Time is running out for veterans and service members who fell victim to Harris Jewelry's deceptive practices. New York Attorney General Letitia James is making a final call for claims to be filed for refunds from a settlement with the jewelry company. Defrauded consumers have until December 21st to seek their money back, according to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District's order to reopen the claims portal as part of the July 2022 settlement negotiated by Attorney General James and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). According to the settlement details, Harris Jewelry must cancel $21.3 million in debt for over 13,000 people and offer $12.8 million in refunds to another 40,000.
In a resolute pursuit of justice for the military community, Attorney General James stated to the Office of the New York State Attorney General, "Service members and veterans give up so much to serve our country, and they deserve to be honored and respected, not misled and defrauded." She continued, "I urge impacted New Yorkers to file a claim now to get their money back before the refund portal closes on December 21st." Her office remains committed to defending veterans and holding accountable any predatory business practices targeting service members.
Eligibility for the refunds extends to consumers who purchased items from Harris Jewelry and paid for its Lifetime Jewelry and Watch Protection Plan. Those who have not submitted a claim or did not receive feedback on previous claims should act promptly. With over 30,000 consumers still able to claim part of the remaining $8 million pool, the urgency is palpable. The Office of the Attorney General's Watertown Regional Office is available to assist and can be reached at 315-523-6080 for anyone facing issues filing their claim.
The narrative of the case spotlights Harris Jewelry's exploitative treatment of its military clientele. The company enticed service members with a financing program, claiming it would bolster their credit scores. Yet, these service members were shackled with exorbitant interest rates and substantial debt weighed against them, for jewelry of questionable quality. This often resulted in the tarnishing of their credit scores. Harris Jewelry similarly inflated prices, slipped in undisclosed fees, and leveraged claims of charitable contributions to Operation Troop Aid, Inc.
The conclusive settlement brokered by Attorney General James and the FTC, striking an accord across 18 states, demanded Harris Jewelry to halt collections of outstanding debts, refund afflicted service members, rectify marred credit scores, and disband its operations. Specifics of the settlement highlighted by the Attorney General's statement include "Harris Jewelry stopped collecting $21,307,229 in outstanding debt held by 13,426 service members. In New York, 443 service members had $756,644 in debt canceled." Additionally, Harris Jewelry negated judgments against 112 consumers, amounting to $115,335.64 and deleted any negative credit entries reported to consumer reporting agencies.
