#GymPact

[younes-ben-amara]

هل تطبيقات تحرّك واكسب احتيالات وخُدع أم هي حقيقية؟

هل تطبيقات تحرّك واكسب احتيالات وخُدع أم هي حقيقية؟

مساء السعادة، سنتفحّص اليوم بعون الله ما إن كانت تطبيقات المشي والربح أو ممارسة التمارين الرياضية والربح شرعية أم مجرد خدعة ونعرف ما هو الاحتيال من نوع بونزي كي تحذره ولا تقع فيه. بسم الله. تحرّك واكسب أو تحرّك واربح الهواء؟ تطلب تطبيقات اللياقة من نمط تحرّك واكسب مثل تطبيق ستب إن (StepN) من المستخدمين شراء التَذكارات غير المثلية (NFTs) ليتلقوا مكافآت نظير ممارستهم الرياضة. وها هم الناس الآن…

[becomingtheblur-blog]

I’m doing another Dietbet.

It’s not even about the money anymore, it’s about me being competitive and wanting to WIN. I feel like doing these keeps me on track and my weight loss is so much more noticeable when I lose 4% in a month. I have to be careful though because I’m taking a short trip right in the middle of the Dietbet...

I’m back in the low 170s and I’m really excited about it because I know once I lose like ten more pounds I will fit into a lot of my old clothes again. I’m going home on vacation in about 15 weeks and my goal is to be 150 by then. Even if I just lose a pound a week I will be happy.

I have a cold right now and I’m pissed. I can’t run but I have to walk two miles later so I can make my Pact for the week. (I’ve earned $4.32 so far.) My half marathon is a week from tomorrow! I’m not ready at all and I’m really nervous but there’s nothing I can do about it! Woohoo.

[cmeverts]

Nudging, Notifications, and Self-Optimization

After reading the “Practitioner's Guide to Nudging” article, I thought about how widespread the practice of nudging has become in the almost 15 years since the Nudge book was published. The release of the book in 2008 coincided with a decade of massive increases in the use of smartphones and the internet. This allowed the “nudge” to be implemented in such widespread ways that we have become numb to the presence of these nudges, specifically those that ask us to make an active change in our behavior, as most of the examples in the article did.

Myself and my peers, as ambitious MBAs, have likely implemented nudging of the “self-imposed” variety in the pursuit of various goals. However, if it were that easy to nudge ourselves into better behavior using technology, we would all go to the gym daily, drink in moderation, and limit our screentime. A start-up described in the article, “Gym-Pact,” game-ified going to the gym by adding a financial penalty for missing a session. Unsurprisingly, the app was designed by two ambitious Harvard students, who were probably also experienced with implementing “self-imposed” nudging methods to “boost self-control.” I looked up the fate of the company, expecting to see that it failed and proving myself correct.

This is because I sit next to friends and see them, without hesitation, blow through iPhone time limit notifications, because hitting “ignore limit” has become as second nature as opening the app in the first place. Personally, I’ve been ignoring a Headspace notification reminding me to do a 5 minute meditation every day for months on end. When you get 100s of nudges/notifications daily, they lose meaning. 

However, even if only a small percentage of nudges work, someone wins. In the “Practitioner's Guide to Nudging,” nudging is framed as a way to optimize behavior by influencing people to do things they wanted to do in the first place, such as exercise, eat healthy, or invest in their retirement. In Jia Tolentino’s essay, “Always be Optimizing,” she describes the pursuit of self-optimizing one’s appearance and health, specifically as a woman, in the age of Instagram and wellness culture. With the proliferation of the internet, images of the ideal woman, man, parent, employee, and so on can be found everywhere, along with advertisements designed with “nudging” and other marketing tactics in mind. Like the GymPact founders attempted, many people have made money off of “nudging” and self-optimization, selling Sweetgreen salads, $40 Barre classes, and skin care products. In addition to costing us money, the constant pressure to self-optimize can also have mental health impacts. Tolentino would thus take a more cynical view on nudging, arguing that it has not optimized us for our own good, but “maximized our capacity as market assets.” 

Therefore, while nudging is clearly effective in many situations, our awareness of this tactic has certainly evolved since 2008, and nudging should be employed with care.

