11.18.16

Cantwell Calls for FTC Investigation into Reports that Office Depot Pushes Unnecessary Computer Repairs on Consumers

Cantwell: “We must stand up for American consumers and make sure they are not being deceived into making purchases with their hard earned dollars.”

WASHINGTON, D.C.  – U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) sent a letter to Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Chairwoman Edith Ramirez urging the agency to investigate allegations that Office Depot is causing consumers to buy unnecessary computer repair packages and software.

Under its PC Health Check program, the office supply chain offers “free computer scans” to customers, to check for the presence of viruses and malware.  According to reports, Office Depot often informs consumers of the presence of viruses and malware – even in new, unused computers, to convince them to purchase the costly repair services.

“American consumers rely on their personal computers now more than ever. Kids need computers for their school work; families need computers to keep track of their finances; and small business owners need computers to run their enterprises.  They are the gateways through which we live our lives.  In this context, Office Depot’s exploitative behavior is particularly disturbing,” said Cantwell. “We must stand up for American consumers and make sure they are not being deceived into making purchases with their hard earned dollars.”

Under federal law, the FTC may bring enforcement action against deceptive or unfair marketing practices.  Senator Cantwell urged the agency to use this authority to investigate allegations of such practices at Office Depot stores and to punish offenders if necessary.

A recent television news report by Seattle’s KIRO7 first exposed how Office Depot was misleading consumers.  The KIRO7 report and other news outlets discovered instances of the practice in stores across the Puget Sound region, in Oregon, and in Massachusetts.

Senator Cantwell has stood up for Washington consumers time and again during her career in the Senate. In 2015, she co-sponsored consumer protection provisions in the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2016 which ensured that flight passengers were treated humanely by airlines.  She also urged Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Director Richard Cordray to issue stronger rules to curb predatory payday lending, a practice that has been devastating to low-income populations across the country. Most recently, she co-sponsored legislation to protect consumers from ticket bot schemes that are significantly driving up the cost of tickets for sporting and entertainment events.

Full text of the letter can be found below.

The Honorable Edith Ramirez

Chairwoman

Federal Trade Commission

600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.

Washington, DC 20580

Dear Chairwoman Ramirez:

I have been made aware of attempts to sell consumers unnecessary malware to repair new and unused computers, as a way of increasing the sale of tech services offered by Office Depot, Inc.  Therefore, I am requesting that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) investigate these allegations. 

A recent news report by KIRO news of Seattle, Washington documents that many Office Depot stores in Washington State and in other cities across the United States are offering “free computer scans” that often indicate problems and result in consumers purchasing unneeded computer repair packages.

American consumers rely on their personal computers now more than ever. Kids need computers for their school work; families need computers to keep track of their finances; and small business owners need computers to run their enterprises.  They are the gateways through which we live our lives.  In this context, Office Depot’s exploitative behavior is particularly disturbing.

As you know, Section 5 of the FTC Act (15 U.S.C. Section §45) gives the FTC jurisdiction to bring enforcement actions against deceptive or unfair marketing practices.  I urge you to use this authority to investigate deceptive and unfair marketing practices Office Depot stores and to punish offenders.  I am requesting the FTC to investigate these marketing practices. We must to stand up for American consumers and make sure they are not being deceived into making purchases with their hard earned dollars.

Thank you in advance for your attention to this matter. I look forward to working with you to protect consumers and your timely response on this matter.

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