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Business ProfileforEar to Hear Healthcare LLC
Current Alerts For This Business
Additional business information
July 15, 2020
United States of America
FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION
MIDWEST REGION
Todd M. Kossow
Regional Director
230 S. Dearborn St.
Suite 3030
Chicago, Illinois 60603
July 15, 2020
WARNING LETTER
By FedEx
Michael Brown
Jason Petty
Ear to Hear Healthcare, LLC
10600 Chevrolet Way, Suite 207
Estero, FL 33928-4422
Allison Opp
Zephyr Hearing Aid Center
691 E. Cherry St.
Troy, MO 63379
Re: Deceptive Claims of Covid-19 Stimulus Relief
Dear Messrs. Brown and Petty, and Ms. Opp,
This letter informs you that Federal Trade Commission (FTC) staff reviewed a notice sent on your behalf to consumers entitled "CORONA-VIRUS PANDEMIC HEARING AID STIMULUS PACKAGE ANNOUNCED FOR MISSOURI" ("Stimulus Mailer") in or about May 2020. We have determined that you are unlawfully advertising that Missouri consumers receiving the advertisement are receiving COVID-19 stimulus relief for hearing aids.
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act ("CARES Act"), Pub. L. No. 116-136, was enacted to provide immediate assistance to individuals, families, and businesses affected by the Proclamation on Declaring a National Emergency Concerning the Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Outbreak. The CARES Act provides a $1200 stimulus payment to individuals and a $2400 payment for married couples, with an additional $500 payment per qualifying child. It does not provide vouchers to purchase hearing aids, and neither Ear to Hear Healthcare, LLC nor Zephyr Hearing Aid Center are authorized to provide any assistance under the CARES Act. Nor is there any Missouri COVID-19 or hearing aid stimulus package.
Some examples of the deceptive claims in the Stimulus Mailer include:
* The first page states, "Limited Funds Available. Call Today to Secure Your Stimulus Money. For Stimulus Voucher Appointments, Call Today!"
* The headline of the second page states, "CORONA-VIRUS (sic) PANDEMIC HEARING AID STIMULUS PACKAGE ANNOUNCED FOR MISSOURI."
* The second page states, "A HEARING AID STIMULUS package for Missouri residents has been announced and will go into effect immediately. National Government statistics have revealed that over one million individuals over 60 in Missouri have a loss of hearing that affects their quality of life."
* The same page states, "This HEARING AID STIMULUS will be initially offered through selected hearing aid dispensing practices serving Missouri counties. Missouri residents will receive a $1,000 voucher that can be used toward the purchase of (2) advanced digital technology hearing aids ($500 per hearing aid)."
* The mailer includes a document that is designed to look like a check made out to the recipient for $1,000, labeled "OFFICIAL AUTHORIZED VOUCHER," with instructions to endorse the voucher on its back.
Misrepresentations or deceptive omissions of material fact constitute deceptive acts or practices prohibited by Section 5(a) of the FTC Act, 15 U.S.C. § 45(a). You must immediately cease making all deceptive claims.
You are also advised to review all other claims for your products and services and immediately cease making any representations, directly or indirectly, expressly or by implication, that are false or misleading.
You should also act immediately to remediate any harm to consumers stemming from such claims.
Within 48 hours, please send a message to Jason Adler, Assistant Director, via electronic mail at [email protected], describing the specific actions you have taken to address the FTC's concerns. If you have any questions regarding compliance with the FTC Act, please contact David A. O'Toole at [email protected].
Sincerely,
Todd Kossow Director
Midwest Region
------------------------
For further assistance please contact
Federal Trade Commission
600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20580
Telephone: (202) 326-2222
Link:https://www.ftc.gov/enforcement/warning-letters/warning-letter-ear-hear-healthcare-llc-zephyr-hearing-aid-center
At-a-glance
Business Details
This is a multi-location business.
- Location of This Business
- 306 E New Haven Ave, Melbourne, FL 32901-4506
- BBB File Opened:
- 4/24/2019
- Business Started:
- 5/9/2007
- Business Started Locally:
- 5/9/2007
- Business Incorporated:
- 5/9/2007
- Licensing Information:
- This business is in an industry that may require professional licensing, bonding or registration. BBB encourages you to check with the appropriate agency to be certain any requirements are currently being met.
- Type of Entity:
- Limited Liability Company (LLC)
- Alternate Business Name
- Ear to Hear Healthcare
- Progressive Hearing, LLC
- RP Hearing LLC
- Business Management
- Marguerite McKnight, Manager of Customer Care
- Jason Petty, Manager
- Michael R Brown, Manager
- Contact Information
Principal
- Jason Petty, Manager
Customer Contact
- Marguerite McKnight, Manager of Customer Care
- Jason Petty, Manager
- Michael R Brown, Manager
- Additional Contact Information
Phone Numbers
- (386) 960-7862Other Phone
- (386) 310-4861Other Phone
- (386) 960-7862
Customer Complaints
0 Customer Complaints
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