{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://web.archive.org/web/20140221182406/http://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/a-black-friday-special-blumenthal-highlights-laughable-ludicrous-and-sometimes-dangerous-deceptive-advertisements_", "A Black Friday Special: Blumenthal Highlights Laughable, Ludicrous, And Sometimes Dangerous, Deceptive Advertisements", "2013-11-29", "2013", "2013-11", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Richard Blumenthal", "B001277", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Friday, November 29, 2013\n\t\t\t(Hartford, CT) \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) highlighted examples of laughable, ludicrous and sometimes downright dangerous and deceptive advertisements in Connecticut that consumers should be aware of this shopping season. He urged consumers to read the fine print on flyers, circulators, and online advertisements as they prepare to shop for holiday gifts on Black Friday and Cyber Monday.\n\u201cRetailers this holiday are taking hype to new heights with pitches and promotions fraught with tricks and traps. The ads promise blockbuster discounts and deals, but contain detailed, difficult to decipher fine print and footnotes \u2013 turning Black Friday excitement into buyer\u2019s remorse and Cyber Monday into internet regret,\u201d Blumenthal said. \u201cConsumers need to be aware and wary \u2013 and peruse the fine print before shopping. They \u00a0can protect themselves by out smarting the ads and knowing the real deal.\u201d\nSome of the tricks and traps that advertisers use to get consumers into their stores or onto their websites include: deceptive and overly broad advertisements, hidden fees at checkout, and emailed coupons that hide the fine print in links to other websites. For example, a JCPenney circulator advertises, \u201cNo interest if paid in full within 12 months.\u201d\u00a0 However, the extremely hard to read, white-lettered fine print says:\u00a0 \u201cMust request at time of purchase.\u00a0 Offer applies to window treatment purchases of $500 or more made between 11/24/13-11/27/13.\u201d\u00a0 In addition, the consumer must have a JCP credit card or a JCP Mastercard.\u00a0\u00a0And, if a consumer fails to pay off the amount within 12 months or fails to meet minimum monthly payments, the interest rate \u2013 charged back to the purchase date \u2013 jumps to 26.99 percent. So any small mistake by the consumer, like not asking for a no interest promotion or accidentally missing a payment, would result in potentially huge interest payments.\n\u201cConsumer protection agencies ought to be on the job, not on holiday,\u201d Blumenthal said. \u201cThe tricks and traps include hidden fees discovered at the checkout counter and emailed coupons that conceal the fine print in links to other websites. Numerous conditions, exceptions, product and store exclusions, charges and fees, make the ads ludicrous, laughable, and sometimes downright deceptive and dangerous.\u201d\nThe same tricks and traps are used online, especially when it comes to hidden fees. And cell phone companies are some of the worst offenders. For example, Verizon charges current customers $30 and new customers $35 to upgrade their phones \u2013 labeling it a one-time \u201cactivation fee.\u201d Similarly, both AT&T and Sprint charge customers a cell phone activation fee and phone upgrade fee of $36. Unfortunately, these fees don\u2019t come to light \u00a0until consumers are ready to click the \u201cComplete Purchase\u201d button online and their hearts are set on a particular phone. Apple also charges similar hidden activations and upgrade fees, but doesn\u2019t warn customers about them on its website. \u00a0\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tPress Contact\n\t\t\t\t\tKamara Jones \u2013 202-734-9344Kamara_Jones@blumenthal.senate.gov", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140221182406/http://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/a-black-friday-special-blumenthal-highlights-laughable-ludicrous-and-sometimes-dangerous-deceptive-advertisements_"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.8653691038489342, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}