Remember the Ab Circle Pro? Promoters of the abdominal exercise device promised consumers using the gadget for just three minutes a day would cause them to lose 10 pounds in two weeks.
Not so, said the Federal Trade Commission, which in 2012 reached a settlement with the company, providing partial refunds to customers.
An administrator working for the FTC is now mailing 196,969 checks averaging $47.51 each to consumers who purchased the Ab Circle Pro, a fiberglass disk with stationary handlebars and two knee rests that roll on the edge of the disk, allowing consumers to kneel and rotate side-to-side -- supposedly equivalent to doing 100 sit ups.
In the infomercial, pitchwoman Jennifer Nicole Lee compared the Ab Circle Pro to a gym workout, saying, "You can either do 30 minutes of abs and cardio or just three minutes a day. The choice is yours."Â
The checks, which total $9.3 million, must be cashed within 60 days after they are issued. The deadline for filing a refund request has expired. Consumers who have questions should call 1-866-402-4752. For general refund information, see www.FTC.gov/refunds. The FTC never requires consumers to pay money or provide information before redress checks can be cashed.