Penalty Amount
$23,500
New York Attorney General Letitia James secured a settlement with Frank W. Cawood & Associates, Inc. over mailers that advertised books as free or no-risk while obscuring payment and return terms. The company must end the program in New York, pay $23,500, and provide refunds to eligible consumers.
FC&A must end its free-trial program in New York, pay $23,500 in penalties, and provide full refunds to eligible consumers. It must also review internal records to identify consumers who requested but did not receive a full refund and consumers who reported confusion about bills or not remembering an order.
Review vendor and customer-facing agreements and marketing approvals for free trials, negative-option offers, and other promotions, ensuring price, shipping, tax, return, cancellation, and late-fee terms are clear and prominent before enrollment. Check vendor data-processing and customer-service obligations for complaint escalation, refund eligibility, record review, and prompt remediation; update customer terms and promotional materials to prohibit prechecked acceptance boxes or claims such as “free” and “no risk” when payment or return obligations apply. Employee-facing policies should require review and approval of promotional claims and complaint trends.
Entity
Frank W. Cawood & Associates, Inc.
Industry
RetailOfficial Press Release
https://ag.ny.gov/press-release/2026/attorney-general-james-secures-refunds-seniors-misled-free-book-scheme
frank w cawood associates inc assurance of discontinuance 20
https://ag.ny.gov/sites/default/files/settlements-agreements/frank-w-cawood-associates-inc-assurance-of-discontinuance-2026.pdf
New York Attorney General Enforcement Page
https://ag.ny.gov/press-releases
"Frank W. Cawood & Associates, Inc. (FC&A)"
"FC&A will also have to pay $23,500 in penalties"
"while obscuring the actual terms of the trial program in fine print."
"FC&A will end its free trial program in New York"
"provide full refunds to New Yorkers who were misled and paid for books they believed they would receive for free"
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