The U.S. Justice Department said Jan. 14 a federal court entered an order requiring Dun & Bradstreet Inc. to pay a $2.06 million civil penalty and issue $2.79 million in refunds to customers for violating a U.S. Federal Trade Commission order.
The Justice Department said the FTC entered an administrative order against the Jacksonville-based business data firm in 2022, alleging it violated an FTC order.
The FTC referred the case to the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Jacksonville Division.
The complaint filed with the court “alleges that in connection with its sale of credit-related services to small businesses, Dun & Bradstreet sent many of its customers inaccurate pricing notices, omitted or misrepresented certain facts about its products during sales calls, and failed to retain all of the call recordings required by the order,” according to a Justice Department news release.
“Our signed orders are not suggestions,” said Christopher Mufarrige, director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, in the release.
“This settlement is another example of the Bureau’s effort to reinvigorate its fraud program and protect small businesses from deceptive and unlawful conduct,” he said.
“The Justice Department is committed to ensuring that American small businesses receive accurate information about the products and services they purchase,” Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate said in the release.
According to the order signed Jan. 12 by U.S. District Judge Marcia Morales Howard, the “Defendant neither admits nor denies any of the allegations in the Complaint.”
Dun & Bradstreet said in an emailed statement Jan. 15 that the company self-identified the issue through its compliance and ethics program.
“Upon discovery, we immediately notified the FTC and proactively worked with them throughout the review and settlement process. This resolution reflects that collaboration,” it said.
“As a result, we have strengthened our controls, training, and oversight to reinforce our long heritage as a trusted steward of commercial data,” the company said.
“We take accountability seriously, and this resolution reflects both our commitment to transparency and our determination to continuously strengthen how we serve our clients.”
The court order said customers who auto-renewed Dun & Bradstreet products at rates higher than the list price between April 6, 2022, and Dec. 31, 2023, are eligible for refunds.
Customers who purchased products on a telesales call after April 6, 2022, are also eligible.
The Justice Department said in addition to the payments required in the court order, Dun & Bradstreet has already paid $924,590 in refunds to resolve the FTC allegations.
Dun & Bradstreet has been headquartered in Jacksonville since 2021.
The company was acquired in August 2025 for $7.7 billion by private equity firm Clearlake Capital Group L.P.