A federal court entered a judgment of more than $3.6 million against a payment processor and its subsidiary that allegedly debited consumers’ bank accounts illegally on behalf of deceptive telemarketers, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced Friday.
Your Money Access LLC and its subsidiary, YMA Company LLC, processed unauthorized debits on behalf of deceptive telemarketers and Internet-based schemes that were violating the FTC’s Telemarketing Sales Rule and state consumer protection laws, according to a 2007 complaint filed by the FTC and seven states.
The companies played a critical role in these schemes by providing access to the banking system and the means to extract money from consumers’ bank accounts. The FTC alleged that in many instances the merchants either failed to deliver the promised products or services or sent consumers relatively worthless items.
A default judgment entered in October 2008 barred Your Money Access and YMA Company from payment processing for any client whose business practices are deceptive, unfair or abusive within the meaning of the FTC Act, the Telemarketing Sales Rule and state consumer protection laws.
The states joining the FTC’s complaint were Illinois, Iowa, Nevada, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio and Vermont. Attempts on Friday to reach Your Money Access and YMA Company for comment were unsuccessful.
