<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1619632629588.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>FTCThe
 Federal Trade Commission is returning more than $172 million to 
consumers who overpaid for merchandise they purchased using rent-to-own 
plans provided by Progressive Leasing. More than two million consumers<a href="https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/federal.trade.commission/viz/Refunds_15797958402020/RefundsbyCase"></a> will receive refund checks.The <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/documents/cases/progressive_leasing_complaint.docx.pdf">FTC’s complaint against the company</a>, filed in April 2020, alleged that <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2020/04/rent-own-payment-plan-company-progressive-leasing-will-pay-175">Progressive misled consumers</a>
 about the true price of items purchased through its plans. Consumers 
who visited retailers to buy items such as furniture, jewelry, or 
cellphones frequently were told that Progressive’s payment plans were 
“same as cash” or “no interest” – leading consumers to believe they 
would not be charged more than an item’s sticker price.Instead, the complaint alleged, consumers paid more
 than the sticker price, and frequently paid approximately twice the 
sticker price if they made all their scheduled payments. The FTC also 
alleged that Progressive was aware of consumers’ confusion about the 
terms of their plans through tens of thousands of consumer complaints, 
with more than 15,000 complaints received just in one 15-month period.More than two million consumers are receiving 
refunds, averaging $85 each. Consumers who receive checks should deposit
 or cash their checks within 90 days, as indicated on the check. Because
 of the large number of refunds, the checks will be mailed over the next
 two weeks. The FTC never requires people to pay money or provide account information to cash a refund check.Recipients who have questions about the redress 
payments, or who did not receive a payment but believe they are eligible
 should contact the refund administrator, Rust Consulting, at 
1-877-625-9449.The FTC’s <a href="https://public.tableau.com/profile/federal.trade.commission#!/vizhome/Refunds_15797958402020/RefundsbyCase">interactive dashboards for refund data(link is external)</a>
 provide a state-by-state breakdown of FTC refunds. In 2020, FTC actions
 led to more than $483 million in refunds to consumers across the 
country, but recently the United States Supreme Court ruled the FTC 
lacks authority under Section 13(b) to seek monetary relief in federal 
court going forward. The <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2021/04/ftc-asks-congress-pass-legislation-reviving-agencys-authority">Commission has urged Congress</a> to restore the FTC’s ability to get money back for consumers.The Federal Trade Commission works to promote competition and to <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/about-ftc/bureaus-offices/bureau-consumer-protection">protect and educate consumers</a>. You can <a href="https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/">learn more about consumer topics</a> and report scams, fraud, and bad business practices online at <a href="https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/">ReportFraud.ftc.gov</a>. Like the FTC on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/federaltradecommission">Facebook(link is external)</a>, follow us on <a href="https://twitter.com/FTC">Twitter(link is external)</a>, get <a href="http://ftc.gov/subscribe">consumer alerts</a>, read our <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/blogs">blogs</a>, and <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/stay-connected">subscribe to press releases</a> for the latest FTC news and resources.

FTC: $172M in refunds mailed to victims of rent-to-own deception