DSSRC Case Decisions and Administrative Closures

Case Decisions

Case

Case #22-2020 – Competitor Challenge – BioReigns

BASIS OF INQUIRY

The Direct Selling Self-Regulatory Council (DSSRC), is a national advertising self-regulation program administered by BBB National Programs, Inc. This inquiry was commenced by MyDailyChoice pursuant to the competitor challenge provisions articulated in section...

Case

Case #21-2020 – Monitoring Inquiry – R&D Global d/b/a B-Epic

BASIS OF INQUIRY

The Direct Selling Self-Regulatory Council (“DSSRC”) is a national advertising self-regulation program administered by BBB National Programs, Inc. This inquiry was commenced by the DSSRC pursuant to its ongoing independent monitoring of advertising and marketing...

Case

Case #20-2020 – Compliance– Pure Romance, LLC

BACKGROUND

In 2019, the Direct Selling Self-Regulatory Council (“DSSRC”), a national advertising self-regulation program administered by BBB National Programs, Inc, commenced a review pursuant to its ongoing independent monitoring of advertising and marketing claims...

Case

Case #19-2020 – Monitoring Inquiry – Initial Outfitters, Inc.

BASIS OF INQUIRY

Case

Case #18-2020– Monitoring Inquiry – Tranont

BASIS OF INQUIRY

Case

Case #17-2020– NGO Inquiry – dōTERRA International LLC

BASIS OF INQUIRY

The Direct Selling Self-Regulatory Council (“DSSRC”) is a national advertising self-regulation program administered by BBB National Programs, Inc. This inquiry was commenced pursuant section D(ii) of the DSSRC Policies & Procedures.

Case

Case #16-2020 – Government Referral Report – New U Life

On December 20, 2019, the Direct Selling Self-Regulatory Council (DSSRC) published a report regarding the inquiry of product performance claims disseminated by New U Life, a multi-level marketing company located in Lehi, UT that offers a variety of health, wellness and weight-loss products including Somaderm which the company describes as “a powerful and innovative transdermal...

Case

Case #15-2020 – Monitoring Inquiry – Global Domains International

BASIS OF INQUIRY

Case

Case #14-2020 – Monitoring Inquiry – Paparazzi Accessories, LLC

BASIS OF INQUIRY

Case

Case #13-2020 – Challenge – Young Living Essential Oils, LLC

BASIS OF INQUIRY

The Direct Selling Self-Regulatory Council (“DSSRC”) is a national advertising self-regulation program administered by BBB National Programs, Inc. This inquiry was commenced by TINA pursuant to the challenge provisions articulated in the DSSRC Policies & Procedures.

Case

Case #12-2020 – Monitoring Inquiry – Aloette Cosmetics

BASIS OF INQUIRY

Case

Case #11-2020 – Monitoring Inquiry – Dose of Nature

BASIS OF INQUIRY

Dose of Nature (“Dose of Nature” or the “Company”) is a multi-level direct selling company that offers water-soluble CBD and nano CBD products for humans and animals.

The Direct Selling Self-Regulatory Council...

Case

Case #10-2020 – Monitoring Inquiry – Magnolia and Vine

BASIS OF INQUIRY

The Direct Selling Self-Regulatory Council (DSSRC), is a national advertising self-regulation program administered by BBB National Programs, Inc. This inquiry was commenced by the DSSRC pursuant to its ongoing independent monitoring of advertising and marketing claims in the...

Case

Case #9-2020 – Monitoring Inquiry – MyDailyChoice, Inc. DBA HempWorx

BASIS OF INQUIRY

The Direct Selling Self-Regulatory Council (DSSRC), is a national advertising self-regulation program administered by BBB National Programs, Inc. (BBB NP) This inquiry was commenced by the DSSRC pursuant to its ongoing independent monitoring of...

Case

Case #8-2019 – Monitoring Inquiry – New U Life

BASIS OF INQUIRY

New U Life (“NUL” or “Company”) is a multi-level direct selling company that was founded in November 2017 and is headquartered in Lehi, UT. NUL offers a variety of health, wellness and weight loss products including Somaderm™ which has been described as “a powerful,...

Case

Case #7-2019 -Monitoring Inquiry- It Works!

BASIS OF INQUIRY

The Direct Selling Self-Regulatory Council (DSSRC), is a national advertising...

