ERSP Refers Advertising for Hazel Peppergood Work-at-Home System to FTC for Further Review After Marketer Fails to Respond to ERSP Inquiry

The Electronic Retailing Self-Regulation Program (ERSP) will refer direct response advertising for Hazel Peppergood Work-at-Home System to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) after the marketer, Hazel Peppergood, Inc., failed to respond to an ERSP inquiry.

ERSP is an investigative unit of the advertising industry’s system of self-regulation and is administered by the Council of Better Business Bureaus. The marketer’s advertising came to ERSP’s attention pursuant to its ongoing monitoring program.

Claims at issue in the initial inquiry included:

• “Get paid up to $1,872.00 Every Week, Like Me!”
• “You don’t need any experience and there is absolutely no training or computer work involved. You earn money simply because you mail literature that help [sic] companies generate sales.”
• “INCREASE YOUR WEEKLY INCOME NOW!”
• “GUARANTEED PAYCHECKS EACH AND EVERY WEEK”
• "I just received my check for $808, I would like to continue this for a lifetime. You’re a good company, may God continue to be with you.” [Shelly Harvell, Maryland] 

Following its failure to provide a substantive response to ERSP’s original inquiry within fifteen calendar days, the marketer was afforded a second ten-day period in which to submit a substantive response. The marketer did not do so. Pursuant to ERSP Policies and Procedures, this matter has been referred to the FTC.