State Recovers $50,000 From Telemarketer

After two years of legal battles, the attorney general’s office has recovered an additional $50,000 from a defunct Las Vegas telemarketer for consumer protection law violations.

Attorney General Alan Lance said the money will be used to pay restitution to scores of Idaho residents victimized by the company.

Lance said a prior court judgment ordered the company, Professional Marketing, to make refunds to Idaho residents. He said the company made $38,000 in refunds, but dozens of customers didn’t get a refund, or were told by the company that they had to meet nonexistent conditions or were offered far less than they had coming.

“After it became apparent that Professional Marketing had not complied with its restitution obligations, my Consumer Protection Unit pursued the company both in Idaho and Nevada courts,” Lance said.

June Rinck, Sandpoint, said she has been waiting to get a refund from Professional Marketing. “The amount certainly is appreciated,” she said. “I hope those unlawful telemarketers will some day understand the harm they have caused many people.”

Lance says his Consumer Protection Unit figures the amount recovered still is $70,000 short of what Idaho residents should have coming, but those who qualify will get proportionate refunds.