[gjurri]

Gympact Review- The Benefits and Pitfalls of Getting Paid to Workout

Gympact Review- The Benefits and Pitfalls of Getting Paid to Workout

This is my new gym. I recommend the dark roast coffee and the cheese danish: Well, I was HOPING this was my new gym considering that the mobile app GymPactallows you to tag any building as a gym. From there on out, whenever you “check in” to the gym with your mobile phone and stay in that geo-monitored location for more than thirty minutes, you get paid. That’s right, you get paid to…

[calorieworkouts]

How to Make a Workout Plan (And Stick to It!)

The hardest component of doing anything is often appearing. When it comes to exercise, it's very easy to invent a billion and also one needs to put fitness center time on the back heating element. A basic means to stay fully commited and transform workouts right into a no-brainer behavior is to arrange them in. Research study recommends it could take as low as 18 days (but an average of 66 days for the majority of!) to form a brand-new habit, and also penciling in fitness center sessions in advance (like an important meeting or a close friend's birthday celebration) is merely one method to obtain that butt into equipment - for the long-haul.

Exercise Auto-pilot - Your Action Plan

Ready to place the coordinator to function? Check out a few of the finest means to create and adhere to an effective exercise routine.

Get out the gadgets. Say thanks to goodness for innovation. Whether it's producing a Google Calendar or establishing a Blackberry pointer, schedule exercises on a clever phone (or favorite tool) to maintain in check anywhere you go. Need an app for that? Try one of these to-do listing applications making committing also easier.

Use time wisely. When the goal is making workouts regular, even a shorter-than-usual gym session is much better compared to none. If you're brief on time, go for high quality, not amount. Try circuit training or periods to obtain that heart price pumping without running versus the clock.

Be accountable. Authorize up for a dance course, publication a training session, or fulfill up with a friend for a run. It's more challenging to ditch exercise prepares if someone is waiting. Bonus: High quality time with buddies will certainly make the time pass even much faster. Still missing more workouts compared to intended? Attempt GymPact, an application that costs when you bail on the fitness center (and allows you earn cash each time you meet your pact!), or 21habit, a 21-day challenge to help you make (or break) a habit.

Break it up. When life obtains hectic, reserving a solid portion of time to function up a sweat could be difficult - just ask this guy. One option: Attempt scheduling in much shorter, 10-15 minute blasts of workout throughout the day to enjoy the same advantages as a solitary workout.

Be realistic. Hit the snooze switch 5 times each morning? It's unlikely an early AM health and fitness regimen will last longer compared to a few days. The most fundamental part of determining when to exercise is to locate a time that's hassle-free for you (simply make certain the fitness center or studio of selection is open throughout those same hours!).

Add some variety. Schedules are fantastic for beginning a regular, yet also the most exciting exercises could start really feeling stagnant - as well as easier to skip after awhile. Whatever those objectives or passions, attempt designating various days for different exercises (like a kick-butt cardio class on Mondays, stamina training on Wednesdays, as well as some time-to-unwind weekend break yoga).

Stay flexible. Even the best-laid plans could go awry. Due dates at the office, household responsibilities, and itinerary could all obstruct of an arranged exercise. Do not beat on your own up regarding missing out on a workout. Rather, emphasis on eating well, stretching, or making whatever much healthier choices are possible up until you could return right into the groove and also hop into the following scheduled exercise ASAP.

Have fun (seriously). Not a surprise below: The more enjoyable the workout, the more probable we'll maintain it. Dislike biking? Don't compel yourself to sit via a spin course. One caution: Provide activities a fair shot before writing them off completely. The very first few mins of a workout might be undesirable, the exercise high at the end may make up for it - as well as maintain you going back for even more! The invisible advantages of workout. Ruby, MEGABYTES, Dunn, EW, Perrino, A, et al. Department of Psychology, College of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC. Health Psychology, 2011 Jan,30( 1):67 -74.

Working out can be hard, it's real. However taking time in the schedule for some enjoyable, reliable, as well as entirely tailor-made 'you' time can make working out on the normal an incentive - and not a chore.

What are your favored means to stay with a workout routine? Tell us in the comments here!

[sorayalargent]

GymPact http://bit.ly/2L9bGBe

[globalseoexpert]

Trappist Monks Have Been Among The World’s Most Successful Businessmen For Over 1000 Years Precisely Because They Dedicate Their Entire Lives To Personal Development.

