Tip: for a free foreclosure listing try also the map below , they give
you the names of the people to contact without a fee. David
Maryland Attorney General Settles free foreclosure listings with Heavy
Hammer, Inc.
Website Operator Agrees to Return Subscription Fees
Maryland Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler today announced that his
Consumer Protection Division has reached a settlement with several
Annapolis-based website operators that offered information regarding foreclosed
properties.
Mon, 10/01/2007 BALTIMORE, MD (September 28, 2007 found at allamericanpatriots.com
)
The companies, Heavy Hammer, Inc., Allhud.com, LLC,
Foreclosurefile.com, LLC, Foreclosureway.com, LLC, Hudbox.com, LLC, Hudworks.com,
LLC, Reozone.com, LLC, USHUD.com, LLC. (referred to collectively as “Heavy
Hammer”), and Michael Urbanski, the owner of the companies, operated websites
that offered consumers “free searches” of databases containing information
regarding foreclosure properties “at no risk.” However, the consumer was
unable to obtain complete listings of properties without paying $9.95 for a
three day “trial” membership that automatically renewed to a monthly
membership costing up to $84.95 a month.
The Division alleged that consumers were misled when they were promised free
searches when, in fact, the searches were not free and Heavy Hammer did not
adequately inform consumers that their trial memberships automatically renewed
at a higher cost unless they cancelled their subscriptions in writing. The
Division further alleged that consumers were not told in advance that their
personal information provided to Heavy Hammer to purchase the trial membership,
such as their contact information and information concerning their income, would
be shared by Heavy Hammer with realtors and lenders. The Division alleged Heavy
Hammer and its owner made other misrepresentations, including misrepresenting
that their services had been endorsed by others when the endorsing companies
were owned by Heavy Hammer; that they had a relationship with the Department of
Housing and Urban Development when they did not; and that they overstated the
scope of the information it provided on its websites.
Under the settlement, Heavy Hammer and its owner denied the violations
alleged by the Division, but have agreed to stop:
* representing any goods or services are “free” if the consumer needs to
make any payment;
* offering any memberships or subscriptions that automatically renew unless:
o the automatic renewal is clearly and conspicuously disclosed to the consumer,
o the consumer specifically authorizes the automatic renewal, and
o prior to any automatic renewal, the consumer is notified of the pending
renewal and the method for cancelling the membership or subscription;
* sharing consumers’ private information without the consumers’ prior
consent; and
* making any misleading statements regarding their services and the endorsement
of their services by others.
Heavy Hammer and its owner also agreed to make it easier for consumers to
cancel their subscriptions. In addition, Heavy Hammer and its owner agreed to
pay a $100,000 penalty and $50,000 for the Division’s costs.
“I am pleased that consumers who were charged for services that they did
not want or use will receive refunds of their payments,” said Attorney General
Gansler. “Consumers must be provided with accurate information about how much
they will be charged and the services they will be provided.”
Consumers eligible for refunds under the settlement will be contacted by the
Consumer Protection Division.
Source: Maryland Attorney General
“There’s so much inventory out there that the buyer can pick and choose,” said Susan Sirles Fidler, a Realtor at Re/Max 10, Oak Lawn. But she cautioned, “The stuff that’s almost free is almost free because it’s going to cost you an arm and a leg to put it back together. It’s not buyer beware as much as buyer be smart.”
