Bank of America Complaint: Advertising and marketing

#1779762 9 Feb 2016

Credit card

Complaint #1779762 submitted on 02/09/2016 relating to Bank of America. Complaint relates to Credit card - Advertising and marketing .

Complaint was submitted via Web and sent to the company on Tuesday 9th February 2016.

Narrative (may be redacted).

I am complaining about a bait-and-switch credit card offer, for an XXXX credit card offered by Bank of America. XXXX is promoting a XXXX Signature card, which provides for free baggage check and other worthwhile benefits. I applied for the card, on-line, and was approved. I received a credit card in the mail, but after taking a closer look, I saw that it was a Platinum Card, not a Signature card. The card did not include free bag check, or any other significant benefits. The card had a {$1000.00} limit, and cost $ XXXX. I had not applied for this card. When I called B of A, I was told that the card already had a {$50.00} charge. I was able to cancel the card, but I was disturbed by the obvious bait-and-switch tactic. I went back to the XXXX web site. Nowhere does it say that I am applying for a Platinum card. " Platinum '' is not mentioned on the home page, or on the Signature card promotion page. It is only when you go to the application page, that the Platinum card is even mentioned, and nowhere does it state that the application is for either card. It is only by going down to the " Terms and Conditions, '' at the bottom of the page, and then scrolling down through the " Terms and Conditions '' to a section that is not even initially visible, that a provision appears, in the smallest type font on the page, stating that B of A may approve a Platinum card, instead of a Signature card. But even there, it does not state that by applying for a Signature card, XXXX is also applying for a Platinum card. I applied for a Signature card. The application was approved on-line, without the need for any further action on my part. I was not told that I had only been approved for a Platinum card, or given an opportunity on-line, to reject the Platinum card before it was shipped.

This offer is clearly designed to allow B of A to bait-and-switch the Platinum card for Signature card, without any adequate warning to the consumer. If I had not closely looked at the card after it arrived, I would have ended up paying a {$50.00} fee for a high interest, low limit credit card that did not have the benefits that I thought I was receiving.

I spoke with representatives of both XXXX and Bank of America, explaining the deception, and asking that they change the ad. The XXXX representatives with whom I spoke agreed that that web page was deceptive, but told me there was nothing that could be done, because Bank of America controlled the content. The Bank of America representatives told me that someone would be in touch with me, but I have not been contacted.

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