Case

Case #6-2019 -Monitoring Inquiry- MojiLife, LLC

BASIS OF INQUIRY

Case

Case #5-2019 -Monitoring Inquiry- Aloe Veritas, Inc.

BASIS OF INQUIRY

Case

Case #4-2019 -Monitoring Inquiry- Pure Romance, LLC

BASIS OF INQUIRY

The Direct Selling Self-Regulatory Council (DSSRC), is a national advertising self-regulation program administered by BBB National Programs, Inc., This inquiry was commenced by the DSSRC pursuant to its ongoing independent monitoring of advertising and marketing...

Case

Case #3-2019 -Challenge- Team National, Inc.

BASIS OF INQUIRY

The Direct Selling Self-Regulatory Council (DSSRC), is a national advertising self-regulation program administered by BBB National Programs, Inc. This inquiry was...

Case

Case #2-2019 -Monitoring Inquiry- Southwestern Advantage, Inc.

BASIS OF INQUIRY

Case

Case #1-2019 -Monitoring Inquiry- Wildtree, Inc.

BASIS OF INQUIRY

Administrative Closures

Closure

DSSRC Administrative Closure #51

DSSRC contacted a direct selling company about three social media posts disseminated by its salesforce members. The subject social media posts came to DSSRC’s attention pursuant to its independent monitoring of advertising in the direct selling marketplace. Specifically, DSSRC expressed concern that the social media posts conveyed unsubstantiated product, health and wellness benefits that the...

Closure

DSSRC Administrative Closure #50

DSSRC contacted a direct selling company about two social media posts disseminated by its salesforce members. The subject social media posts came to DSSRC’s attention pursuant to its independent monitoring of advertising in the direct selling marketplace. Specifically, DSSRC expressed concern that the social media posts conveyed unsubstantiated product, health and wellness benefits that the...

Closure

DSSRC Administrative Closure #49

DSSRC contacted a direct selling company about three social media posts disseminated by its salesforce member. The subject social media posts came to DSSRC’s attention pursuant to its independent monitoring of advertising in the direct selling marketplace. Specifically, DSSRC expressed concern that the social media posts conveyed unsubstantiated product, health and wellness benefits that the...

Closure

DSSRC Administrative Closure #48

DSSRC contacted a direct selling company about a social media post disseminated by a salesforce member. The subject social media post came to DSSRC’s attention pursuant to its independent monitoring of advertising in the direct selling marketplace. Specifically, DSSRC expressed concern that the social media post conveyed unsubstantiated product, health and wellness benefits that the Company’s...

Closure

DSSRC Administrative Closure #47

DSSRC contacted a direct selling company about a social media post disseminated by a salesforce member. The subject social media post came to DSSRC’s attention pursuant to its independent monitoring of advertising in the direct selling marketplace. Specifically, DSSRC expressed concern that the social media post conveyed unsubstantiated earnings claims that individuals could make up lost income due to the...

Closure

DSSRC Administrative Closure #46

Closure

DSSRC Administrative Closure #45

DSSRC contacted a direct selling company about one social media post disseminated by a salesforce member. The subject social media posts came to DSSRC’s attention pursuant to its independent monitoring of advertising in the direct selling marketplace. Specifically, DSSRC expressed concern that the social media post conveyed unsubstantiated product, health and wellness benefits that the Company’s...

Closure

DSSRC Administrative Closure #44

DSSRC contacted a direct selling company about three social media posts disseminated by its salesforce members. The subject social media posts came to DSSRC’s attention pursuant to its independent monitoring of advertising in the direct selling marketplace. Specifically, DSSRC expressed concern that the three social media posts conveyed unsubstantiated earnings claims that individuals can make a minimum...

Closure

DSSRC Administrative Closure #43

DSSRC contacted a direct selling company about one social media post disseminated by a salesforce member. The subject social media post came to DSSRC’s attention pursuant to its independent monitoring of advertising in the direct selling marketplace. Specifically, DSSRC expressed concerns that the social media post conveyed unsubstantiated product, health and wellness benefits that the Company’s...

Closure

DSSRC Administrative Closure #42

DSSRC contacted a direct selling company about two social media posts disseminated by its salesforce members. The subject social media posts came to DSSRC’s attention pursuant to its independent monitoring of advertising in the direct selling marketplace. Specifically, DSSRC expressed concerns that two of the social media posts conveyed unsubstantiated product, health and wellness benefits that the...

