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Alyon Technologies FTC updated press release issued! Alyon ripoff, ..U.S. District Court Judge R. W. Story Northern District Georgia October 29 03, defendants Alyon, Telcollect & Stephane Touboul prohibited from billing, collecting, or attempting to collect payment from consumers, order required Alyon to pay restitution to consumers These (censored)have got to go!! Secaucus New Jersey
The FTC has today released an update of their July 16, 2003 Press Release. This update extends time allowed to file complaints and also allows the use of the online complaint form rather than requiring a letter.
Here is a cut and paste of today's release:
CORRECTED October 29, 2003
For Release: July 16, 2003
Alyon Prohibited from Billing or Collecting Payment from Consumers Without Their Authorization
A federal district court order bars defendants from billing or collecting payment from consumers for Internet videotext services the consumers do not agree to purchase or authorize someone else to purchase. Under an Order issued by U.S. District Court Judge R. W. Story in the Northern District of Georgia on July 10, 2003, and clarified in an order issued on October 17, 2003, defendants Alyon Technologies, Inc., Telcollect, Inc., and Stephane Touboul are prohibited from billing, collecting, or attempting to collect payment from consumers without first fully disclosing the material terms of the sale to the consumer, or someone authorized to act to incur the charges, and also verifying that the person receiving the services was authorized to incur the charges.
The July 10 order required Alyon to pay restitution to consumers who filed written complaints with Alyon and the Federal Trade Commission protesting the bills, and those who did so within the next 90 days. To receive restitution, consumers had to show that they did not subscribe to the telephone line when the charges were incurred; that a minor accessed the services without the consumer's authorization; or that the site was otherwise accessed without the consumer's authorization. Under the terms of the order, Alyon has 30 days to investigate the disputed charges. In the event that Alyon disputes a consumer's claim of unathorized access, a third party arbiter will decide whether the consumer is entitled to restitution.
The court's October 17th order extended the time in which consumers can file written complaints with Alyon until January 14, 2004, and dropped the requirement that consumers must also file written complaints with the FTC as well. Consumers can file complaints with the FTC using the complaint form on our website at http://www.ftc.gov, or by sending a written complaint to The Federal Trade Commission, Consumer Response Center, Alyon Matter, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, H- 30, Washington, D.C. 20580.
In May 2003, the FTC and 13 state Attorneys General charged that Alyon was illegally billing and collecting for videotext services purportedly accessed on the Internet. According to the FTC, the defendants use a modem dialing program to disconnect consumers from their own Internet service providers and reconnect them to the Alyon's network without the consumers' authorization or approval.
Using the dialing program, the defendants allegedly capture the telephone number used by the modem and match it against several databases of line subscriber information, databases which frequently contain errors. The line subscribers identified as responsible for the captured telephone number later receive bills charging them $4.99 a minute for each minute the defendants claim videotext services were purchased, regardless of whether the line subscribers authorized the purchase.
The FTC alleges that many consumers never visited the defendants' sites at all and were charged due to billing service errors of which the defendants were aware. Furthermore, according to the FTC, the defendants' dialing program downloads onto consumers' computers without their authorization. The FTC, which received more than 1,200 consumer complaints about Alyon in its Consumer Sentinel Database, coordinated the investigation of this case with the invaluable assistance of th offices of numerous state Attorneys General, including the New Jersey Attorney General, the Illinois Attorney General, the Idaho Attorney General, and the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.
The Commission vote to authorize staff to file the complaint was 5-0. The complaint was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Atlanta Division.
NOTE: The Commission files a complaint when it has reason to believe that the law has been or is being violated, and it appears to the Commission that a proceeding is in the public interest. The complaint is not a finding or ruling that the defendant has actually violated the law. The case will be decided by the court.
Copies of the complaint and the judge's order are available from the FTC's Web site at http://www.ftc.gov and also from the FTC's Consumer Response Center, Room 130, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20580. The FTC works for the consumer to prevent (censored) deceptive, and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint use the complaint form at http://www.ftc.gov. The FTC enters Internet, telemarketing, identity theft, and other (censored)-related complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad.
Robin
Waldron, Arkansas
U.S.A.
