Go to Wolters Kluwer VitalLaw.comGo to Wolters Kluwer VitalLaw.com
VitalLaw®
  • Find answers to your questions
  • Log in to access your subscriptions
In depth. On point.
In depth. On point.
  • Home
  • Legal Directory
  • Home
  • Legal Directory
In depth. On point.
  • Articles
    • Articles
  • Law Firms
    • Law Firms
  • Organizations
    • Organizations
    • TOP STORY—Iowa Sup. Ct.: Alleged price fixing conspiracy more akin to “traditional health insurance”
    • ACQUISITIONS & MERGERS NEWS: FTC seeks comments on consent agreement on Novartis-GlaxoSmithKline acquisition
    • ADVERTISING NEWS: FTC halts auto shipment broker’s promotion of “unbiased” consumer reviews
    • ADVERTISING—N.D. Cal.: “No Sugar Added” claim truthful, despite use of concentrated fruit juice
    • ANTITRUST NEWS: Foam manufacturers denied High Court review in price fixing class action
    • ANTITRUST—E.D. Mich.: Auto parts supplier escapes price fixing claims, manufacturers not so lucky
    • ANTITRUST—N.D. Ohio: Settlements approved in polyurethane foam class action
    • CONSUMER PROTECTION NEWS: FTC settles action alleging product scam targeting Spanish-speaking consumers
    • CONSUMER PROTECTION NEWS: Identity theft, imposter scams top FTC consumer complaints
    • CONSUMER PROTECTION—N.D. Cal.: FTC, AT&T to address how FCC Order will affect litigation
    • LAW FIRM NEWS: Antitrust litigator Mark M. Elliott joins Phillips Nizer
    • STATE UNFAIR TRADE PRACTICES—C.D. Cal.: Customer not bound by arbitration agreement buried on marketer’s website
  • Articles
    • Articles
  • Law Firms
    • Law Firms
  • Organizations
    • Organizations

    Antitrust Law Daily Wrap Up, ADVERTISING NEWS: FTC halts auto shipment broker’s promotion of “unbiased” consumer reviews, (Mar 2, 2015)

    By Greg Hammond, J.D.

    Automobile shipment broker, AmeriFreight, Inc. has agreed to a settlement with the FTC to halt the promotion of “unbiased” customer reviews, while failing to disclose that the customers were actually compensated for their reviews (In th ...

    By Greg Hammond, J.D.

    Automobile shipment broker, AmeriFreight, Inc. has agreed to a settlement with the FTC to halt the promotion of “unbiased” customer reviews, while failing to disclose that the customers were actually compensated for their reviews (In the Matter of AmeriFreight, Inc., File No. 142 3249).

    AmeriFreight claimed on its website that the company has “more highly ranked ratings and reviews than any other company in the automobile transportation business,” the FTC’s complaint alleges. The website allegedly referred potential customers to online reviews through price quotes containing the following language: “DON’T TRUST JUST ANYONE, ONLY TRUST THE BEST”; “Google us bbb top rated car shipping’”; and “You Don’t have to believe us, our customers say it all.” However, the Commission alleged that AmeriFreight failed to inform potential customers that AmeriFreight provides reviewers with a discount of $50 off the cost of AmeriFreight’s services for their reviews, and a monthly $100 award is given to the consumer with the “best monthly review.”

    “Companies must make it clear when they have paid their customers to write online reviews,” stated FTC Bureau of Consumer Protection, Jessica Rich. “If they fail to do that—as AmeriFreight did—then they’re deceiving consumers, plain and simple.”

    The Agreement Containing Consent Order prohibits AmeriFreight from misrepresenting, in any manner, that its products or services are highly rated or top-ranked based on unbiased customer reviews or that their customer reviews are unbiased. AmeriFreight must also clearly and prominently disclose a material connection between any person providing an endorsement and respondents. The company has also agreed to maintain and make available to the FTC all advertisements and promotional materials containing any representation covered by the order, for a period of five years.

    News: Advertising ConsumerProtection FederalTradeCommissionNews

    © 2026 CCH Incorporated and its affiliates and licensors. All rights reserved.

    • Manage Cookie Preferences
    • Privacy Statement
    • Terms of Use