The internet never forgets. Neither do regulators. At LeadsMarket.com, we’d rather see publishers keep their profits than lose them to lawsuits or fines.
Compliance isn’t the responsibility of just one person or department — it’s shared by everyone in the organization, from interns to executives. Here’s why:
A major lead generation firm was fined by the FTC for making deceptive “loan matching” claims while indiscriminately selling consumer data. The core issue? Promising the “best rates” while using a bid-based lead distribution system. The result was a major enforcement action and a shutdown.
Takeaway: Any misrepresentation — intentional or not — can have serious legal and financial consequences.
Another company faced legal action after obtaining user consent for credit checks through hard-to-read disclaimers. Disclosures buried in fine print (e.g., extremely small font sizes) were deemed insufficient.
Takeaway: Consent must be clear, conspicuous, and informed. Hidden language does not meet legal standards.
- Always obtain explicit and informed consent for credit-related activities.
- Avoid unsubstantiated claims such as “95% approval” or “no credit check.” Ensure all marketing statements are backed by evidence.
- Keep privacy policies up to date and easily accessible to consumers.
Compliance isn’t about avoiding penalties — it’s about protecting your business, your consumers, and your reputation.
Note: Publishers that work with networks need to understand how their network partners operate. Don’t just copy other websites because it could be wrong, and that’s a disaster waiting to happen. If you don’t know whether a network offers “comparisons”, for example, then ask!
Want a compliance checklist or guidance? Contact us.
LeadsMarket.com helps publishers scale responsibly — with compliance at the core.