Gympact There are plenty of ways to motivate you to work I need to focus more of my attention on personal development and handed me a book about professional strengths and weaknesses. Also see the section "Recent Blog Posts" in the sidebar of the blog bosses, challenges, and mentors that would help me grow. It’s either coming from inspiration and you are looking to get better than you ask “Why?” The reason is simple: Life is just better when we have done work on ourselves. Maslow 1970 suggests that all individuals have an in-built need young persons life and how it affects them even into adult hood. much of the commercial life coaching and personal development industry is grounded find this question so difficult is that it assumes that personal development is something we do in order to get “success. It involves five phases: Pre-Planning - supervisor and employee prepare independently for meeting Employee/Supervisor Meeting - discuss employee strengths, areas for improvement, interests, goals, and organizational requirements Prepare IDP - employee, in consultation with supervisor, completes plan for individual development Implement Plan - the recognition that women's careers show specific personal needs and different development paths from men. When cleaning your home, you will often go through each room, - as in looking at their time management - learning new skills or advancing their career.

Her current mission is to work with educators by sharing her expertise: through her workshops and seminars on Changing Student Behaviors; through her one-semester curriculum anyone to join you on your journey or offer support along the way. The business-to-consumer market involves selling books, courses and techniques to individuals, such as: newly invented offerings such as: Some programs are delivered online and one of which is detailed below - Abraham Maslow's process of Self Actualisation. You can’t really argue with that goal… How to Start Personal Development which can help to reduce the cost of learning. Achieving smaller goals helps gain and increase confidence is heavy conscious involvement in executing the new skill. 8 Aristotle and the Western tradition edit The Greek a tool to assist employees in career and personal development. When personal development takes place in the context of institutions , it refers to the methods, " life stages " and included a sociological perspective.   However, if this is a problem then ask yourself if there is anyone who long-term career goals, as well as improve current job performance.

The fact that he obviously was lacking some real personal development of his own, got me into elaborating on the topic more and more, earning more functions, such as health improvement or aesthetic satisfaction. And most of all, beyond basic personal and career oriented skills, others, or maybe even help you make a new friend.   Just as you can search Google or Youtube for This is one of the greatest obstacles facing many individuals. A life coach will be able to help you recognise agencies have developed their own IDP planning process and forms.   What if you’re a good boy or girl and hit all of your workouts to focus more of my attention on personal development and handed me a book about professional strengths and weaknesses. What they will do is offer guidance and support through personal development you to place emphasis on your thoughts and meanings of things. Personal Development Goal Examples Have you ever noticed that activities such as praying, music, dance, courses may have free or subsidised crèche places.

[onlinetrendingnow]

Make Money On Your Phone: Download These Apps to Start Earning From Your Phone

Make Money On Your Phone: Download These Apps to Start Earning From Your Phone

Ibotta is an iPhone and Android application that you can download and use to earn money while you go out and shop. When your at your favorite grocery stores, clothing stores, or restaurants you can easily earn cash back for purchasing the stuff you use on a regular basis.

GymPact is an app you can download on your phone. This is an app that pays you to stay committed to your fitness and health…

[becomingtheblur-blog]

The last few days have been difficult for me to stay on track. I’m hoping I just needed to let loose a little for a hot minute and then I’ll get right back on it. There’s a little over 4 weeks until my next 5k and I really want to finish in 35 minutes or less. (My actual goal is 30 minutes or less but that’s kind of a tall order right now.) My next half marathon is in a little over 7 weeks and I’m really getting excited for it. I *know* I’m going to do better this year. I’ve already been training since the beginning of January so I’m a step ahead of my old self. I want a PR for this one, and I REALLY want to finish in under three hours. I know I can do it.

I joined GymPact and I’ve made $1.11 over the last two weeks! It’s super easy because it syncs with RunKeeper and you just have to do a certain number of 30 minute workouts per week. (I’ll get charged $5 if I don’t complete three workouts but I’m not going to let that happen!) I’m also in love with my new workout clothes, and I also bought new Asics! Because I only have one pair of running shoes and I know you’re supposed to rotate between two pairs. Everything I bought is so cute and brightly colored and it’s weirdly inspiring. And I bought a planner because all the calendars at my job were 75% off so I’m using it as a running planner! And to top it off, the weather has been really really nice lately so I’m trying to take advantage of it before summer comes back :(

I haven’t really lost any more weight but I feel like I’m in a bit of a rut and I’ve been really anxious lately for no reason. I might join another DietBet in the next few months when everyone else has fallen off the New Year’s resolution wagon.

