A telemarketing company using illegal business practices to target truck drivers has settled with a state Attorney General after an 18-month investigation revealed that the company had been making false claims to drivers in an effort to sign them up for their services.
Telemarketers for Unified Compliance Services, a division of BLAK, Inc. were accused of calling new truck drivers and claiming that they were affiliated with the federal government. They then lead the truckers to believe that the services they were selling were required by federal law. If drivers fell for the shady sales pitch and signed up, they soon found themselves unable to get out.
According to the Idaho Attorney General’s Office, BLAK refused to respond to refund requests when drivers attempted to cancel their purchases.
The Attorney General’s Office became involved when they received complaints from truckers about the calls. BLAK would find the new drivers by calling those who were newly registered with the DOT.
Following the Attorney General’s investigation, BLAK has agreed to a settlement which will see them pay restitution to “harmed customers.”
“The agreement addresses several problematic business practices my office identified and requires the company to comply with all applicable consumer protection laws going forward,” said the Attorney General. “This settlement also requires Unified Compliance Services to pay restitution to harmed consumers.”
Additionally, they have also agreed to:
- Cancel purchases and/or refund payment for any sale made over the phone before April 15th, 2016 at a customer’s request
- Get a proper license for telephone solicitation
- Train their employees on their legal responsibilities as telephone solicitors
- Not represent that the company is affiliated with, sponsored, licensed, regulated or approved by any government agency.
Unfortunately, predatory telemarketers targeting truckers isn’t anything new. The Attorney General for Idaho has reached settlements with three different telemarketing companies who targeted truckers this year alone.
If you fell victim to BLAK and want your money back, you can request a refund by emailing Unified Compliance Services directly at [email protected]. Do it soon though, since the deadline for refunds is August 6th, 2016.
Maybe if people could get out of contracts a lot easier without having to pay a fee; you wouldn’t have so many scam artist. We all get suckered eventually .
A heart-felt round of congratulations and thanks needs to go to the Idaho Attorney General’s Office.
Somebody got our backs, and that needs to be thanked.
So thank you, Idaho.
I appreciate Idaho for doing something, but start putting ALL thieves in the same prisons (without cable tv and tennis courts), for the same amount of time, and they wouldn’t do this crap.
The system of scam people out of 10 million, and pay 5 million in fines and restitution is B.S.. So is, refund if requested, not refund to everyone you lied to, or call ever one of your customers and offer a refund.