HARRISBURG, Pa. — A federal court has ordered Harris Jewelry, a nationwide retailer accused of deceptive sales practices targeting servicemembers, to reopen its refund claims portal, giving consumers another chance to claim millions of dollars owed under a settlement agreement.
The court’s decision comes after Harris Jewelry prematurely shut down the claims process, violating a settlement that requires the company to provide refunds and cancel debt collection for affected customers. Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry announced the reopened claims process, which is available until December 21, 2024, as part of a $10.9 million settlement.
The Federal Trade Commission, along with attorneys general from 18 states, including Pennsylvania, originally sued Harris Jewelry in 2022. The lawsuit alleged the New York-based company used misleading practices to market jewelry to servicemembers, falsely claiming that purchases would improve credit scores. The company also added costly protection plans to purchases without consent, in violation of federal consumer protection laws, including the Military Lending Act.
“This company posed as a staunch supporter of our Armed Forces, when in reality, Harris was only looking out for their own profits,” Attorney General Henry said. “Many Pennsylvanians are eligible for this relief, and with a relatively short window to file claims, I am urging those individuals to take action now.”
The FTC estimates that 32,000 consumers nationwide were affected by Harris Jewelry’s practices, and over $8 million remains available in the refund fund. Harris Jewelry, which operated near military bases and used the slogan “Serving those who serve,” has been ordered to shut down and dissolve as part of the court ruling.