Hydro-Gel Promoters Settle Federal Charges

October 12, 2004
A Canadian-based fulfillment company doing business as Beauty Visions Worldwide and SlimShop have agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that they made false and unsubstantiated weight-loss claims for two purported weight-loss patches - "Hydo-Gel Slim Patch" and "Slenderstrip."

Under the terms of the settlement, the defendants are prohibited from representing that Hydro-Gel Slim Patch, Slenderstrip, or any other weight-loss product causes rapid or substantial weight loss without the need to diet or exercise. The defendants also are required to pay consumer redress.

"Fulfillment companies that are involved in their clients' misleading advertising can expect to hear from the FTC," said Lydia Parnes, Acting Director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection. "There is no product on the market that causes permanent substantial weight loss without diet or exercise."

The stipulated final order announced today prohibits the FSA defendants from:

• representing that Hydro-Gel Slim Patch, Slenderstrip, or other weight-loss products cause rapid or substantial weight loss without the need to diet or exercise; representing that these products work for all overweight users; or that these products cause permanent weight loss;
• reliable scientific evidence to substantiate such claims; and
• selling, renting, or disclosing the names of purchasers of Hydro-Gel Slim Patch and Slenderstrip, or any other information about those customers.

The settlement requires the FSA defendants to pay $72,422 for consumer redress, and it contains a $1,422,481 avalanche clause, which would become effective if the court were to find that the FSA defendants misrepresented their financial situation.

Report Your Experience
If you've had a bad experience -- or a good one -- with a consumer product or service, we'd like to hear about it. All complaints are reviewed by class action attorneys and are considered for publication on our site. Knowledge is power! Help spread the word. File your consumer report now.

Follow us on Twitter.

Back to the top |

Terms of Use Your use of this site constitutes acceptance of the Terms of Use

Advertisements on this site are placed and controlled by outside advertising networks. ConsumerAffairs.com does not evaluate or endorse the products and services advertised. See the FAQ for more information.

Company Response Welcome If complaints about your company appear on our site, we welcome your response. Please see the Response Form for more information.

For more information, see the FAQ and privacy policy. The information on this Web site is general in nature and is not intended as a substitute for competent legal advice.  ConsumerAffairs.com Inc. makes no representation as to the accuracy of the information herein provided and assumes no liability for any damages or loss arising from the use thereof. 

Copyright © 2010 ConsumerAffairs.com Inc.  All Rights Reserved.    The contents of this site may not be republished, reprinted, rewritten or recirculated without written permission.