Aggressive Sales Tactics on the Internet and Their Impact on American Consumers

Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John D. (Jay) Rockefeller (D-WV) said Tuesday that he may pursue legislation to crack down on some controversial online marketing tactics that result in consumers paying for products and services they did not realize they signed up for or used.

A Senate Commerce Committee report released Monday on the eve of a Senate hearing on aggressive online marketing tactics claimed three firms knowingly charged millions of consumers for services they did not use or did not realize they had signed up for.

In anticipation of a Senate hearing Tuesday to examine aggressive sales practices on the Internet, marketing firm Affinion announced Friday it is implementing new marketing standards after coming under scrutiny...