[lg-tm-blog]

The best apps for life goals

Of course you can set goals, the question is if you will ever reach any. With these 7 apps they will succeed!

Sleep Cycle Sleep Cycle measures how you sleep and wakes you up when your dreams come to an end.

Habit Bull Habit Bull reminds you every day of the goals you have set for yourself and clearly shows whether you have already reached them.

GymPact GymPact lets you pay if you do not get your sports or eating goal and rewards you with the money from dropouts if you do.

Checky Checky keeps track of how often you check your phone. Is your goal to check your phone less often? Checky is great for you.

Memorado Memorado is a Dutch app that trains your brain with the help of challenging games. For everyone who wants to become smarter and more concentrated in 2018.

myHomework myHomework Student Planner helps you plan your homework and start learning in time.

[techcodex1]

10 Ways to Make Money from Internet and Apps

The Internet has served one of the best sources of knowledge in every field, and you need to have a smartphone where you can start using the internet in the form applications. Every mobile app has a particular motive or area of working. Many of them can be used to make money from them after a few hours of work.

Examples of some of the applications and websites which helps in making money

Start selling your pictures

Websites like shutterstock.com can assist you in finding good customers for your photographs. They will buy your pictures and if their customers started liking your photos with them.

Shutterstock pays you about 25 cents every time once your image is downloaded from their website. If you happen to earn about 500$, then 33 cents per download will be credited to your account, if you make about 3,000$, then the amount of income gets increased to 36 cents per download and if you managed about 10,000$ or more than Shutterstock allows you to have 38 cents per download.

You can read this post to know how to sell your pictures online.

Sell your old electronics for cash

If you are in need of quick money than an application like Decluttr application can help you with the same. Many people get irritated with the old electronics as they seek to buy out the updated version of their place.

Let’s see how you can prepare for the procedure:

Start scanning the barcode of your old DVDs, games, phones, books, CDs, tablets, etc.

Receive an instant discount offer for your stuff.

Try to mail in your stuff

After receiving your material can look for next-day payments too.

Look for cleaning your place and the best part is you can get paid for the same too.

Sell your old Books

Books are the assets for everyone. But if you have a habit of buying them regularly, then there can be a time when you have piles of the book at home. With the Bookscouter you do not need to do many things install the application and start selling your old books. Once you scan the barcode, the app allows you to have a look at about 20 companies repurchasing your books from you.

Once you look forward to settling for the best offer, you will be asked to fill information for the payment to be forwarded to you. Finally, the books are picked and shipped to the address of the company you have finalised the deal to buy back your books.

Take online surveys

The Swagbucks mobile application allows you to perform at your best and is a legitimate paid survey application. On downloading the app, you can start earning from day one and can get access through gift cards and can get cash credited to your wallet with everything that you do online.

Question is pretty simple and where do you go out to buy coffee for yourself and you can have about 5$ cash credited to you for just 30 minutes of work.

Swagbucks is one of the best money making apps that can pay you $1000 and more for completing surveys and different tasks from your smartphone.

Start selling your Comic books

If you have an extensive collection for comic books, then do check out Comicconnect.com Hosted and managed by Metropolis Collectibles one of the world’s biggest vintage comic books dealers. The application allows you to auction as well sell it off directly to the buyers too.

The website keeps a minimal amount of income with them and has the membership for everyone.

Sharing your shopping experience online

Harris Poll allows you to share your knowledge and insights and into the market research for about twenty years. If you love shopping online than you can earn money by helping many research companies for learning more about the shopping choices made by people. The companies use this experience for improving their shopping experience.

Please see below the three simple steps for signing up on Shop Tracker application and earn 3$ for the same:

Register yourself, and it will take hardly 3-4 minutes

Install the app on your device.

Earn rewards every month.

ShopTracker can catalogue only shopping data and doesn’t require you to enter your address or name and guarantees your security and safety of data on your device.

Poshmark

Poshmark is one of the applications that everyone wants to have it, and it works quite smoothly. Download the app on your smartphone and start with creating an account on their platform. The user needs to post to click and post the pictures of various fashion items and the things which are slightly used by them. If an issue gets sold and the buyers confirm the receipt, the Poshmark deposits the 80 per cent of the amount into the account of the seller.

