Veteran Disability Attorney
GIBill.com looked like an official government website intended
to provide information to veterans about their GI Bill benefits. But looks can be deceiving.
The website was actually owned by QuinStreet Inc., an
internet marketing and media company.
The Attorneys General of several states sued QuinStreet alleging
violation of consumer protection laws.
They contended that the website purposely and deceptively gave the
appearance that it was owned or operated by the U.S. government.
The GI Bill is an extensive educational assistance program
provided to veterans. The bill gives the veterans the flexibility
to pursue education how they see fit – at public, private non-profit, or
private for-profit schools.
However, GIBill.com deceived veterans into thinking they
were making an informed decision about their education choices. In reality, the veterans were being deceived
and receiving information exclusively about for-profit institutions that were
clients of QuinStreet.
QuinStreet has settled the suit by agreeing to pay $2.5
million and, more importantly, turning over its GIBill.com website to the U.S.
Department of Veteran Affairs to prevent further fraud by QuinStreet.
The post-9/11 GI Bill was authorized by Congress in
2008. Through the program, the VA has
disbursed nearly $20 billion in payments to 759,000 people and their
educational institutions.
Providing education to our veterans via the GI Bill is just
a small token of appreciation for the sacrifice and service of these brave men
and women. Hopefully this action by these
attorneys general will send a message to others like QuinStreet that such
deceptive practices will not be tolerated.
To learn more or read the VA press release, please
visit: http://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=2345
No comments:
Post a Comment