Closure

DSSRC Administrative Closure #41

DSSRC contacted a direct selling company about three social media posts disseminated by its salesforce members. The subject social media posts came to DSSRC’s attention pursuant to its independent monitoring of advertising in the direct selling marketplace. Specifically, DSSRC expressed concern that the three Facebook posts disseminated by salesforce members conveyed unsubstantiated product, health and...

Closure

DSSRC Administrative Closure #40

DSSRC contacted a direct selling company about six social media posts disseminated by its salesforce members. The subject social media posts came to DSSRC’s attention pursuant to its independent monitoring of advertising in the direct selling marketplace. Specifically, DSSRC expressed concern that the six Facebook posts disseminated by salesforce members conveyed unsubstantiated product, health and...

Closure

DSSRC Administrative Closure #39

DSSRC contacted a direct selling company about thirty-five social media posts disseminated by its salesforce members. The subject social media posts came to DSSRC’s attention pursuant to its independent monitoring of advertising in the direct selling marketplace. Specifically, DSSRC expressed concerns that thirty-three of the social media...

Closure

DSSRC Administrative Closure #38

DSSRC contacted a direct selling company about five social media posts disseminated by its salesforce members. The subject social media posts came to DSSRC’s attention pursuant to its independent monitoring of advertising in the direct selling marketplace. Specifically, DSSRC expressed concern that four of the Facebook posts conveyed unsubstantiated product, health and wellness benefits that the...

Closure

DSSRC Administrative Closure #37

DSSRC contacted a direct selling company about two social media posts disseminated on behalf of the company. The two social media posts came to DSSRC’s attention pursuant to its independent monitoring of advertising in the direct selling marketplace. Specifically, DSSRC expressed concern that the two disseminated social media posts conveyed unsubstantiated product, health and wellness benefits that the...

Closure

DSSRC Administrative Closure #36

DSSRC contacted a direct selling company regarding one earnings claim and one health related product claim disseminated on behalf of the company. The subject claims came to DSSRC’s attention pursuant to its independent monitoring of advertising in the direct selling marketplace. DSSRC expressed concern to the direct selling company that the earnings claim conveyed an unsubstantiated earning potential...

Closure

DSSRC Administrative Closure #35

DSSRC contacted a direct selling company about a social media post depicting the company’s name alongside an image of a hand stopping a coronavirus particle. The subject social media posts came to DSSRC’s attention pursuant to its independent monitoring of advertising in the direct selling marketplace. DSSRC expressed concern to the direct selling company that the post conveyed unsubstantiated...

Closure

DSSRC Administrative Closure #34

DSSRC contacted a direct selling company regarding two Facebook posts that referenced the corona virus. The first post discussed the necessity to slow the spread of corona virus accompanied by a picture of the Company’s product. Viewers of the post are required to scroll down the screen to view language disclosing that, although the product has been proven to eliminate almost all viruses, it has not been...

Closure

DSSRC Administrative Closure #33

DSSRC contacted a direct selling company about two social media posts disseminated by its salesforce members. The subject social media posts came to DSSRC’s attention pursuant to its independent monitoring of advertising in the direct selling marketplace. Specifically, DSSRC expressed concern that two Facebook posts disseminated by salesforce members conveyed unsubstantiated product, health and wellness...

Closure

DSSRC Administrative Closure #32

Social media posts disseminated by distributors for a multi-level company came to the attention of the Direct Selling Self-Regulatory Council (DSSRC) pursuant to its internal monitoring process. More specifically, one Instagram post...

Closure

DSSRC Administrative Closure #31

Facebook posts disseminated by distributors for a direct selling company came to the attention of DSSRC pursuant to its monitoring program. One post referenced the corona virus and claimed that its products could act as an immune system booster. A second post stated that the Company’s products will help protect against Covid-19 and the corona virus. As DSSRC noted to the Company, the

Closure

DSSRC Administrative Closure #30

DSSRC reviewed a social media post disseminated by an independent salesforce member of a direct selling company. DSSRC expressed its concern that the Facebook post suggested that the Company’s products may serve as a form of defense against Coronavirus.