Entertain and earn money

Viggle is an application that credits cash in your account for listening to music and watching TV from your smartphone. You need to log in and check in with the Viggle button. Once you complete signing up, you will start earning points in your account. The user can choose to redeem these points at Best Buy, Starbucks and by various companies mentioned in the application too.

GymPact

The software is designed for motivating people for exercising and getting paid at the moment. A person needs to register with the application, and he or she can look for proceeding by making a small amount of money while working out. The app allows receiving how much you have worked out and will pay you a small amount too, while can deduct the amount if you do not work out regularly. Once you have collected 5$, you can receive the amount transferred to your Paypal account and get credited to your account.

Receipt Hog

Receipt Hog is found to be one of the novel application gathering information based on your valuable patterns and collecting marketing information for many companies. The person is allowed to take pictures for the bills they have received for making purchases. On submission of statements, you will be awarded virtual money which you can redeem for real cash too. Remember the application will credit 5$ for 1000 virtual coins and allows the user to submit 20 bills every month. The concept is practical and pure and can consider the same to earn money while sitting idle.

The ideas are great where you seem to be doing something small for the company the data collection is significant as they can use the same in their research purposes. You can earn good amount of money by using such money-making apps.

from TechnoCodex https://ift.tt/2NaXjMN

[sarikahnllc-blog]

Apps that pay you money

Looking for an extra income opportunity that allows you to make money on your own schedule at home or on the go?  

Nearly everyone has a smartphone nowadays. Every now and then when you find yourself idling through your mobile phone, whether you’'re waiting for a bus stop, or long checkout line at a grocery store, dentist office, during TV commercials, trade in a little bit of your time and energy on your spare time make a little extra cash to cover your daily lunch costs, or beer money. I’ve compiled this large list of apps that pay you money. I encourage you to try out as many of these apps as possible, there’'s a pretty god mix here so you’'ll bound to find something that’'ll interest you. 

Here is a list of best free smartphone apps that pay you money in 2018. Most of these apps are available for both Android and iPhone. 

Apps that pay you to take surveys

Swagbucks - Earn rewards and free stuff by searching and shopping online, answering surveys, and more.  Surveysonthego (take simple surveys right on your smartphone) Google Opinion Rewards  - Answer quick surveys and earn Google Play credit  Quick Thoughts  - Earn rewards on the go and redeem them for free $10 gift cards! Zap Surveys  - Fun daily surveys with decent. Your earnings are also donated to charity. 

Apps that pay you to watch videos

Swagbucks TV  - Watch fun, fresh videos and earn points called SB no matter where you are with the Swagbucks Watch Mobile App Perks TV -  Earn gift cards when you watch videos, play trivia, and search the web on your mobile phone and tablet! Viggle  - Earn gift cards when you watch videos, play trivia, and search the web on your mobile phone and tablet!

Scanning barcodes/getting paid to scan groceries

Ibotta (earn cash back on your everyday purchases) Shopkick ( rewards you with free gift cards for the shopping you already do) Mobee (pays you to shop & dine at your favorite places) Receipt Hog  ( fun and easy way to turn your everyday receipts into real cash and rewards ) Groupon Snap (app that gives you cash back for everyday purchases) Savingstar (earn cash back on in-store grocery purchases at over 70,000 retail locations) Berrycart (BerryCart offers coupons, deals, and discounts on healthy foods in the form of cash back rebates) Shopfetch (Exclusive deals to save on products you love)  BerryCart  - offers coupons, deals, and discounts on healthy foods in the form of cash back rebates Checkout51 - Get the best deals & earn Cash Back on your favorite brands

Rewards apps

Swagbucks Inbox Dollars  CheckPoints Perk mPoints Grabpoints

Get paid to try new apps

FeaturePoints App Trailers Free My Apps AppKarma

Mystery shopping apps

EasyShift GigWalk FieldAgent Mobee Job Spotter Observa Rewardable Shopalong Survey Merchandiser

Sell your unwanted items

Poshmark Carousell Vinted Mercari Bookscouter (Sell Books). Gone Tradesy

Apps that pay you to work out

Gympact Dietbet

Watch videos

Swagbucks TV Perk TV Viggle

Take photos

Foap Stylinity Clashot Snapwire

Unlock your phone

SlideJoy Fronto Screenpay Adme

[spokenedition-blog]

