Credit Karma has been fined $3millon by the US consumer watchdog for making misleading claims that people have been or are likely to be approved for credit or loans.
The company, which has 100 million members in the US, Canada and the UK, is best known for giving customers free access to their credit scores and other personal financial tools. It also offers third-party credit cards and loans to customers, tailored to their credit history.
But according to the Federal Trade Commission, the credit service company implemented a “dark pattern” to falsely claim that consumers had been “pre-approved” for credit card offers.
FTC alleges that the company used claims that consumers were pre-approved and had a “90% chance” of tricking them into signing up for offers that, in many cases, ended up disqualifying them. to sue.
Credit Karma had to pay $3 million to be sent to consumers who “wasted time applying for these credit cards and stopped making these kinds of misleading statements.”
Samuel Levine, Director of the FTC’s Office of Consumer Protection, said, “The FTC will continue to crack down on dark digital schemes that harm consumers and pollute online commerce. Credit Karma’s false “pre-approval” claims cost consumers time and expose them to unnecessary credit checks.
FTC Violation
According to a watchdog complaint, Credit Karma violated Section 5 of the FTC Act. By law, the FTC has the power to take action against companies that engage in unfair and deceptive practices or practices. FTC Proposed Order Against Credit Karma Company Request:
- Stop Misleading Consumers : FTC Order prohibits Credit Karma from misleading consumers as to whether they are pre-approved or pre-approved for a credit offer, as well as the odds or probability that a consumer will be approved for a credit offer.
- Paying $3 million to Consumers: The order requires Credit Karma to pay $3 million to the FTC, which will be sent to consumers harmed by the company’s actions.
- Record-Keeping: To help prevent further use of fraudulent dark patterns, the ordinance requires Credit Karma to keep records of any market research, behavior or sentiment, or users , customer or usability testing, including any A/B or multivariable testing, copy testing, surveys, focus groups, interviews, click stream analytics, follow-up studies eye or mouse tracking, heatmaps or replays or session recordings.
FTC has called on companies to take a “consumer-centric” approach. “Bringing people in with the intent to fake it has the potential to infuriate consumers and attract the attention of law enforcement,” he said. That’s why advertisers need to look at their websites, apps, and marketing materials from a potential customer’s point of view.
Article Source and Credit :- https://thefintechtimes.com/