Closure

DSSRC Administrative Closure #29

Social media posts disseminated by the salesforce of a direct selling company were identified by DSSRC as communicating claims that Company products are effective at treating Covid-19 and the symptoms associated with the virus. More specifically, four Facebook posts came to the attention of DSSRC through its routine monitoring program which included claims about attacking virus accompanied by hashtags that...

Closure

DSSRC Administrative Closure #28

DSSRC contacted a direct selling company about two social media posts disseminated by its salesforce members. The subject social media posts came to DSSRC’s attention pursuant to its independent monitoring of advertising in the direct selling marketplace. Specifically, DSSRC expressed concern that two YouTube videos disseminated by salesforce members conveyed unsubstantiated product, health and wellness...

Closure

DSSRC Administrative Closure #27

DSSRC contacted a direct selling company about one social media post disseminated by a salesforce member. The subject social media post came to DSSRC’s attention pursuant to its independent monitoring of advertising in the direct selling marketplace. Specifically, DSSRC expressed concern that the Facebook post disseminated by a salesforce member conveyed unsubstantiated product claims that the...

Closure

DSSRC Administrative Closure #26

DSSRC inquired about two social media posts disseminated by the salesforce of a direct selling company that came to its attention pursuant to its DSSRC’s independent monitoring of advertising in the direct selling marketplace. DSSRC expressed concern that the two Instagram posts conveyed unsubstantiated product claims that the Company’s products can protect against COVID-19 virus.

Closure

DSSRC Administrative Closure #25

DSSRC inquired about two product claims disseminated on Facebook by salesforce members for a multi-level marketing company. The claims pertained to the ability of the Company’s products to treat COVID-19 and the symptoms associated with the condition.

Closure

DSSRC Administrative Closure #24

DSSRC inquired into a two product claims disseminated on Facebook by a distributor for a multi-level direct selling company. DSSRC expressed its concern that the social media posts conveyed unsubstantiated product claims that the Company’s products can protect against disease and the COVID-19 virus.

Closure

DSSRC Administrative Closure #23

DSSRC inquired into two Facebook posts disseminated by the salesforce of a direct selling company. The DSSRC expressed concern that the two social media posts unnecessarily referenced the COVID-19 crisis as an optimal opportunity to make money with the Company.

Closure

DSSRC Administrative Closure #22

DSSRC inquired into two product claims and one earnings claim disseminated on Facebook by distributors for a multi-level direct selling company. The claims were disseminated by salesforce force members regarding the ability of Company products to treat or prevent coronavirus disease and the earnings people who have recently lost income can make, or both.

Closure

DSSRC Administrative Closure #21

DSSRC inquired into a product claim disseminated on Facebook by a distributor for a multi-level direct selling company. The product performance claim pertained to the Company’s product being more potent than natural vitamins.

Closure

DSSRC Administrative Closure #20

DSSRC inquired about a social media post disseminated by the salesforce of a direct selling Company that came to DSSRC’s attention pursuant to its ongoing independent monitoring of advertising in the direct selling marketplace. DSSRC expressed concern that the post at issue conveyed unsubstantiated claims that the Company’s products can protect against COVID-19 virus.

Closure

DSSRC Administrative Closure #19

DSSRC inquired into hashtag claims disseminated on Instagram by a distributor for a multi-level direct selling company. The hashtags referenced a million dollar business and six figure earning potential included as well as a hashtag naming a specific direct selling company.

Closure

DSSRC Administrative Closure #18

In 2019, DSSRC contacted a direct selling company regarding several earnings claims on the direct selling company’s website as well as claims that were being disseminated by the company’s salesforce on social media.

Closure

DSSRC Administrative Closure #17

DSSRC contacted a direct selling company (the “Company”) about earnings claims disseminated on the Company’s website and on social media by salesforce members. Specifically, DSSRC identified a number of express and implied earnings claim that referenced financial freedom, exorbitant bonuses and vacations, luxury cars, the ability to pay off college loans and generous reward programs. The...

Closure

DSSRC Administrative Closure #16

DSSRC opened an inquiry into a multi-level marketing company regarding several business opportunity claims including aggressive, atypical income and bonus incentive claims that did not include disclosure of generally excepted results. The claims were disseminated on Facebook, in YouTube videos and on the Company website and were communicated expressly in the posts as well as through accompanying hashtags. More...

