The Tampa Bay Business Journal reports that Thompson Publishing Group Inc. will pay over $1.2 million in refunds to Florida customers for unsolicited products they were receiving as part of Thompson’s “Automated Update Program” that periodically distributed and billed customers for publications without their prior notice. The Florida Attorney General’s office began this investigation after Thompson billed the office’s law librarian for a publication that she never requested.
Although the settlement only involves Florida customers, it would be wise for any library administrator to review its records and make sure that the library is only being billed for publications that it needs or wants.