|
Affinion Group is a private company based in Stamford, Connecticut that provides customer engagement and loyalty programs. It is held by the private equity group Apollo Global Management and growth equity firm General Atlantic.〔(10-K ), Affinion Group Holdings, 2015〕 Affinion designs, markets, and services programs that deal with customer relationships for other businesses. The company claims to reach 170 million consumers in 17 countries.In 2006, Affinion Group was cited by Forbes as number 321 on its list of largest private companies.〔(''Forbes'' )〕 In 2014, Affinion reported a worldwide workforce of 3,700, with a 7 percent loss of sales from the previous year. As of March, 2015, the company had not reported a profit since 2004.〔(Alexander Soule, Affinion maintains Stamford workforce despite sales drop, ''Connecticut Post'', March 23, 2015 )〕 According to its Bloomberg Business profile at the end of 2014, Affinion had about 5,500 marketing partners, 59 million subscribers in membership and insurance services, and 62 million customers for loyalty programs and credit or debit card enhancement services.〔(Bloomberg Business )〕 Affinion markets accidental death and dismemberment policies to banks, to be provided to consumers as 'customer appreciation'. ==Complaints== On March 7, 2005, the company made a Settlement Agreement with the Office of the Attorney General of Florida. Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act, Chapter 501, Part II, Florida Statutes.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=AG Case # L01-3-1484 )〕 In July, 2005, the Attorney's General of Connecticut, California, and Maine brought a lawsuit against TLG/Affinion for allegedly deceiving consumers into enrolling in its clubs. In December, 2006 Trilegiant settled allegations of deceptive selling practices for failing to inform customers of auto-renewal on their membership products.〔(【引用サイトリンク】 title=Chase Bank, Trilegaint, Settle Negative Option Fraud Charges )〕 In 2013, Affinion settled allegations with 47 states that its companies misled consumers regarding membership in discount clubs. A $19 million fund was instituted to refund customers who had been subject to unauthorized charges.〔(Affinion settles with 47 states over misleading practices, ''Stamford Advocate'', October 11, 2013 )〕 Affinion acted as a third-party vendor for US Bank, which in 2014 was fined $9 million and compelled to pay $47 million in restitution, to resolve allegations that it had charged consumers for services that had not been provided. A spokesman for the bank said "We will be compensating customers who did not receive full services from Affinion, and providing our apology." According to an Affinion spokesman, some consumers were mistakenly billed for services, even though they had not provided the necessary authenticating information. In 2012, Capital One Financial was also fined over add-on products provided by Affinion.〔(Emily Stephenson, US Bank to pay $57 million over 'add-on' products, ''Reuters'', Sep 25, 2014 )〕 In July 2015, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau announced that Affinion had billed customers for services that had not actually been provided, claiming that the company owed consumers $6.8 million in refunds, and would have to pay civil penalties amounting to $1.9 million.〔(Feds Take Action Against Sellers of Non-Existent Credit or Identity Theft Monitoring Services, ''Forbes'', July 2, 2015 )〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Affinion Group」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
|