SEMA is opposing a California Air Resources Board (CARB) proposal to spend roughly $30 million annually for an Enhanced Fleet Modernization Program (EFMP) to augment the state's existing voluntary accelerated vehicle retirement program (scrappage).

The proposal would provide incentives statewide for vehicles not currently eligible under the Consumer Assistance Program by removing the existing requirements that vehicles be subject to and fail smog check to participate. Allowing vehicles that are not currently undergoing registration or that have passed their smog check to participate greatly expands the vehicle population that can be retired.

Participants would receive $1,000 or $1,500 per vehicle if they meet low-income requirements. The proposal would also establish a pilot voucher program in the South Coast and San Joaquin Valley air basins that targets the highest-emitting vehicles and requires their replacement with newer, cleaner vehicles. The local air districts would work with the Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR) to determine vehicle eligibility and low-income status.

Once approved, the districts would provide the applicant a Letter of Eligibility from BAR and a redeemable voucher. Consumers would retire their vehicle at a participating dismantler, receiving immediate compensation for vehicle retirement. Consumers could then redeem their voucher at participating dealerships toward the purchase of a replacement vehicle. CARB is proposing that the voucher compensation be $2,000 or $2,500 per vehicle depending on income level. Comments to the proposal are due June 24.

For more information, visit http://eshist.bna.com/cgi-bin/eshstate?ca_19346p1.

SEMA is opposing a California Air Resources Board (CARB) proposal to spend roughly $30 million annually for an Enhanced Fleet Modernization Program (EFMP) to augment the state's existing voluntary accelerated vehicle retirement program (scrappage).

The proposal would provide incentives statewide for vehicles not currently eligible under the Consumer Assistance Program by removing the existing requirements that vehicles be subject to and fail smog check to participate. Allowing vehicles that are not currently undergoing registration or that have passed their smog check to participate greatly expands the vehicle population that can be retired.

Participants would receive $1,000 or $1,500 per vehicle if they meet low-income requirements. The proposal would also establish a pilot voucher program in the South Coast and San Joaquin Valley air basins that targets the highest-emitting vehicles and requires their replacement with newer, cleaner vehicles. The local air districts would work with the Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR) to determine vehicle eligibility and low-income status.

Once approved, the districts would provide the applicant a Letter of Eligibility from BAR and a redeemable voucher. Consumers would retire their vehicle at a participating dismantler, receiving immediate compensation for vehicle retirement. Consumers could then redeem their voucher at participating dealerships toward the purchase of a replacement vehicle. CARB is proposing that the voucher compensation be $2,000 or $2,500 per vehicle depending on income level. Comments to the proposal are due June 24.

For more information, visit http://eshist.bna.com/cgi-bin/eshstate?ca_19346p1.

SEMA is alerting its members that a one-page form they may receive offering a "free" business directory listing is not free when you sign the form. Examples of business directories include “World Business Directory,” “Expo-Guide” and “The Fair Guide” and are generally operated outside the United States from the Netherlands, Mexico and Austria and other countries. SEMA recommends that you not complete these types of listing forms.

Here is how a “free listing” scam works: A group collects your company's name and mailing address from the Yellow Pages or other publication, and then sends you a form asking you to provide supplemental information (phone, fax, e-mail, etc.) for your "free" listing in their guide. Nevertheless, the fine print at the bottom of the page states that by signing and returning the form you have agreed to pay for the listing. It can be a substantial amount, such as 995 euros/year for three years. The group then sends you a collection letter several weeks later. If you don't pay, they continue to send dunning notices and threaten litigation.

While SEMA cannot provide advice on how to respond to collection tactics, we note that many companies have disputed the validity of the contracts and successful legal actions have been pursued. For example, the Austrian Advertising Council found The Fair Guide to be a breach of the Austrian Advertising Code and its operator, Construct Data, signed an agreement to cease mailing the misleading contracts from Austria and to cancel their demands for disputed monies. Here are links for more information on the three example guides:

• www.stopecg.org/world_business_directory.htm
• www.stopecg.org/expo-guide.htm
• www.stopecg.org/construct_data_fairguide.htm

Here is a link to a sample letter that may be sent to Construct Data when disputing a dunning notice: www.stopecg.org/cdcancellation.doc. It may provide guidance when disputing notices from other companies.

