A federal court has mandated Harris Jewelry to reopen its claims process and notify consumers, primarily active duty servicemembers, to submit refund requests. The court determined that Harris Jewelry breached a previous settlement with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and a multistate group led by the New York Attorney General’s Office by closing the claims portal prematurely.
The new claims process will be available for 33 days, beginning on November 18, 2024, and concluding on December 21, 2024.
Consumers who purchased items from Harris Jewelry and paid for a Lifetime Jewelry and Watch Protection Plan are encouraged to request refunds via Harris's website if they have not yet filed a claim or have not received a response after filing.
In July 2022, the FTC and a coalition of 18 states intervened to stop the national jewelry retailer from engaging in illegal financing and sales practices targeting military families. The complaint alleged that Harris Jewelry falsely claimed that financing jewelry purchases through them would improve servicemembers’ credit scores. It also misrepresented its protection plans as mandatory and added them without consumer consent. The company allegedly violated several financial consumer protection laws, including the Military Lending Act.
Under an agreement with the FTC and the multistate group, Harris was ordered to cease collecting millions in debt, provide refunds for protection plans totaling approximately $10.9 million, issue refunds for overpayments, and assist in removing negative credit entries related to debt from consumers' credit reports. Additionally, Harris is required to complete its shutdown of operations once it fulfills these obligations.
The court's recent decision responds to a request from the FTC and the multistate group to ensure consumers have adequate time to file refund claims following the 2022 settlement.
The Federal Trade Commission aims to promote competition while protecting and educating consumers. "The FTC will never demand money, make threats," nor will it "tell you to transfer money or promise you a prize." More information about consumer topics can be found at consumer.ftc.gov. Fraud can be reported at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Follow the FTC on social media for updates on consumer alerts and business blogs.
