Interlingual Agreeds to Pay Consumers Refunds

Telemarketers working for Interlingual, first called consumers claiming that they were conducting a poll or survey.

October 18, 2007

FORSYTH COUNTY NC NEWS -- A Houston, Texas company, Interlingual, has agreed to pay refunds to consumers for Interlingual products bought in North Carolina. According to Attorney General Roy Cooper, Interlingual used a tricky marketing pitch to sell its English language learning software. In the settlement agreement between North Carolina and Interlingual, consumers will have a period of 120 days to file a complaint with the Attorney General office, Texas Attorney General's Office, or the Better Business Bureau to get a full refund. Consumers can contact the North Carolina Consumer Protection Division toll-free in North Carolina at 1-877-5-NO-SCAM. For help in Spanish, consumers can call (919) 716-0058.

The Attorney General alleged Interlingual made telemarketing calls and in-home sales visits to Spanish-speaking residents of North Carolina to sell compact discs and printed materials designed to teach English. The telemarketers working for Interlingual, first called consumers claiming that they were conducting a poll or survey. The telemarketers then switched to a sales pitch and asked to set up a meeting with a sales representative at the consumer's home.

Furthermore, the Attorney General contends that Interlingual sales representatives told prospective customers that they had been selected to receive special scholarships or discounts of up to 50 percent off the purchase price. In reality, all consumers were quoted a price of $1,100 for the CDs and books. Other consumers were promised 20 free English lessons, but could only get their supposedly free lessons by agreeing to buy the CDs and books.

Attorney General Cooper said, "This company took advantage of people who wanted to learn our language. Now, we've won money back for consumers and gotten the company to change its ways. Tricking consumers is just plain wrong, in any language. If you think you've been the victim of fraud, contact my office. We're here to help."

Under the settlement agreement, North Carolina Attorney General office Interlingual will change its sales practices. The company has agreed to stop making false claims about scholarships, discounts and free lessons. The company also agreed to change its telemarketing practices. Interlingual telemarketers will stop making false survey calls and will not use automatic dialers and prerecorded messages without consumers' consent. Interlingual will make sure its telemarketers are properly trained to follow telemarketing laws. Finally, Interlingual will notify customers verbally and in writing in the same language used to make the sale, which is usually Spanish, about their three-day right to cancel their purchase. North Carolina law gives consumers three days to cancel a purchase if it wasn't made at the company's regular place of business.