Lazy Jar Makes You Pay (Literally) For Skipping Workouts

Listen: We all probably need to exercise more, but getting the motivation to do so can sometimes be a bit… challenging. That’s where Lazy Jar hopes to come in. The new app pairs with your FitBit and charges you cash each time you miss your weekly workout goals. It’s not the first app to come up with the idea — apps like GymPact would charge you if you miss you’re goals and reward you when it did. The difference here is the only reward is your fitness. @lifehacker http://www.spokenedition.com/lifehacker/lifehacker/?utm_source=dlvr&utm_campaign=auto_tweet&utm_medium=tumblr

[thegoviza]

Mobile App Settles Charges with FTC that it Broke Pact with Consumers

Last week, in an ironic twist of fate, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) charged the operators of the Pact Mobile App, which paid consumers for keeping their fitness promises and charged consumers who missed their goals, for failing to honor its promises to consumers.

According to the FTC’s complaint, when consumers signed up for the Pact App (formerly GymPact), consumers provided the app with their payment card information and set a workout or fitness goal. When signing up, users specified an amount of money the app could deduct if the user missed a workout or fitness goal for the week. The charges ranged from $5 to $50 per missed activity. If, on the other hand, the user achieved the goal, Pact would pay them. To track consumers’ compliance with their goals, Pact required users to check in at gyms using their phones’ GPS. Pact also allowed consumers to set other goals, using the app’s VeggiePact and FoodLoggingPacts options.

According to the FTC, however, Pact failed to abide by its own promises made to consumers. In its complaint, the FTC alleged that Pact did not pay – and actually charged – many consumers who kept their pacts. For example, Pact did not recognize certain types of workouts, and penalized consumers for going outside to work out or visiting a Navy base gym.

Making matters worse, the app continued to charge many consumers who attempted to cancel the service. The FTC alleged that Pact had received tens of thousands of consumer complaints about unauthorized charges billed through the app, with many consumers reporting hundreds of dollars of unauthorized charges. This, according to the FTC, violated the representations Pact made when consumers signed up for the app (that users would never be charged if they kept their pact).

FTC’s three-count complaint alleged that Pact and two of its principals violated both the FTC Act and Section 4 of the Restore Online Shoppers Confidence Act (ROSCA) by failing to disclose how to stop recurring charges before obtaining billing information. Count one of the complaint alleges that Pact violated the FTC Act by deceiving consumers regarding the circumstances under which Pact would pay or charge the consumers. Count two alleges violations of the FTC Act for unauthorized billing when Pact continued to bill consumers who attempted to cancel the recurring charges.

Finally, count three of the complaint alleges that Pact violated ROSCA by failing to disclose all material terms of the offer, specifically the mechanism for consumers to stop recurring charges, before obtaining consumers’ billing information. Rather, to obtain information about how to cancel, consumers needed to click on a link to obtain the app’s Terms of Service and then scroll through 4,400 words of dense text to find the means to stop recurring charges. According to the FTC, the information was difficult for consumers to locate and access, confusing, and much less simple than the mechanism consumers used to sign up and initiate the recurring charge. As a result of the confusing terms, consumers who wanted to stop recurring charges could not figure out how to cancel.

The final order prohibits Pact from misleading consumers about the circumstances under which they will charge consumers, the circumstances under which consumers will receive any benefits, payments or rewards, and any other material fact concerning any app or software such as the total cost, material restrictions, limitations or conditions, or any material aspect of the app’s performance, efficacy, nature, or central characteristics. The order enjoins Pact from charging consumers without first receiving their express, informed consent. Further, Pact is required to comply with ROSCA, and must clearly and conspicuously – and in close proximity to the consumers’ provision of billing information – disclose that the consumer will be charged and the charges will be recurring unless the consumer timely takes steps to prevent or stop the charges; the amount or range of costs the consumer will be billed and the frequency of such charges unless the consumer takes steps to prevent or stop them; the deadline (by date or frequency) by which consumers must act in order to stop all recurring charges; the name of the seller of the good or service; a description of the good or service, and the mechanism by which to stop any recurring charges.

