The Vermont attorney general's office says it has settled complaints that a Los Angeles company sent mailings to Vermont companies that appeared to be bills.
The state says Trademark Monitoring Services, Inc., mailed solicitations to Vermont businesses that misrepresented that the businesses owed it money for trademark-related services.
Attorney General William Sorrell says billing people for things they didn't agree to buy is a violation of state law.
Under the settlement, the company must comply with Vermont and federal law regulating through-the mail offers and pay full refunds and $10,000 to the state of Vermont in penalties and costs.
Sorrell's office says it received a number of complaints from individuals and businesses concerning unauthorized billings by out-of-state companies.
