On April 12, 2012, Hawaii sued Bank
of America, Chase, Citi, Barclays, Capital One, Discover, HSBC, and their
subsidiaries, “claiming that the banks ‘slammed’ Hawaii credit card customers,
charging them for products customers didn't need and that the companies never
provided.”[1] The Hawaiian government alleges that the banks used “‘predatory
tactics to sign up customers for services they either don’t want or don't
qualify for,’ and the companies charged their customers ‘without their
knowledge or consent,’ according to a press release issued by the Hawaii
attorney general's office.”[2] According to the Attorney General, David Louie, “You
don't know that you're enrolling, but they say, 'Oh you just enrolled,' okay,
and now they've put a charge on your credit card.”[3] The banks’ telemarketing departments may have
charged customers an average of $150 in the form of small charges.
2. Ibid.
3. Ibid.