H&R Block settles ad charges
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- June
- 27
An investigation in the Lower Hudson Valley has resulted in a statewide settlement with H&R Block of charges of deceptive advertising practices, the New York Attorney General’s office said.
Under the agreement, the Kansas City, Mo.based tax preparation company must pay $245,000 in penalties and costs in connection with two sweepstakes games it ran - “Double Your Refund Instant Win Game†from January through April 2006, and “Toss Out Your Bills Instant Win Game†from January through April 2007.
Consumers in both games were provided with scratch-off cards to play, provided they bought H&R Block tax preparation services, the state said. Under state law, companies that run sweepstakes must provide consumers with an opportunity to play without having to buy the company’s services. H&R Block failed to post rules and regulations of its promotions clearly at its offices, and it used false and deceptive advertising material to promote the games in radio and TV spots, the state said.
Investigators for the Attorney General’s office filed charged after visiting 10 H&R Block offices in Westchester, Rockland and Putnam counties, the state said. H&R Block operates 400 retail offices in New York state.
Assistant Attorney General Doris K. Morin handled the case under the supervision of Assistant Attorney General In-Charge Judith C. McCarthy of the Attorney General’s Westchester Regional Office in White Plains.
This entry was posted
on Friday, June 27th, 2008 at 5:23 pm by Jerry Gleeson.
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