Consumer complaint received 2024-11-21 00:00:00
Product: Debt collection — Telecommunications debt
Issue: Took or threatened to take negative or legal action — Collected or attempted to collect exempt funds
Company: Ability Recovery Services, LLC
State: NJ

Complaint narrative:
please see the attachment below to how XXXX XXXX about there service. 

XXXX XXXX XXXX FTC Charges it Misled Students About Career Training, Credit Transfers XX/XX/201XXXX XXXX Tags : Consumer Protection Bureau of Consumer Protection Education Finance deceptive/misleading conduct XXXX  XXXX XXXX has agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission charges it misrepresented to students that they would get the training and credentials needed to switch careers or get a new job, and that the course credits they earned would transfer to other schools. In reality, many programs offered by the for-profit institution did not meet state requirements for desired careers, and the claims made about credit transfers were often not true. 

When schools promise students they can transfer course credits or get a better job after completing their programs, theyd better be able to back up those claims, said XXXX XXXX, Director, FTCs Bureau of Consumer Protection. XXXX XXXX didnt tell the truth when it made those promises to prospective students. 

According to the Commissions complaint, the XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, doing business as XXXX XXXX, violated the FTC Act by deceptively marketing its online college degree and career-training programs. The FTC alleges some degrees and programs offered by XXXX XXXX failed to meet the basic educational requirements set by state licensing boards for careers or jobs such as real estate appraisers, home inspectors, elementary school educators, massage practitioners, and more. The FTC also alleges the institution claimed that its credits would transfer even though it lacked supporting data that other colleges and universities would accept their credits. 

Tuition at XXXX XXXX ranges from hundreds to several thousand dollars. XXXX XXXX does not accept student loans, and students are required to pay tuition in full or make monthly payments. However, it does accept military  benefits including XXXX  XXXX  payments, and has directed some of its advertising to military servicemembers and their families. 

The proposed stipulated court order prohibits XXXX XXXX from misrepresenting that : completing XXXX program will qualify students to obtain vocational licenses without any additional training or experience ; XXXX programs provide all the training and credentials required to switch careers or obtain a job in a new field ; there will be job security or steady employment for consumers completing its programs ; and that course credits are generally recognized by, and accepted, by other postsecondary institutions. 
The order also includes an {$11.00} XXXX judgment, which is suspended based on the institutions inability to pay. 

Students interested in pursuing a higher education should check out the FTCs updated guidance, Choosing a College : Questions to Ask. Commission staff also has a new post, An Unlikely Commencement Address, on the Business Center Blog. 

The Commission vote authorizing the filing of the complaint and the proposed stipulated court order was 5-0. The complaint and proposed order were filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of XXXX  on XX/XX/2015. 

The Federal Trade Commission works for consumers to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices and to provide information to help spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint in English or Spanish, visit the FTCs online Complaint Assistant or call XXXX ( XXXX ). The FTC enters complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to more than 2,000 civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad. The FTCs website provides free information on a variety of consumer topics. Like the FTC on XXXX, follow us on XXXX, and subscribe to press releases for the latest FTC news and resources. 

Contact Information MEDIA CONTACT : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  STAFF CONTACT : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  For Consumers Blog : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX

Company public response: Company has responded to the consumer and the CFPB and chooses not to provide a public response
Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation