A big bank and a marketing company will settle with the state for the way they treated clients of a buying club. Many didn’t even realize they were becoming members. They got a small check for a couple bucks in the mail and didn’t read enough of the fine print to realize it wasn’t a rebate or premium, but rather that signing and cashing the check also committed them to a 30-day trial offer membership.
Even then many tell the attorney general’s consumer-protection office they didn’t know anything about it, but eventually found themselves getting billed for monthly or annual charges. The club was supposed to get them discounts buying goods and services, car and home repair, and it used the prestigious name of Chase Bank, which apparently did review marketing materials.
Chase and the Trilegiant Corporation have agreed with Iowa and fifteen other states to refund some of those charges to consumers who file a complaint, and give the state money that’ll be used for future fraud education and investigations.