To file a complaint in the United States, you may wish to contact:

Federal Trade Commission
Office of Business Fraud
600 Pennsylvania Ave. N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20580
www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov
Tel: 202/326-2800
Fax: 202/326-2034
E-mail: OIG@ftc.gov

For more information, contact Stuart Gosswein.

SEMA is alerting its members that a one-page form they may receive offering a "free" business directory listing is not free when you sign the form. Examples of business directories include “World Business Directory,” “Expo-Guide” and “The Fair Guide” and are generally operated outside the United States from the Netherlands, Mexico and Austria and other countries. SEMA recommends that you not complete these types of listing forms.

Here is how a “free listing” scam works: A group collects your company's name and mailing address from the Yellow Pages or other publication, and then sends you a form asking you to provide supplemental information (phone, fax, e-mail, etc.) for your "free" listing in their guide. Nevertheless, the fine print at the bottom of the page states that by signing and returning the form you have agreed to pay for the listing. It can be a substantial amount, such as 995 euros/year for three years. The group then sends you a collection letter several weeks later. If you don't pay, they continue to send dunning notices and threaten litigation.

While SEMA cannot provide advice on how to respond to collection tactics, we note that many companies have disputed the validity of the contracts and successful legal actions have been pursued. For example, the Austrian Advertising Council found The Fair Guide to be a breach of the Austrian Advertising Code and its operator, Construct Data, signed an agreement to cease mailing the misleading contracts from Austria and to cancel their demands for disputed monies. Here are links for more information on the three example guides:

• www.stopecg.org/world_business_directory.htm
• www.stopecg.org/expo-guide.htm
• www.stopecg.org/construct_data_fairguide.htm

Here is a link to a sample letter that may be sent to Construct Data when disputing a dunning notice: www.stopecg.org/cdcancellation.doc. It may provide guidance when disputing notices from other companies.

To file a complaint in the United States, you may wish to contact:

Federal Trade Commission
Office of Business Fraud
600 Pennsylvania Ave. N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20580
www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov
Tel: 202/326-2800
Fax: 202/326-2034
E-mail: OIG@ftc.gov

For more information, contact Stuart Gosswein.

SEMA is alerting its members that a one-page form they may receive offering a "free" business directory listing is not free when you sign the form. Examples of business directories include “World Business Directory,” “Expo-Guide” and “The Fair Guide” and are generally operated outside the United States from the Netherlands, Mexico and Austria and other countries. SEMA recommends that you not complete these types of listing forms.

Here is how a “free listing” scam works: A group collects your company's name and mailing address from the Yellow Pages or other publication, and then sends you a form asking you to provide supplemental information (phone, fax, e-mail, etc.) for your "free" listing in their guide. Nevertheless, the fine print at the bottom of the page states that by signing and returning the form you have agreed to pay for the listing. It can be a substantial amount, such as 995 euros/year for three years. The group then sends you a collection letter several weeks later. If you don't pay, they continue to send dunning notices and threaten litigation.

While SEMA cannot provide advice on how to respond to collection tactics, we note that many companies have disputed the validity of the contracts and successful legal actions have been pursued. For example, the Austrian Advertising Council found The Fair Guide to be a breach of the Austrian Advertising Code and its operator, Construct Data, signed an agreement to cease mailing the misleading contracts from Austria and to cancel their demands for disputed monies. Here are links for more information on the three example guides:

• www.stopecg.org/world_business_directory.htm
• www.stopecg.org/expo-guide.htm
• www.stopecg.org/construct_data_fairguide.htm

Here is a link to a sample letter that may be sent to Construct Data when disputing a dunning notice: www.stopecg.org/cdcancellation.doc. It may provide guidance when disputing notices from other companies.

To file a complaint in the United States, you may wish to contact:

Federal Trade Commission
Office of Business Fraud
600 Pennsylvania Ave. N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20580
www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov
Tel: 202/326-2800
Fax: 202/326-2034
E-mail: OIG@ftc.gov

For more information, contact Stuart Gosswein.

SEMA is alerting its members that a one-page form they may receive offering a "free" business directory listing is not free when you sign the form. Examples of business directories include “World Business Directory,” “Expo-Guide” and “The Fair Guide” and are generally operated outside the United States from the Netherlands, Mexico and Austria and other countries. SEMA recommends that you not complete these types of listing forms.

