I’m siding with the latter.

All a large gimmick to get people to sign up for a service. Not to mention who in their right mind would go to a site claiming to be part of a class action law suit and willingly give up their date of birth and social security number? (ref: https://cert.gardencitygroup.com/2ci/fs/updateAddress)

Below is a copy of the e-mail I sent Garden City Group and Browning Settlement (I have omitted the attached header records):

Quote:

Subject: FW: Federal Court's Notice of Proposed Class-Action Settlement. Please Read.
Hello,
I received this e-mail today for a class action law suit claimed to be handled by your company (Garden City Group). I couldn’t find any reference to this class action suit on your site, so I suspect it’s fraudulent.

The e-mail also appears to advise benefactors of the class action suit to sign up for a $9.95 monthly service (something unheard of in a “real” class action suit).

Please advise the legitimacy of this Class-Action.

PS- If this Class Action does appear to be fraudulent, please find use in the attached e-mail headers if your company wishes to pursue the fraudsters.

PPS- I’ve also attached WHOIS records for both gardencitygroup.com and browningsettlement.com (which both appear identical). This means one of two things: 1) Your company is also a scam 2) Your company’s information is being falsely used to register the browningsettlement.com domain to give itself more legitimacy.

Thanks,
Brian
________________________________________
From: browningnotice@gardencitygroup.com [mailto:browningnotice@gardencitygroup.com]
Sent: Tuesday, February 13, 2007 2:43 PM
To: BRIAN@XXXXXXXXXXXXX.COM
Subject: Federal Court's Notice of Proposed Class-Action Settlement. Please Read.

NOTICE FROM FEDERAL COURT. PLEASE READ.
You may be eligible to receive a benefit from a class-action settlement if you purchased and paid for a credit score or credit monitoring from ConsumerInfo.com or an Experian Entity between June 17, 1998 and December 27, 2006.
A federal court has directed that this notice be sent to inform you of a proposed class-action settlement. Records show that you entered into an agreement over the Internet with ConsumerInfo.com or an Experian Entity to purchase any Credit Check or Credit Check Monitoring (which were formerly known as CreditCheck. Monitoring Service), Credit Manager (including Yahoo! Credit Manager), Triple Alert, or Triple Advantage credit-monitoring product, or you paid for a credit score sold on a website that also sold one of these credit-monitoring products, between June 17, 1998 and December 27, 2006. If so, you may be eligible to receive a benefit under the proposed settlement.
The settlement will resolve a lawsuit over whether Defendants violated the federal Credit Repair Organizations Act or are liable for claims where the stated basis is about improvement of a consumer's credit record, history, or rating. Under the settlement, Defendants deny that they are liable, but have agreed not to make certain statements on particular websites and to provide all Settlement Class Members with the opportunity to obtain their choice of a settlement benefit: either (i) a credit score or (ii) 60 days of credit monitoring, as described below and on the settlement website. To see if you are a Class Member and to obtain full notice of the proposed Settlement, the required procedures, the Effective Date, the deadlines, your obligations, and your options, you must visit www.browningsettlement.com. This email is only a brief summary of the full notice that is posted on the website.
If you are an eligible Settlement Class Member, you have rights, obligations, and options under the proposed settlement. You have until May 15, 2007 to make your decision. Your legal rights are affected whether you act or not.
1. Submit A Registration Form Online Or By Mail

This is the only way to get a settlement benefit of either a credit score or 60 days of credit monitoring. You will choose your benefit, and you must keep all of your registration information updated. If you choose credit monitoring, and you don't cancel your credit-monitoring membership after using your code to obtain the credit monitoring benefit but prior to the expiration of the 60 day, settlement benefit period, you will be billed at the then-applicable rate, which is currently $9.95, for each month that you continue your membership. Beginning on the Effective Date of the settlement, you will be able to register online or by mail. If you register online, your registration must be completed no later than sixty (60) days after the Effective Date, and submitted online by midnight Pacific Time. If you register by mail, your registration must be mailed and postmarked on or before sixty (60) days after the Effective Date. For more information on these deadlines, the Effective Date of the settlement, the registration procedures, and the settlement benefit, you must visit www.browningsettlement.com. Do not contact the Court.
2. Exclude Yourself

This is the only option that allows you to ever be part of any other lawsuit about the claims in this case. You will not be eligible for a settlement benefit. Your request for exclusion must be mailed and postmarked on or before May 15, 2007. Any request for exclusion must be mailed to the Browning Settlement Administrator. Do not contact the Court.
????: NamePros.com http://www.namepros.com/showthread.php?t=288296
3. Object

Write to the Browning Settlement Administrator in order to tell the Court about why you don't like the settlement. Your objection must be mailed and postmarked on or before May 15, 2007. Do not contact the Court.
4. Go to a Hearing

