By Adrian Frater, Staff Reporter
WESTERN BUREAU:
THE FAIR Trading Commission (FTC) is planning to take action against the Infinity Partner Plan if within 30 days its directors fail to pay out dividends on the money they collected from dozens of Montego Bay residents, last month.
"If at the end of the time advertised people don't get what is promised, the persons behind the plan will be in breach of the commission's regulations... once we get such a complaint, we have the power to act in the best interest of the consumer," said an FTC spokesperson.
The spokesperson was referring to an advertisement which appeared in one of the city's most widely circulated publications on the weekend.
"Pay $6,000 down per hand. Receive $50,000 within 30 days initially," the ad read.
However, Lauren Lewis, one of the directors of the plan who started collecting money at Infinity's offices at Georgian House, 2 Orange Street last month, told The Gleaner that the use of the word "initially" made it clear that he was not guaranteeing payment within 30 days.
"The advertisement says initially, that means that things will change as time goes by depending on the number of people that come into the plan. No guarantees have been made," he said.
In the meantime, there is some disquiet among persons who have invested their money in the scheme.
"All the newspapers are saying different things," said a young woman, who has invested $6,000 in the plan with the hope of drawing down $50,000 in 30 days.
"I hope they are not fooling around because I have already made some plans for the money."
However, although the investors would prefer if their monies were secured by more than hopes, statutory bodies like the FTC can do very little under existing laws to ensure payouts unless Lewis breaches his contract or one of the investors files a complaint.
"By law, we cannot interfere unless someone does not get what is advertised at the end of the period prescribed," said the FTC's spokesperson who admitted that they were aware of the happenings in the Partner Plan Scheme.
"We cannot act unless there is a breach of contract and someone lodges a formal complaint to us."
Montegonians, especially those who have already collected large sums from previous plans, continue to sing the praises of such schemes.
Others are counting down the days to when they too will collect their bonanza from the plan.
"Me kinda nervous because of the mix-up with what is advertised and what I am hearing otherwise," said domestic helper, Maxine Blake
"Me boyfriend warn me against joining the plan but I still decided to take a chance."