Here is how a “free listing” scam works: A group collects your company's name and mailing address from the Yellow Pages or other publication, and then sends you a form asking you to provide supplemental information (phone, fax, e-mail, etc.) for your "free" listing in their guide. Nevertheless, the fine print at the bottom of the page states that by signing and returning the form you have agreed to pay for the listing. It can be a substantial amount, such as 995 euros/year for three years. The group then sends you a collection letter several weeks later. If you don't pay, they continue to send dunning notices and threaten litigation.

While SEMA cannot provide advice on how to respond to collection tactics, we note that many companies have disputed the validity of the contracts and successful legal actions have been pursued. For example, the Austrian Advertising Council found The Fair Guide to be a breach of the Austrian Advertising Code and its operator, Construct Data, signed an agreement to cease mailing the misleading contracts from Austria and to cancel their demands for disputed monies. Here are links for more information on the three example guides:

• www.stopecg.org/world_business_directory.htm
• www.stopecg.org/expo-guide.htm
• www.stopecg.org/construct_data_fairguide.htm

Here is a link to a sample letter that may be sent to Construct Data when disputing a dunning notice: www.stopecg.org/cdcancellation.doc. It may provide guidance when disputing notices from other companies.

To file a complaint in the United States, you may wish to contact:

Federal Trade Commission
Office of Business Fraud
600 Pennsylvania Ave. N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20580
www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov
Tel: 202/326-2800
Fax: 202/326-2034
E-mail: OIG@ftc.gov

For more information, contact Stuart Gosswein.

SEMA is alerting its members that a one-page form they may receive offering a "free" business directory listing is not free when you sign the form. Examples of business directories include “World Business Directory,” “Expo-Guide” and “The Fair Guide” and are generally operated outside the United States from the Netherlands, Mexico and Austria and other countries. SEMA recommends that you not complete these types of listing forms.

Here is how a “free listing” scam works: A group collects your company's name and mailing address from the Yellow Pages or other publication, and then sends you a form asking you to provide supplemental information (phone, fax, e-mail, etc.) for your "free" listing in their guide. Nevertheless, the fine print at the bottom of the page states that by signing and returning the form you have agreed to pay for the listing. It can be a substantial amount, such as 995 euros/year for three years. The group then sends you a collection letter several weeks later. If you don't pay, they continue to send dunning notices and threaten litigation.

While SEMA cannot provide advice on how to respond to collection tactics, we note that many companies have disputed the validity of the contracts and successful legal actions have been pursued. For example, the Austrian Advertising Council found The Fair Guide to be a breach of the Austrian Advertising Code and its operator, Construct Data, signed an agreement to cease mailing the misleading contracts from Austria and to cancel their demands for disputed monies. Here are links for more information on the three example guides:

• www.stopecg.org/world_business_directory.htm
• www.stopecg.org/expo-guide.htm
• www.stopecg.org/construct_data_fairguide.htm

Here is a link to a sample letter that may be sent to Construct Data when disputing a dunning notice: www.stopecg.org/cdcancellation.doc. It may provide guidance when disputing notices from other companies.

To file a complaint in the United States, you may wish to contact:

Federal Trade Commission
Office of Business Fraud
600 Pennsylvania Ave. N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20580
www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov
Tel: 202/326-2800
Fax: 202/326-2034
E-mail: OIG@ftc.gov

For more information, contact Stuart Gosswein.

SEMA is alerting its members that a one-page form they may receive offering a "free" business directory listing is not free when you sign the form. Examples of business directories include “World Business Directory,” “Expo-Guide” and “The Fair Guide” and are generally operated outside the United States from the Netherlands, Mexico and Austria and other countries. SEMA recommends that you not complete these types of listing forms.

Here is how a “free listing” scam works: A group collects your company's name and mailing address from the Yellow Pages or other publication, and then sends you a form asking you to provide supplemental information (phone, fax, e-mail, etc.) for your "free" listing in their guide. Nevertheless, the fine print at the bottom of the page states that by signing and returning the form you have agreed to pay for the listing. It can be a substantial amount, such as 995 euros/year for three years. The group then sends you a collection letter several weeks later. If you don't pay, they continue to send dunning notices and threaten litigation.

