ROANOKE TIMES 

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, March 30, 1993                   TAG: 9303300099
SECTION: BUSINESS                    PAGE: B5   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

CONSUMERS' BUYLINE FACES SCC HEARING

The State Corporation Commission has issued a show-cause order against Consumers' Buyline Inc., a New York-based marketing organization with more than 14,000 Virginia members. A hearing is set for April 21 in Richmond.

The SCC says the company failed to register its securities or agents with the Division of Securities and Retail Franchising.

The SCC says CBI sold investment contracts from November 1990 to July 1992 using the pyramid method, whereby members could be affiliates who sell to new members and gain commissions as they in turn become affiliates and sign more new members.

As of February 1992, there were 14,225 affiliates in Virginia, 4,150 of whom could earn commissions. Since July, CBI has offered member or affiliate status, but not both. - Staff report 


 by CNB