SEATTLE – Two online companies that promised consumers “free” big-ticket items but required them to pay for trial offers and subscriptions must pay $55,000 in civil penalties under a settlement announced today by the Washington Attorney General’s Office.

SEATTLE – A defunct business that sold magazines on eBay agreed to refund consumers who never received their orders, under a settlement announced today by Washington State Attorney General Rob McKenna. 

SEATTLE – Weeks after Puget Sound Energy informed customers by mail that it wants to raise gas and electric rates, the company is seeking more money – nearly $6 million more than its original request. The Public Counsel Section of the Attorney General’s Office, which represents residential and small business customers, is opposing PSE’s request and today filed a response with the state Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission.

SEATTLE – While Washington has dropped from 7th to 13th in the nation per capita for identity theft cases reported to the Federal Trade Commission, many Washington residents still inadvertently put themselves at risk.

Attorney General Rob McKenna will visit Redmond on Friday, April 25, to promote identity theft prevention and assist the public in keeping sensitive documents out of the hands of crooks. Frontline will be on site to destroy sensitive documents for consumers and small businesses at no charge.

SEATTLE – Approximately 200 Washington consumers who paid for a service that they thought would help save their homes from foreclosure will receive partial refunds under a new settlement announced today by the Washington Attorney General’s Office.

Attorney General releases final gas price investigation report

SEATTLE – Six small businesses in Washington state that lost phone and Internet services when their telecommunications provider, NorVergence, Inc., went bankrupt in 2004 will not have to pay the full amount due on their rental contracts, the Washington State Attorney General’s Office announced today.

National City Commercial Capital Company LLC agreed to issue refunds or reduce the debt of 381 former NorVergence customers nationwide as part of an agreement reached today with 22 states.

SEATTLE - Washington Attorney General Rob McKenna today expressed concerns over the recently announced online advertising alliance between Google Inc. and Yahoo! Inc.

“Online advertising fuels the Internet’s vibrant and diverse content, and it is important that markets for online advertising remain competitive,” McKenna, said.  “In the event this relationship becomes permanent, my office will closely monitor its effects.”

UPDATE - Please see our updated response as of April 23, 2008 --here.

The Washington Attorney General’s Antitrust Division has received several inquiries and concerns regarding the new “print on demand” or “POD” policy recently implemented by Amazon.com. Individuals who have contacted our office claim that Amazon is engaging in “monopolistic practices.”

SEATTLE – A Washington-based company that sells search-engine optimization services to small businesses is prohibited from selling or advertising them to new customers and must permit cancellation of existing contracts, according to a settlement announced today by Attorney General Rob McKenna.