The FCC said that he repeatedly engaged in conduct that violated the federal wire fraud statute and the commission's rules. According to the commission, the proposed forfeiture penalty is the maximum that can be imposed.
The FCC told the entity that its application wouldn't be approved because it lacked enough information. The FCC approved Cleo's offer of documents with customer-identifying information removed, which she claimed was due to the Privacy Act. The FCC was told that it had been giving high-speed wireless internet to 500 customers.
There are dozens of nearly identical complaints.
All of the 41 complaints reviewed by the FCC focused on the same type of allegations. According to the complaints, consumers searched the list of participating EBB Program providers through individual states' Universal Service or EBB Program websites, the FCC website, or USAC's website. According to the complaints, Cleo failed to send the ordered product or provide the requested services, and then failed to provide refunds.
Eight of the consumers who filed complaints live in Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Massachusetts, New York, and Wisconsin.
An Illinois woman used the service to pay for her laptop. The woman didn't get a response when she reported that she didn't receive her laptop. She tried to reach out to Cleo via social media but she did not respond and she blocked her on both Facebook and telephone.
The FCC said that a New York woman "ordered an EBB Program-discounted tablet, laptop, 'Wifi box' and hotspot service from Cleo's website on July 13, 2021, and arranged payment of $108.94 on the website throughPayPal." The Bureau staff was rude to her and told her they didn't have to provide service to her, she told them. Someone told her to read the fine print. She exchanged a few e-mails with her friend.
Other people said that Cleo stopped responding to messages asking for information on the devices they didn't receive. Some consumers were able to cancel their payments using credit card or online payment service.
The eight consumers interviewed by the Bureau and other consumers who filed complaints with the FCC's Consumer Complaint Center all stated that Cleo did not deliver the EBB Program supported services or devices they ordered. Some consumers stated in their complaints that they were going to be sued when they asked for a refund.
The terms of service are shady.
The terms of service that Cleo cited when denying refunds said the company "does not nor will ever imply or agree upon a refunds, credits, or any other refunds of service or money to be returned to you."
leo communications has a PREPAID service. All services are available for purchase. According to the FCC, the terms state that Cleo Communications doesn't represent any warranty or give refunds for services. The Cleo terms state that "charge backs to us via any customer bank is breach of contract at any time and is subject to further legal action up to but not limited to small claims court actions for breaching of contract in the amount of what is disputed, any and all legal fees, court
They said you will be taken to court.
According to the FCC document, Cleo responded to customers seeking refunds by threatening to charge them for harassment.
On August 2, 2021, when a customer e-mailed requesting a refund, Cleo responded, "Our wish to hide behindPayPal instead of contacting us." We won't be giving you a refunds. We won't allow you to use your benefits as we claim them. You will be brought to court. It's called Cleo care.
On August 10, 2021, Cleo denied a customer's request for a refunds. You can see the terms of service that detail your rights. You have also been claimed. You will not be able to use our credit elsewhere. The collections of Cleo. In an e-mail with that customer, she said to read the email before ordering. We won't communicate anymore. harassment charges will be brought in Ohio if more e-mails are sent. It's called legal.
"We are not charging you or ignoring you, but we are not ignoring you, either," she said. Someone would decide if one of the refunds would be issued or not, after you requested one but were not told of it. You can see it at Kyty.xyz/terms.html. Do you know what was sent to the FCC? You have not been ignored with documents that you are. Legal affairs of cleo
The story was first published on Ars Technica.
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