So Symple Lending continues to use–and post on social media!– a logo that looks staggeringly similar to Troutman Amin, LLP’s logo, even after being asked to stop and even with a federal lawsuit pending.
I even agreed they could use the logo for internal purposes just not on social media where consumers might see it– but they refuse!
Well on Friday an expert confirmed that over HALF of people taking part in a scientific survey concluded the logos were so similar that “[b]ased on their overall look, I believe that these two logos are from the same or affiliated companies/sources.”
Taking into account control group and market issues the expert concluded the results meant 28.5% of respondents were likely to be confused!
See for yourself!
The legal threshold here is just 15%– so Symple’s INSANE ongoing use of the logo plainly infringes upon Troutman Amin, LLP’s use of its TRADEMARK lion logo.
You can read the expert report here: Expert Report
And this is by a REALLY qualified guy, not some nobody.
So why is Symple doing this?
According to our lawsuit this is all very straightforward.
Consumers complain about Symple’s alleged “bait and switch” tactics and high-pressure sales as well as relentless unwanted marketing calls (which is problematic since Symple’s executive Huston Fraley was banned from telemarketing by the FTC a while back.) One comparison site said it “cannot recommend” Symple because:
Symple Lending isn’t very up front about what it does or what services it offers to consumers. Based on its website, it appears to offer three types of loans: personal, debt consolidation and home improvement, with rates starting at 6.99%. But customer reviews paint a different picture. People say they went to Symple for a loan and were instead steered toward debt settlement, sometimes aggressively. There is no mention on its website about offering debt settlement services.
See https://www.finder.com/debt-relief/symple-lending-review
Considering Symple’s own website notes it offers loan products with interest rates over 30%– 30% interest on loans to people with debt problems already!??– its pretty clear IMO this is a predatory lending outfit.
Our lawsuit alleges, therefore, that Symple is using its logo to INTENTIONALLY TRICK consumers into thinking its loan products are safe (and that it is a trustworthy company) because when consumers see their confusingly similar lion logo they will think Troutman Amin, LLP back them.
To an unsophisticated consumer it doesn’t much matter that Troutman Amin, LLP doesn’t sell lending products or even represent consumers in lawsuits– it is enough that consumers recognize our logo–which is at the John Wayne airport, the Anaheim Ducks arena, the Irvine Global Village festival–and associate it with a powerful local law firm. That positive affinity is enough for people to get confused and think Symple’s products must be legitimate and reliable and backed by this great local law firm that has all these credible partnerships.
Essentially in our view Symple is trying to steal our goodwill to trick consumers. Simple as that.
We have a hearing next Monday to ask the court to put a stop to it. Hopefully the court will see this insanity and help protect consumers and Troutman Amin, LLP alike. We’ll see.
On the other hand, the National Automotive Finance Association just called Troutman Amin, LLP “one of the nation’s most powerful and trusted law firms.” That’s nice. Indeed clients cannot stop talking about how great their experiences with us have been:
No wonder Symple wants to hitch their cart to our horse. But its a trick.
Bottom line Troutman Amin, LLP absolutely DOES NOT support or endorse any product or services offered by Symple Lending. And although we take no position on any of the claims made by online reviewers and complainers– maybe they’re all make it up and Symple is a great company!–we still do NOT want to see consumers confused into thinking we are in any way aligned with these products or services.
WE ARE NOT!
Thank you.