While SEMA cannot provide advice on how to respond to collection tactics, we note that many companies have disputed the validity of the contracts and successful legal actions have been pursued. For example, the Austrian Advertising Council found The Fair Guide to be a breach of the Austrian Advertising Code and its operator, Construct Data, signed an agreement to cease mailing the misleading contracts from Austria and to cancel their demands for disputed monies. Here are links for more information on the three example guides:

• www.stopecg.org/world_business_directory.htm
• www.stopecg.org/expo-guide.htm
• www.stopecg.org/construct_data_fairguide.htm

Here is a link to a sample letter that may be sent to Construct Data when disputing a dunning notice: www.stopecg.org/cdcancellation.doc. It may provide guidance when disputing notices from other companies.

To file a complaint in the United States, you may wish to contact:

Federal Trade Commission
Office of Business Fraud
600 Pennsylvania Ave. N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20580
www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov
Tel: 202/326-2800
Fax: 202/326-2034
E-mail: OIG@ftc.gov

For more information, contact Stuart Gosswein.

SEMA is alerting its members that a one-page form they may receive offering a "free" business directory listing is not free when you sign the form. Examples of business directories include “World Business Directory,” “Expo-Guide” and “The Fair Guide” and are generally operated outside the United States from the Netherlands, Mexico and Austria and other countries. SEMA recommends that you not complete these types of listing forms.

Here is how a “free listing” scam works: A group collects your company's name and mailing address from the Yellow Pages or other publication, and then sends you a form asking you to provide supplemental information (phone, fax, e-mail, etc.) for your "free" listing in their guide. Nevertheless, the fine print at the bottom of the page states that by signing and returning the form you have agreed to pay for the listing. It can be a substantial amount, such as 995 euros/year for three years. The group then sends you a collection letter several weeks later. If you don't pay, they continue to send dunning notices and threaten litigation.

While SEMA cannot provide advice on how to respond to collection tactics, we note that many companies have disputed the validity of the contracts and successful legal actions have been pursued. For example, the Austrian Advertising Council found The Fair Guide to be a breach of the Austrian Advertising Code and its operator, Construct Data, signed an agreement to cease mailing the misleading contracts from Austria and to cancel their demands for disputed monies. Here are links for more information on the three example guides:

• www.stopecg.org/world_business_directory.htm
• www.stopecg.org/expo-guide.htm
• www.stopecg.org/construct_data_fairguide.htm

Here is a link to a sample letter that may be sent to Construct Data when disputing a dunning notice: www.stopecg.org/cdcancellation.doc. It may provide guidance when disputing notices from other companies.

To file a complaint in the United States, you may wish to contact:

Federal Trade Commission
Office of Business Fraud
600 Pennsylvania Ave. N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20580
www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov
Tel: 202/326-2800
Fax: 202/326-2034
E-mail: OIG@ftc.gov

For more information, contact Stuart Gosswein.

SEMA is alerting its members that a one-page form they may receive offering a "free" business directory listing is not free when you sign the form. Examples of business directories include “World Business Directory,” “Expo-Guide” and “The Fair Guide” and are generally operated outside the United States from the Netherlands, Mexico and Austria and other countries. SEMA recommends that you not complete these types of listing forms.

Here is how a “free listing” scam works: A group collects your company's name and mailing address from the Yellow Pages or other publication, and then sends you a form asking you to provide supplemental information (phone, fax, e-mail, etc.) for your "free" listing in their guide. Nevertheless, the fine print at the bottom of the page states that by signing and returning the form you have agreed to pay for the listing. It can be a substantial amount, such as 995 euros/year for three years. The group then sends you a collection letter several weeks later. If you don't pay, they continue to send dunning notices and threaten litigation.

While SEMA cannot provide advice on how to respond to collection tactics, we note that many companies have disputed the validity of the contracts and successful legal actions have been pursued. For example, the Austrian Advertising Council found The Fair Guide to be a breach of the Austrian Advertising Code and its operator, Construct Data, signed an agreement to cease mailing the misleading contracts from Austria and to cancel their demands for disputed monies. Here are links for more information on the three example guides:

• www.stopecg.org/world_business_directory.htm
• www.stopecg.org/expo-guide.htm
• www.stopecg.org/construct_data_fairguide.htm

Here is a link to a sample letter that may be sent to Construct Data when disputing a dunning notice: www.stopecg.org/cdcancellation.doc. It may provide guidance when disputing notices from other companies.

To file a complaint in the United States, you may wish to contact:

Federal Trade Commission
Office of Business Fraud
600 Pennsylvania Ave. N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20580
www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov
Tel: 202/326-2800
Fax: 202/326-2034
E-mail: OIG@ftc.gov

For more information, contact Stuart Gosswein.