Click here to read other Rip Off Reports on Alyon Technologies
4 Updates & Rebuttals
EDitor
Tempe,Arizona,
U.S.A.
URGENT NOTIFICATION FROM RIP-OFF REPORT: Alyon Technologies Billing rip-off! VICTIMS - You have only until January 14, 2004 to file your complaints in writing to Alyon. We recommend that you take action now!
#5Author of original report
Mon, December 08, 2003
URGENT MESSAGE TO ALL VICTIMS OF ALYON TECHNOLOGIES, AND THEIR COLLECTION OPERATIONS THROUGH AT&T, TELCOLLECT, MERCHANT'S CREDIT GUIDE COMPANY (USING THE NAME ADAM KELLY AND OTHERS):
You have only until January 14, 2004 to file your complaints in writing to Alyon. We recommend that you take these steps in the following order:
Alyon Technologies
ATTN: Billing Complaint
One Harmon Plaza
Secaucus NJ 07094
You may also wish to fax it to their attention, being sure to retain your fax receipt, to:
Fax Number: 201-865-0175
If you wish to follow-up on the fax here is the information you need to use and get the names of those you speak with. If you are in a state where it is legal, tape record your phone calls.
Phone Number: 201-865-7600
Email: s****.> File your complaint not only to Alyon, but also to the FTC, showing them you also notified Alyon:
The Federal Trade Commission,
Consumer Response Center, Alyon Matter,
600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, H- 30,
Washington, D.C. 20580
For more information about your status with relation to this matter, you should direct your Request for Information about Alyon directly to the FTC.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Claudia Bourne Farrell,
Office of Public Affairs
202-326-2181
STAFF CONTACT:
Elizabeth Hone,
Bureau of Consumer Protection
202-326-3207
For additonal information, read the FTC Press Release: Victims get refunds,and according to the press release, Alyon cannot bill you. If they violate Judge Story's order, contact FTC!
You have only until January 14, 2004, the time you have was recently extended.
Click on this FTC link...
http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2003/07/alyon1.htm
HURRY!!! Time is running out and you KNOW that Alyon's attorneys will insist you have had plenty of time to register your complaints after the newly extended deadline.
Frank Torelli - Rip-off Report Investigative Reporter
Toronto, Ontario
Canada
Billiebob
Little Rock,Arkansas,
U.S.A.
Katie are you blind? They can't do anything
#5Consumer Suggestion
Sat, November 22, 2003
Katie, you must be an absolute moron if you haven't garnered anything here. Perhaps a business of your own isn't such a good idea anyways. They can't do anything!!!!!! IGNORE THEM THEY CAN'T HURT YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Katie
Polo,Illinois,
U.S.A.
I was ripped off by Alyon!! applying for a small business loan, this may stop me!
#5Consumer Comment
Wed, November 19, 2003
Alyon is going to ruin my life!!! I thought the problem was solved in June 2003 when I sent them my work time card and written proof of childcare provider that I was not at home when this bill supposedly incurred. i am a single mom of4 so noone else had access to my home or were there. I just got my credit cleared up and they plan on putting this bill on my credit report. #1 it is not a valid bill, and #2 I cannot pay this 200.49 they supposedly say I owe. Anyone know who I can contact that may be able to help me?? they are now billing me through Merchant's credit guide co, and say it will be on my credit report within the next 24 hours.......I am crying, I cannot believe this, I was soo clsoe getting ready to start my own business, and will be applying for a small business loan, this may stop me!!!! and when talking to them on the phone they are quite rude and sarcastic...VERY demeaning!!! Can you help anyone???
Allan
Baltimore,Maryland,
U.S.A.
IF YOU HAVE NOT ASKED FOR YOU MONEY BACK, DO IT NOW. It is a much easier process.
#5Consumer Comment
Thu, October 30, 2003
There must have been quite a few complaints, validating the FTC's position. That is why complaints to Judge Story, when needed, were helpful.
The court also realized that the ruling was too stringent, it made the complaint process too complicated, therefore stopping some people from filing for a refund.
IF YOU HAVE NOT ASKED FOR YOU MONEY BACK, DO IT NOW. It is a much easier process. It also causes Alyon to spend time and money to respond to the complaint. And when the refund is made, less money left for these (censored).