Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Eye On Olympia

Consumer-rights settlements: State legal action may result in a check for you…

The clock is ticking, but if you paid for a video subscription from Movieland.com, bought "Spyware Cleaner" software or ran into problems with several other products, you may be owed cash.

The state attorney general's consumer-protection division says thousands of Washingtonians are potentially eligible for refunds for products and services that prompted state legal action. Among them:

-Anyone who downloaded a free three-day trial offer from Movieland.com, moviepass.tv or popcorn.net, then bought the program due to pop-up ads demanding payment. The AG's office has $50,000 to distribute as partial refunds to consumers who paid for the service but didn't -- or barely -- used it. Deadline: June 20.

-Anyone whose computer was harmed when they tried to remove the anti-copying software or Digital Rights Management software on some Sony BMG music CDs. The company agreed to provide repair refunds up to $175 per person, and is offering software fixes, replacement CDs and free music downloads. Deadline: June 30.

-The estimated 1,145 Washingtonians who bought Spyware Cleaner software. The seller has set aside $75,000 to reimburse customers.

-The roughly 3,000 Washingtonians who enrolled in one of Trilegiant's many membership programs, including AutoVantage, Everyday Privileges God, and Travelers Advantage Service. Many of these solicitations, according to the AG's office, were checks for $2 to $10 that looked like a customer rebate. Instead, those who failed to cancel were charged membership fees.

-and others, including people who took out mortgages and people who may have unwittingly been billed for an e-mail service as part of their phone bill.

To find out more, go to the attorney general's settlements page, which details who's eligible for what, and how to apply.



Short takes and breaking news from the Washington Legislature and the state capital.