AG Ferguson shuts down Global Grid’s illegal robocalls, deceptive marketing targeting CenturyLink customers
Friday, May 13, 2022
OLYMPIA — Attorney General Bob Ferguson today announced that, as a result of his lawsuit against the company, Global Grid, a Corvallis, Ore.-based company, and its owner must shut down its illegal robocalling operation.
Global Grid must pay more than $8,000 to the Attorney General’s Office, which Ferguson will deliver to approximately 200 Washingtonians harmed by the company’s hidden start-up fee.
Global Grid and owner Harry Hart III also face $603,000 in penalties, costs, and fees for its illegal conduct, including robocalls, which are suspended so long as they pay back the upfront fees and do not violate the terms of today’s consent decree.
In October 2021, Ferguson filed a lawsuit against the company asserting the company made over 54,000 illegal robocalls to Washingtonians, in violation of the Washington Automatic Dialing and Announcing Device (WADAD) Statute and the Consumer Protection Act (CPA). Ironically, the calls attempted to sell a purported robocall-blocking service.
Washingtonians impacted by Global Grid’s illegal hidden fees will receive restitution payments equal to the amount they paid. These payments will average approximately $35 per customer. The consent decree, currently pending approval from King County Superior Court, requires Global Grid to make all restitution payments to the Attorney General’s Office within the next 12 months due to the company’s current lack of funds and assets, which the Attorney General’s Office independently verified.
Global Grid and owner Harry Hart III also face $603,000 in penalties, costs, and fees for its illegal conduct, including robocalls, which are suspended so long as they pay back the upfront fees and do not violate the terms of today’s consent decree.
In October 2021, Ferguson filed a lawsuit against the company asserting the company made over 54,000 illegal robocalls to Washingtonians, in violation of the Washington Automatic Dialing and Announcing Device (WADAD) Statute and the Consumer Protection Act (CPA). Ironically, the calls attempted to sell a purported robocall-blocking service.
The company also robocalled consumers on the Do Not Call Registry and made deceptive claims in its advertising. The company also told people that “subscriptions start at just pennies per month,” yet failed to mention that they would be charged up-front fees to activate the service — anywhere from $8 to $100.
Washingtonians impacted by Global Grid’s illegal hidden fees will receive restitution payments equal to the amount they paid. These payments will average approximately $35 per customer. The consent decree, currently pending approval from King County Superior Court, requires Global Grid to make all restitution payments to the Attorney General’s Office within the next 12 months due to the company’s current lack of funds and assets, which the Attorney General’s Office independently verified.
The Attorney General’s Office will send checks to consumers once Global Grid has completed its payment. Consumers do not have to do anything to receive restitution.
This was a typical robocall:
Ferguson asserts Global Grid Telecom’s voicemail messages sounded like official messages from CenturyLink, and consumers complained that the messages deceptively sounded as if the offer came from CenturyLink. Nearly all of the company’s messages referred to a “voicemail system announcement.”
Many of the messages also referred to the advertised service as an “upgrade” or new feature to CenturyLink accounts. Further, some of the messages referenced the Do Not Call Registry, which could have deceived people into believing the message was associated with the federal government.
The company also claimed its products would stop all robocalls, and would stop 90 to 100% of telemarketers and unwanted calls.
This was a typical robocall:
“Please do not hang up. The voicemail system has an urgent announcement for you regarding your security and the Federal Trade Commission’s National Do Not Call Registry. There’s a new telephone feature that you can add to your current CenturyLink phone line that will screen and block robocalls and unwanted telemarketers.”
Ferguson asserts Global Grid Telecom’s voicemail messages sounded like official messages from CenturyLink, and consumers complained that the messages deceptively sounded as if the offer came from CenturyLink. Nearly all of the company’s messages referred to a “voicemail system announcement.”
Many of the messages also referred to the advertised service as an “upgrade” or new feature to CenturyLink accounts. Further, some of the messages referenced the Do Not Call Registry, which could have deceived people into believing the message was associated with the federal government.
The company also claimed its products would stop all robocalls, and would stop 90 to 100% of telemarketers and unwanted calls.
In fact, “MAX|Command” did not prevent robocalls. It only would manage and add phone numbers to a list of blocked numbers on a telephone line, without actually blocking new incoming unwanted calls.
The robocall message did not provide an option for people to remove themselves from Global Grid Telecom’s call list. In some instances, consumers who informed the company they no longer wanted to receive messages from Global Grid Telecom continued to receive robocalls.
The robocall message did not provide an option for people to remove themselves from Global Grid Telecom’s call list. In some instances, consumers who informed the company they no longer wanted to receive messages from Global Grid Telecom continued to receive robocalls.
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1 comments:
While I do dislike our AG. It is nice I can find some common ground and agree with some of his work for a change. As a Centurylink user. May I suggest getting a phone service called a Magic Jack, which works like a landline. While it is seperate from the ISP. It has a great little feature that blocks ALL automated phone calls.
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