| Comment Number: | 522418-03738 |
| Received: | 6/21/2006 8:04:41 PM |
| Organization: | Vemma |
| Commenter: | Rolo Phillips |
| State: | TX |
| Subject: | Business Opportunity Rule |
| Title: | Notice of Proposed Rulemaking |
| CFR Citation: | 16 CFR Part 437 |
| No Attachments |
Comments:
re: Business Opportunity Rule, R511993 Good day, I have recently started a home-based business opportunity in direct sales. I started this business in hopes of providing a better life for my family. I am confident that this business will be a very positive contribution to my family, as well as my future retirement. While I appreciate the FTC's mission, I firmly disagree with the intervention into this industry...we need less big government in private industry. I understand that there are fradulent businesses, but this ruling will punish the legitimate direct selling businesses. I have had experience with the government taking over another industry, and it ended in disaster for me financially. I do not want that to happen again...I literally lost my business to government legislation! Now, I am trying once again to better myself, and the FTC is possibly going to ruin that as well. The seven day waiting period in this proposal will place the direct sales industry in a negative light. Anyone wanting to join will be suspicious if the FTC imposes a waiting period. It will cause unneccesary delays, administrative and record-keeping problems, and is simply impractical. The elimination of the $500.00 business threshold forces the majority of direct selling companies to comply with other provisions of the proposed rule that are more appropriate for businesses requiring a greater investment than a direct selling sales kit. The litigation reporting is unfair in that it does not distinguish between winning and losing lawsuits. The earnings claims proposed is not practical...the data is difficult to collect, and fraudulent businesses will not provide accurate data, while the legitimate businesses will. The "references" portion is impractical due to the fact that it will be difficult to locate the 10 nearest existing sales people, it will pose potential privacy and safety issues, and will raise the possibility of corporate liability for identity theft. In closing, I don't want to sound negative, but once again, the government is getting involved where they shouldn't, and you are potentially going to ruin another industry. It is difficult enough in today's times to earn a living that makes things comfortable for your family without having intervention that causes a "step backwards". After losing one business to the government, I really don't want to lose another one. I am a registered voter, a husband, a father, and an American. Please do not pass this legislation, and please allow the direct sales business to continue without intervention....let us take care of ourselves. Thank you. R.A. Phillips