Attorney General Jeff Landry says a permanent injunction has been obtained against Louisiana-based company VetAttend Professional Services, LLC and its owners, prohibiting them from committing unfair and deceptive trade practices. Landry said VetAttend operated a VA benefit consulting and management business without accreditation from the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (VA), as well as a home care business without a license from the State of Louisiana. VetAttend misrepresented to veterans, their spouses, and their family members that they were experts qualified to assist veterans with preparing and submitting their claims for benefits to the VA. In exchange for submitting veterans’ claims to the VA “free of charge” – VetAttend required veterans to sign three-year contracts to use VetAttend’s home care services, giving all or a portion of the veterans’ benefits to VetAttend.
Upon request by Attorney General Landry, a consent judgment filed in the 22nd Judicial District Court was signed in December. Under the terms of the judgment, VetAttend is prohibited from operating any business related to preparing and submitting claims for veterans’ benefits without accreditation from the VA; operating any business that provides home care services without a license from the State of Louisiana; and accessing veterans’ benefits or charging fees that are contingent on veterans’ receipts of benefits. Additionally, the order requires VetAttend to cancel all related contracts and payment authorizations currently in place.
