Abbott
AUSTIN (Legal Newsline)- A Houston-area weight loss and skin care company is being sued by Texas attorney general's office over claims the company engages in unfair and deceptive business practices.
Attorney General Greg Abbott on Friday filed an enforcement action against Momentum Direct LLC and its owners, Robert and Christopher Jones.
The complaint was filed after more than 600 complaints against the Magnolia, Texas-based company were lodged with the Better Business Bureau and after more than 40 complaints were filed with the attorney general's office, officials said.
A Harris County District Court, at Abbott's request, issued an asset freeze and temporary restraining order against the company, which also does business under such names as Momentum Health & Nutrition, Momentum Worldwide, Nutrition Tech, Nutrition Express, 20Minutefacelift.com and 2DaySlimdown.com.
An investigation by the state found that Momentum Direct ignored customers' cancellation requests, charged for products never shipped and continued to debit customer bank accounts for products that were never ordered, the attorney general's office said.
The restraining order bars the company from making unauthorized bank account withdrawals from customers who attempted to cancel their orders.
The attorney general said the company promised customers that its products would make them lose 6 to 12 pounds in two days. It also promised customers that the first bottle was free, that there was a free trial program and easy order cancellation, Abbott said.
Abbott is seeking civil penalties of up to $20,000 per violation of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act and $250,000 for any conduct that was calculated to deprive money or property from consumers age 65 or older.
From Legal Newsline: Reach reporter Chris Rizo at chrisrizo@legalnewsline.com.