The order also includes a $1.5 million judgment that is partially suspended based on the defendants’ financial condition. The defendants are ordered to pay $948,788 back to injured consumers who were charged improperly or who earned, but have not yet received money for their pacts.

As many are aware, continuity plans are a recurring theme with the FTC and states, with a number of recent cases as well as California considering revising its automatic renewal law to impose stricter requirements. The lesson to marketers to be learned from Pact? Make sure you follow all aspects of ROSCA – including your promise to cancel the recurring charges.

Mobile App Settles Charges with FTC that it Broke Pact with Consumers published first on http://ift.tt/2uG9qor

[lawfultruth]

Mobile App Settles Charges with FTC that it Broke Pact with Consumers

Last week, in an ironic twist of fate, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) charged the operators of the Pact Mobile App, which paid consumers for keeping their fitness promises and charged consumers who missed their goals, for failing to honor its promises to consumers.

According to the FTC’s complaint, when consumers signed up for the Pact App (formerly GymPact), consumers provided the app with their payment card information and set a workout or fitness goal. When signing up, users specified an amount of money the app could deduct if the user missed a workout or fitness goal for the week. The charges ranged from $5 to $50 per missed activity. If, on the other hand, the user achieved the goal, Pact would pay them. To track consumers’ compliance with their goals, Pact required users to check in at gyms using their phones’ GPS. Pact also allowed consumers to set other goals, using the app’s VeggiePact and FoodLoggingPacts options.

According to the FTC, however, Pact failed to abide by its own promises made to consumers. In its complaint, the FTC alleged that Pact did not pay – and actually charged – many consumers who kept their pacts. For example, Pact did not recognize certain types of workouts, and penalized consumers for going outside to work out or visiting a Navy base gym.

Making matters worse, the app continued to charge many consumers who attempted to cancel the service. The FTC alleged that Pact had received tens of thousands of consumer complaints about unauthorized charges billed through the app, with many consumers reporting hundreds of dollars of unauthorized charges. This, according to the FTC, violated the representations Pact made when consumers signed up for the app (that users would never be charged if they kept their pact).

FTC’s three-count complaint alleged that Pact and two of its principals violated both the FTC Act and Section 4 of the Restore Online Shoppers Confidence Act (ROSCA) by failing to disclose how to stop recurring charges before obtaining billing information. Count one of the complaint alleges that Pact violated the FTC Act by deceiving consumers regarding the circumstances under which Pact would pay or charge the consumers. Count two alleges violations of the FTC Act for unauthorized billing when Pact continued to bill consumers who attempted to cancel the recurring charges.

Finally, count three of the complaint alleges that Pact violated ROSCA by failing to disclose all material terms of the offer, specifically the mechanism for consumers to stop recurring charges, before obtaining consumers’ billing information. Rather, to obtain information about how to cancel, consumers needed to click on a link to obtain the app’s Terms of Service and then scroll through 4,400 words of dense text to find the means to stop recurring charges. According to the FTC, the information was difficult for consumers to locate and access, confusing, and much less simple than the mechanism consumers used to sign up and initiate the recurring charge. As a result of the confusing terms, consumers who wanted to stop recurring charges could not figure out how to cancel.

The final order prohibits Pact from misleading consumers about the circumstances under which they will charge consumers, the circumstances under which consumers will receive any benefits, payments or rewards, and any other material fact concerning any app or software such as the total cost, material restrictions, limitations or conditions, or any material aspect of the app’s performance, efficacy, nature, or central characteristics. The order enjoins Pact from charging consumers without first receiving their express, informed consent. Further, Pact is required to comply with ROSCA, and must clearly and conspicuously – and in close proximity to the consumers’ provision of billing information – disclose that the consumer will be charged and the charges will be recurring unless the consumer timely takes steps to prevent or stop the charges; the amount or range of costs the consumer will be billed and the frequency of such charges unless the consumer takes steps to prevent or stop them; the deadline (by date or frequency) by which consumers must act in order to stop all recurring charges; the name of the seller of the good or service; a description of the good or service, and the mechanism by which to stop any recurring charges.

The order also includes a $1.5 million judgment that is partially suspended based on the defendants’ financial condition. The defendants are ordered to pay $948,788 back to injured consumers who were charged improperly or who earned, but have not yet received money for their pacts.

