Today we're fining Bank of America, N.A. and FIA Card Services, N.A. for unfairly billing consumers for services relating to identity theft protection "add-on" products and for using deceptive marketing and sales practices for credit protection "add-on" products.
We are also ordering Bank of America to refund fees and provide other redress to consumers. Approximately 2.9 million consumers will be receiving or already have received up to $727 million in refunds for fees they paid for these products and services as well as additional redress.
If you're impacted by the announcement, you don't have to take any action to receive a credit or check. If you are one of the consumers affected by the order, Bank of America should have already notified you or will notify you directly. If you have questions about whether you are entitled to a refund, you can contact Bank of America.
Who is eligible for compensation?
Nearly 1.4 million consumers have already received or will receive refunds of at least $250 million in fees for the "credit protection" products (Credit Protection Plus and Credit Protection Deluxe). You will receive refunds if you are a Bank of America customer who enrolled in these products at any time over the phone, were charged a fee between October 1, 2010 and March 31, 2013, and either did not activate benefits or who had a request for benefits denied.
Approximately 1.5 million consumers purchased the "identity theft protection" products (Privacy Guard, PrivacySource, and Privacy Assist) and were improperly billed for services that were not performed. As a result, consumers paid at least $459 million in fees, interest, and over-limit charges for these products without receiving full services. Today's announcement recognizes the refunds Bank of America has already provided to consumers harmed as a result of the illegal billing practices relating to these identity theft protection products.
Eligible consumers who were enrolled in the "identity theft protection" products received refunds if they enrolled in these products between October 2000 and September 2011 but did not receive full credit monitoring services, received only partial credit monitoring and/or credit report retrieval without notice, and/or didr didn't receive credit report retrieval benefits.
What do eligible consumers get?
That depends on the product consumers were enrolled in and some other factors.
Eligible consumers who were enrolled in a "credit protection" product for less than a year, who made a request for benefits that was denied or closed, or who, complained to the CFPB or to Bank of America stating that they did not authorize enrollment in the product, will receive a refund of all fees charged from October 1, 2010 through March 31, 2013. Eligible consumers who were enrolled in a "credit protection" product for a year or more and who do not fall within any of the groups described above will receive a refund of 300 days of fees charged from October 1, 2010 through March 31, 2013.
Some consumers who were enrolled in "credit protection" product will also receive:
A reduction in charged-off balances due to product fees charged from October 1, 2010 through March 31, 2013.
"Credit protection" services for six months at no-cost for consumers enrolled in the product as of March 1, 2013.
Bank of America has already completed reimbursement for the "identity theft protection" eligible consumers, so eligible consumers should have already received refunds. If you have questions about receiving a refund for this product, you can contact Bank of America.
Bank of America is responsible for providing refunds
Watch out for scammers claiming they will get you a refund. When large numbers of consumers get refunds, scammers sometimes pop up. The scammer may charge you a fee or try to steal your personal information. If someone tries to charge you, tries to get you to disclose your personal information, or asks you to cash a check and send a portion to a third party in order to "claim your refund," it's a scam. Please call us at (855) 411-CFPB to report the scam.