CFPB Announces Settlement with Bank over Credit Card Add-On Product

On September 28, 2015, the CFPB announced that it had entered into a consent order and settlement with a national bank for alleged violations of the Dodd-Frank Act’s UDAAP provision for deceptive acts or practices in the marketing and sales of its “Debt Protection” credit card add-on product. The debt protection program allows enrolled borrowers to cancel credit card payments if they endure hardships such as loss of job, hospitalization, or disability. The CFPB alleged that from 2007 through February 2013, the bank deceptively marketed the product to consumers. The alleged deceptive practices included enrolling consumers in the program when they requested information and not disclosing that they were being charged a monthly​ fee of .81 percent or .89 percent of their card balance. The bank is also accused of sending consumers information that contained incorrect descriptions of the cost, benefits, terms and conditions of the program. The bank entered into a consent order where it agreed to pay $3 million in relief to roughly 24,500 customers, cease engaging in illegal practices, and pay a $500,000 penalty to the CFPB civil penalty fund.