As many are aware, continuity plans are a recurring theme with the FTC and states, with a number of recent cases as well as California considering revising its automatic renewal law to impose stricter requirements. The lesson to marketers to be learned from Pact? Make sure you follow all aspects of ROSCA – including your promise to cancel the recurring charges.

Mobile App Settles Charges with FTC that it Broke Pact with Consumers syndicated from http://ift.tt/2qyreAv

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Mobile App Settles Charges with FTC that it Broke Pact with Consumers

Last week, in an ironic twist of fate, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) charged the operators of the Pact Mobile App, which paid consumers for keeping their fitness promises and charged consumers who missed their goals, for failing to honor its promises to consumers.

According to the FTC’s complaint, when consumers signed up for the Pact App (formerly GymPact), consumers provided the app with their payment card information and set a workout or fitness goal. When signing up, users specified an amount of money the app could deduct if the user missed a workout or fitness goal for the week. The charges ranged from $5 to $50 per missed activity. If, on the other hand, the user achieved the goal, Pact would pay them. To track consumers’ compliance with their goals, Pact required users to check in at gyms using their phones’ GPS. Pact also allowed consumers to set other goals, using the app’s VeggiePact and FoodLoggingPacts options.

According to the FTC, however, Pact failed to abide by its own promises made to consumers. In its complaint, the FTC alleged that Pact did not pay – and actually charged – many consumers who kept their pacts. For example, Pact did not recognize certain types of workouts, and penalized consumers for going outside to work out or visiting a Navy base gym.

Making matters worse, the app continued to charge many consumers who attempted to cancel the service. The FTC alleged that Pact had received tens of thousands of consumer complaints about unauthorized charges billed through the app, with many consumers reporting hundreds of dollars of unauthorized charges. This, according to the FTC, violated the representations Pact made when consumers signed up for the app (that users would never be charged if they kept their pact).

FTC’s three-count complaint alleged that Pact and two of its principals violated both the FTC Act and Section 4 of the Restore Online Shoppers Confidence Act (ROSCA) by failing to disclose how to stop recurring charges before obtaining billing information. Count one of the complaint alleges that Pact violated the FTC Act by deceiving consumers regarding the circumstances under which Pact would pay or charge the consumers. Count two alleges violations of the FTC Act for unauthorized billing when Pact continued to bill consumers who attempted to cancel the recurring charges.

Finally, count three of the complaint alleges that Pact violated ROSCA by failing to disclose all material terms of the offer, specifically the mechanism for consumers to stop recurring charges, before obtaining consumers’ billing information. Rather, to obtain information about how to cancel, consumers needed to click on a link to obtain the app’s Terms of Service and then scroll through 4,400 words of dense text to find the means to stop recurring charges. According to the FTC, the information was difficult for consumers to locate and access, confusing, and much less simple than the mechanism consumers used to sign up and initiate the recurring charge. As a result of the confusing terms, consumers who wanted to stop recurring charges could not figure out how to cancel.

The final order prohibits Pact from misleading consumers about the circumstances under which they will charge consumers, the circumstances under which consumers will receive any benefits, payments or rewards, and any other material fact concerning any app or software such as the total cost, material restrictions, limitations or conditions, or any material aspect of the app’s performance, efficacy, nature, or central characteristics. The order enjoins Pact from charging consumers without first receiving their express, informed consent. Further, Pact is required to comply with ROSCA, and must clearly and conspicuously – and in close proximity to the consumers’ provision of billing information – disclose that the consumer will be charged and the charges will be recurring unless the consumer timely takes steps to prevent or stop the charges; the amount or range of costs the consumer will be billed and the frequency of such charges unless the consumer takes steps to prevent or stop them; the deadline (by date or frequency) by which consumers must act in order to stop all recurring charges; the name of the seller of the good or service; a description of the good or service, and the mechanism by which to stop any recurring charges.

The order also includes a $1.5 million judgment that is partially suspended based on the defendants’ financial condition. The defendants are ordered to pay $948,788 back to injured consumers who were charged improperly or who earned, but have not yet received money for their pacts.

As many are aware, continuity plans are a recurring theme with the FTC and states, with a number of recent cases as well as California considering revising its automatic renewal law to impose stricter requirements. The lesson to marketers to be learned from Pact? Make sure you follow all aspects of ROSCA – including your promise to cancel the recurring charges.

Mobile App Settles Charges with FTC that it Broke Pact with Consumers published first on