The red flag, the FTC said, is a request for up-front fees simply for interviews or placement, and suggested that consumers check the contract carefully to be certain that any written refund policy matches what they've been told by a telemarketer. All three pled guilty and were sentenced on Feb. 24, 1997. The Commission vote to file the proposed settlements, which are stipulated final judgments, was 5-0. They were filed Feb. 28 in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Orlando Division, and require the court's approval to become binding. These consent judgments are for settlement purposes only and do not constitute admissions by the defendants of law violations.
Consent judgments have the force of law when signed by the judge.