Lighting X-Change Company, LLC
Also known as: American Industrial Enterprises, LMS Lighting and Maintenance Solutions, Easton Chemical Supply, Werner International Enterprises.
The FTC alleged that Lighting X-Change used misleading telemarketing to send unordered, overpriced office and cleaning supplies. Court orders banned specified sales practices, and a $720,000 settlement payment funded refunds.
Resolved. Refunded, settled, ceased operating, or the claim did not hold up. Kept for the record.
Identity
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- Registrations
- FTC v. Lighting X-Change Company, LLC (FTC federal court action, 2016)
- Locations
- Maryland
- Jurisdictions
- United States (federal)
Court orders followed unordered merchandise allegations
The FTC sued the Maryland-based Lighting X-Change operation in February 2016. The agency alleged that its telemarketers did not disclose that they were making sales calls, claimed to have prior business relationships with recipients, and offered supposed free samples or catalogs. According to the complaint, the operation then sent unordered light bulbs and cleaning supplies without disclosing prices and billed recipients above market prices. Businesses that paid could receive further unordered shipments and invoices.
The FTC said the operation used several names, including Lighting X-Change, American Industrial Enterprises, LMS Lighting and Maintenance Solutions, Easton Chemical Supply, and Werner International Enterprises. The sweep releases also discuss separate office supply defendants, whose conduct and monetary figures are not attributed here.
Court orders banned the Lighting X-Change defendants from telemarketing nondurable office or cleaning supplies and prohibited specified misrepresentations in other sales. A judgment of more than $6.2 million was suspended based on inability to pay. The release states that Benjamin Cox and TBC Companies Inc. were required to pay $720,000 as part of their settlement. A later FTC release describes the $720,000 settlement judgment as the source of consumer refunds.
In July 2019, the FTC mailed 3,615 checks totaling $708,586 to affected small businesses, nonprofit organizations, and other consumers.
What is not established: The supplied documents describe allegations resolved through stipulated orders. They do not report an admission by Lighting X-Change.
Sources
Every claim above rests on one of these. Open them and check.
- Enforcement action February 11, 2016
- Enforcement action July 11, 2017
- Enforcement action July 18, 2019
- Enforcement action July 18, 2019
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First recorded February 11, 2016 · Last updated July 18, 2019