Write to the Browning Settlement Administrator to ask to speak in Court about the fairness of the settlement. Your request to speak at the hearing must be mailed and postmarked on or before May 15, 2007. The final fairness hearing is set for July 31, 2007, at which time the Court will consider whether to finally approve the settlement and a request by the lawyers representing all Class Members for no more than $2,550,000 in attorney's fees and costs.
5. Do Nothing

You will automatically be included in the Settlement Class and give up your right to be part of any other lawsuit about the claims in this case, but you will not be eligible to receive a settlement benefit unless you submit a registration form.
To get complete information about the proposed settlement, the required procedures, the Effective Date, the deadlines, your obligations, and your options, you must visit www.browningsettlement.com. Do not contact the Court.
Please do not reply to this message. We are unable to respond to inquiries sent in reply to this email. To contact us, please access the official settlement website at www.browningsettlement.com.

Attached: gardencity-whois.txt

Quote:

Registrant:
Garden City Group
105 Maxess Road
Melville, NY 11747
US

Domain Name: GARDENCITYGROUP.COM

Administrative Contact, Technical Contact:
Garden City Group frank_dmuchowski@GARDENCITYGROUP.COM
105 Maxess Road
Melville, NY 11747
US
631-470-5124 fax: 631-940-6561

Record expires on 27-Jan-2009.
Record created on 28-Jan-1998.
Database last updated on 13-Feb-2007 16:34:53 EST.

Domain servers in listed order:

AUTH01.NS.UU.NET 198.6.1.81
AUTH60.NS.UU.NET 198.6.1.181

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Registrant:
Garden City Group
105 Maxess Road
Melville, NY 11747
US

Domain Name: BROWNINGSETTLEMENT.COM

Administrative Contact, Technical Contact:
Garden City Group frank_dmuchowski@GARDENCITYGROUP.COM
105 Maxess Road
Melville, NY 11747
US
631-470-5124 fax: 631-940-6561

Record expires on 27-Jan-2008.
Record created on 27-Jan-2006.
Database last updated on 13-Feb-2007 16:35:50 EST.

Domain servers in listed order:

AUTH00.NS.UU.NET 198.6.1.65
AUTH100.NS.UU.NET 198.6.1.202

Saureco · 02-23-2007, 11:13 AM

Whatever you do, DO NOT FILL OUT ANY ONLINE FORMS!!!

Part of Garden City's scams is that they obtain your credit information from FreeCreditReport.com and start billing you, even using credit cards that you have never used for purchases. Their online form as part of this "settlement" are on an unsecured webpage (indicated by no https in the URL). If you were to fill out that form, which includes all your personal info, you would be transmitting your life over the web in an unsecured connection. DON'T DO IT. Ignore this offer and move on.

stumomx3 · 02-26-2007, 08:51 AM

It looked so real. I got one today, but I noticed there was no *link* I could click on to register. So I did a search and your forum showed up. There should be some federal legal action on this matter, since they specifically talked about the federal courts. I may look into that and THANKS AGAIN!

Update: I forwarded this to SPAM@UCE.GOV the Federal Trade Commission's Consumer Complaint Form

PostSharks · 02-26-2007, 09:38 AM

I think you all are one big person....and should be banned.

angisson · 02-26-2007, 09:40 AM

is there a reason 5 first time posters are oposting in this and only this thread?

BATeller · 03-24-2007, 09:40 PM

Originally Posted by angisson

is there a reason 5 first time posters are oposting in this and only this thread?

I cannot vouch for the others but for me I received this e-mail and was curious of its validity so I did an online search and ended up here. Not being a Namepros.com user (but still wanting to post my findings) I registered for an account and posted my information.

Jeffrey · 04-03-2007, 02:15 PM

Ban the IP, same month of registration.

-GWS- · 05-03-2007, 07:29 PM

I did not receive the email but I did receive the actual printed version in the mail.

I also did some research and found that the law firm mentioned in the suit to act "on our behalf and get us this settlement" (which by the way was denied in AL when they (Mr. Browning) tired it there), would get $2.55 Mil for their work in preparing the case.

The firm has several other cases that they have acted on and if you check their reviews from clients 90% of them say they are out for themselves.

In return they will get us either a free credit score or 2 months of credit monitoring (which we have to cancel or it will bill our card again.)
????: NamePros.com http://www.namepros.com/showthread.php?t=288296

I belived that it is true but did not take part and send back a letter of objection for several reasons:

1. Don't care to get credit monitoring (and dont want to have to remeber to cancel or get billed because I never remember, that is what supposedly got me in this in the first place)

2. Don't care to get a free credit score

3. Object to the fact that the shark lawyers will recieve $2.55 Mil for trying to prey on anyone they can - broken down that means that E. Clayton Lowe, Jr. and Peter A. Grammas of Lowe & Grammas LLP,of Birmingham AL, will each recieve a salary of $425,000/year while each person in the class action will get at the most $19.90 worth of product that they did'nt want in the first place. The requirements are that you paid for this service and did not get a refund for it which at the time I paid for it was $79.00 so if I take it I am still out $59.10.

