Analysis of Proposed Consent
Order to Aid Public Comment.

The Federal Trade Commission has accepted an agreement to a proposed consent order from FirstPlus Financial Group, Inc. ("FirstPlus").

The proposed consent order has been placed on the public record for thirty (30) days for reception of comments by interested persons. Comments received during this period will become part of the public record. After thirty (30) days, the Commission will again review the agreement and the comments received and will decide whether it should withdraw from the agreement or make final the agreement's proposed order.

Through direct mail, television, and online advertisements, FirstPlus has disseminated information promoting high loan-to-value ("HLTV") loans, home equity loans, and other types of consumer credit transactions. The complaint alleges that many of these advertisements are deceptive and misleading, and violate various provisions of the Federal Trade Commission Act ("FTC Act"), the Truth in Lending Act ("TILA"), and Regulation Z. Specifically, the complaint alleges that FirstPlus: (1) falsely represented in its advertising that consumers would save money when consolidating existing debts in a FirstPlus loan and that the examples shown in FirstPlus's advertising accurately illustrate potential monthly savings; (2) falsely represented that each consumer receiving a solicitation from the company would actually receive a loan; (3) misrepresented that consumers would receive loans for the full amount stated in the company's advertisement; (4) failed to adequately disclose credit terms for its loan products; and (5) failed to disclose clearly and conspicuously key information about the terms of its credit offers as required by the TILA and Regulation Z.

The proposed consent order (1) prohibits FirstPlus from misrepresenting the comparative or absolute savings or benefits of consolidating debt, including misrepresenting the circumstances under which consumers can save money when consolidating, and misrepresenting the monthly savings consumers will realize over the extended life of the FirstPlus loan; (2) prohibits FirstPlus from misrepresenting an individual's eligibility to receive a loan; (3) prohibits FirstPlus from misrepresenting the amount of loan proceeds to be disbursed to consumers, or misrepresenting the amount of proceeds to be disbursed on consumers' behalf to third parties; (4) prohibits FirstPlus from stating the savings or benefits of a FirstPlus loan, as compared to other consumer credit transactions, without disclosing accurately, clearly, and conspicuously all material information needed by consumers to evaluate the comparison; (5) prohibits FirstPlus from using an example of the cost savings or benefits of a FirstPlus loan, as compared to other consumer credit transactions, without basing the example on reasonable assumptions regarding average annual percentage rates and repayment terms for comparable credit transactions; and (6) requires FirstPlus to comply with the disclosure requirements of the TILA and Regulation Z when stating the amount or percentage of any down payment, the number of payments or period of repayment, the amount of any payment, or the amount of any finance charge.

The purpose of this analysis is to facilitate public comment on the proposed order, and it is not intended to constitute an official interpretation of the agreement and proposed order or to modify in any way their terms.