Attorney General sues Conn. company for Consumer Protection Law violations

A Connecticut company that offered cheap membership programs to Pennsylvania residents deceptively advertised its products and violated the Consumer Protection Law, according to a lawsuit filed Friday by the state Attorney General's Office.

Attorney General Kathleen Kane is seeking a permanent injunction against Affinion Group, the parent company of Trilegiant Corporation and Webloyalty.com, all of Stamford, Conn., prohibiting them from doing business in Pennsylvania.

The lawsuit filed in Commonwealth Court claims the companies offered several dozen membership programs, including AutoAdvantage, Everyday Cooking at Home and Identity Theft Protection to consumers at membership fees ranging from $40 to $140 a year.

Consumers were automatically enrolled in one of the membership programs and unless they contacted the company to cancel the membership during the trial period, their accounts were automatically charged membership fees, the lawsuit says.

In addition to shutting down the business, the attorney general wants the companies to pay $1,000 for each violation of the Consumer Protection Act and $3,000 for each violation involving a victim over 60 years-old.