4. Being a member of YPN, and having Yahoo!named in the class action I don't want to piss them off and give them a reason to cancel my account

02-13-2007, 05:09 AM	#2 (permalink)
neville212 First Time Poster! Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 1	bullsh*t one of the biggest scams i have ever experienced has involved the company which is referenced in the letter, which we both received. Read the settlement.... it is just another trick trying to get people to sign up again.... if you dont cancel after the trial period, they just continue billing your credit card..... even if you dont have a credit card on file with them... THEY PICK ONE FROM YOUR CREDIT REPORT. If you try to get in touch with them its like visiting the circus. If you want a refund..... ha. - you'll have to write a letter, and it still won't fully be refunded.... enjoy the process if you sign up..... wait till you hear the "echo-box" phone message.... advice, stay on the line.... just for kicks, and to blow steam when someone does pick up(only after yelling into the echo box)

02-26-2007, 08:51 AM	#6 (permalink)
stumomx3 First Time Poster! Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 1	WOW Thanks! It looked so real. I got one today, but I noticed there was no link I could click on to register. So I did a search and your forum showed up. There should be some federal legal action on this matter, since they specifically talked about the federal courts. I may look into that and THANKS AGAIN! Update: I forwarded this to SPAM@UCE.GOV the Federal Trade Commission's Consumer Complaint Form Last edited by stumomx3; 02-26-2007 at 08:55 AM. Reason: UPDATE

04-03-2007, 02:15 PM	#10 (permalink)
Jeffrey Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Cebu Posts: 1,431	Ban the IP, same month of registration. __________________ Professionally Designed VECTOR ICONS! \|Search 1 gigabyte mails here! \| Personal Blog \| Soccer Blog \| Manila Blog \| Blog Directory \| JQR.org - taking offers \| Free Cebu City Photos

05-03-2007, 07:29 PM	#11 (permalink)
-GWS- NamePros Regular Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: OH Posts: 374 Follow @LiquidShock	I did not receive the email but I did receive the actual printed version in the mail. I also did some research and found that the law firm mentioned in the suit to act "on our behalf and get us this settlement" (which by the way was denied in AL when they (Mr. Browning) tired it there), would get $2.55 Mil for their work in preparing the case. The firm has several other cases that they have acted on and if you check their reviews from clients 90% of them say they are out for themselves. In return they will get us either a free credit score or 2 months of credit monitoring (which we have to cancel or it will bill our card again.) ????: NamePros.com http://www.namepros.com/showthread.php?t=288296 I belived that it is true but did not take part and send back a letter of objection for several reasons: 1. Don't care to get credit monitoring (and dont want to have to remeber to cancel or get billed because I never remember, that is what supposedly got me in this in the first place) 2. Don't care to get a free credit score 3. Object to the fact that the shark lawyers will recieve $2.55 Mil for trying to prey on anyone they can - broken down that means that E. Clayton Lowe, Jr. and Peter A. Grammas of Lowe & Grammas LLP,of Birmingham AL, will each recieve a salary of $425,000/year while each person in the class action will get at the most $19.90 worth of product that they did'nt want in the first place. The requirements are that you paid for this service and did not get a refund for it which at the time I paid for it was $79.00 so if I take it I am still out $59.10. 4. Being a member of YPN, and having Yahoo!named in the class action I don't want to piss them off and give them a reason to cancel my account __________________ Liquid Shock Games

02-13-2007, 08:20 AM	#3 (permalink)
ysbordain First Time Poster! Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 1	Thanks a lot. I got the same email and had no idea whether or not it was scam. I now know.

02-23-2007, 11:13 AM	#5 (permalink)
Saureco First Time Poster! Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 1	Whatever you do, DO NOT FILL OUT ANY ONLINE FORMS!!! Part of Garden City's scams is that they obtain your credit information from FreeCreditReport.com and start billing you, even using credit cards that you have never used for purchases. Their online form as part of this "settlement" are on an unsecured webpage (indicated by no https in the URL). If you were to fill out that form, which includes all your personal info, you would be transmitting your life over the web in an unsecured connection. DON'T DO IT. Ignore this offer and move on.

02-26-2007, 09:38 AM	#7 (permalink)
PostSharks NamePros Regular Join Date: May 2005 Location: Arizona Posts: 453 Follow @mrlivengood	I think you all are one big person....and should be banned.

02-26-2007, 09:40 AM	#8 (permalink)
angisson Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 1,670	is there a reason 5 first time posters are oposting in this and only this thread?

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

Class action suit against ConsumerInfo.com / TripleAdvantage

bullsh*t

WOW Thanks!