Settlement: Free 'trials' led to unwanted charges

A Connecticut company will pay $30 million to settle claims that it deceived consumers into signing up for clubs and memberships that they didn't want.

Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan announced the settlement Thursday with Connecticut-based marketing firm Affinion Group.

She says customers believed they'd signed up for a free trial but later discovered unwanted credit card charges.

Madigan joined with attorneys general from 47 other state in the settlement.

She says consumers should take the time to scrutinize their credit card statements to make sure they're not being charged for services they don't want.

As part of the agreement, Affinion has set up a fund of about $19 million to refund consumers who received unauthorized charges for Affinion's programs.