Closure

DSSRC Administrative Closure #15

DSSRC contacted a direct selling company regarding unqualified income and product performance claims that were disseminated by its distributors. The claims appeared on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. More specifically, the posts by Company distributors claimed unlimited income opportunities, earning potential of up to $2,000 per month, and claims of working part time for full time income and replacing full...

Closure

DSSRC Administrative Closure #14

DSSRC contacted a direct selling company regarding a product efficacy claim their products. More specifically, a claim from the Company’s international salesforce appeared on Instagram and claimed that the product can be used to treat COVID-19.

Closure

DSSRC Administrative Closure #13

DSSRC contacted a direct selling company regarding two claims made by Company distributors that potential recruits can achieve financial freedom and that their products have health benefits.

Closure

DSSRC Administrative Closure #12

DSSRC contacted a direct selling company regarding three income claims. Specifically, claims from Company salesforce members appeared on various social media platforms including YouTube, Facebook and Facebook Watch and included references to company representatives being able to financially support themselves, make “good money” and the kind of income they desired. In addition, another post included...

Closure

DSSRC Administrative Closure #11

In 2020, a direct selling company contacted DSSRC seeking guidance regarding company events at which top distributors are recognized. The direct selling company stated that it had previously presented some of its highest performing distributors with oversized checks at the event but, since the success of those top distributors was not typical, it was concerned that the oversized checks might convey an...

Closure

DSSRC Administrative Closure #10

DSSRC commenced an inquiry into a direct selling company regarding nine income claims. Claims from Company salesforce members appeared on various social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram and YouTube and included unqualified references to the Company’s bonus and incentive reward program including references to luxury automobiles and atypical income representations. Income claims were also...

Closure

DSSRC Administrative Closure #9

DSSRC reviewed claims by a multi-level direct selling marketing company. The inquiry included one earnings claim stating: “actually make whatever figure you wanna put in there..” and included references to earnings of up to $30,000 a month. Another claim stated that the Company could help “… people part/full time make an incredible income.”

Closure

DSSRC Administrative Closure #8

DSSRC investigated a multi-level direct selling marketing company regarding earnings claims that were primarily disseminated on Facebook. The claims involved the potential to achieve “financial freedom” and a substantial income or lavish lifestyle. One such claim mentioned that a mother who was working as a full-time teacher was able to earn over $28,000 last year as a result of selling the...

Closure

DSSRC Administrative Closure #7

DSSRC reviewed marketing for a direct selling company’s incentive trip reward. After discussions with DSSRC, the direct selling company included a disclosure informing consumers of what is needed to qualify for the incentive trip as well as how likely it is that the typical company representative would earn such an incentive trip.

Closure

DSSRC Administrative Closure #6

DSSRC investigated a multi-level direct selling company regarding its earning claims that were primarily found in posts on Facebook and in videos, which indicated that a lavish lifestyle could be achieved through selling the company’s products. The claims included buying a house with earnings from selling the company’s products and being able to generate several thousands of dollars in income per...

Closure

DSSRC Administrative Closure #5

DSSRC contacted a direct selling regarding marketing on the direct selling company’s website. Specifically, the company’s website included an unqualified claim regarding an incentive trip that could be earned by salesforce members.

Closure

DSSRC Administrative Closure #4

DSSRC inquired into the earning claims disseminated on Facebook by a multi-level direct selling company. The statements at issue mentioned the ability to earn a full-time income and the possibility of replacing one’s day job as well as earning perks such as all-expense paid vacations to exotic places.

Closure

DSSRC Administrative Closure #3

DSSRC inquired about income and incentive claims disseminated by a direct selling company. The claims at issue pertained to atypical and unqualified income claims and travel and incentive claims disseminated by company distributors on Facebook and YouTube.

Closure

DSSRC Administrative Closure #2

DSSRC opened an inquiry with a direct selling company regarding Instagram and Facebook posts made by the Company salesforce regarding claims of achieving “financial freedom,” a claim stating that potential recruits can “earn the income that want,” an unqualified claim of atypical earnings and an unqualified claim regarding company incentive trips.

Closure

DSSRC Administrative Closure #1

The Direct Selling Self-Regulatory Council (DSSRC) inquired with a direct selling company regarding twos social media posts disseminated by members of the Company salesforce. The first claim appeared on Instagram and stated that that the salesforce member was able to more than replace her salary from here previous, full-time job.