Not informed he was signing up for credit card. Fraud?

Question

My boyfriend was at JCPenny recently and was asked to sign up for a membership card, which he did. However he was never informed that it was a credit card by the person who signed him up. Now he is facing massive interest charges on a $0.35 charge, because the cashier only paid off a portion of the amount he charged when he swiped his debit card (again, he never asked whether he should pay off the full charge or not, and we didn't even know it was being charged).
I feel that this is fraud under the Truth in Lending act or a similar protection clause, because there was no informed consent. Does anybody with a better understanding of the credit system have knowledge on whether this was fraudulent or illegal?

Judy · Accepted Answer

I'm going to bet that the paper he signed said he was applying for a credit card.  If he didn't read it, then sorry, but it's his problem.

And anyway, before he got charged any interest he'd have gotten a statement in the mail.

And "massive amounts"?  Their minimum interest charge is $2, but that would take a long time to add up to anything much, and in that time he'd have gotten monthly statements.  If he just blew off the bills, late payment charges could have added up significantly, as much as $35 a month.

I think you might not be getting the whole story here.

? · Answer

No fraud. Nothing illegal. He was given the paperwork.

>> But call up JCP and beg for mercy. Maybe you will get some. {But why charge something, then hand over your debit card?? << just musing.}

Pay it off before it gets worse; and don't sign things you do not read.

? · Answer

what ever if is , isn't worth the hassle factor.

pay the bills , cancel the card in writing.

learn from the experience.

legal recourse? nope.

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Not informed he was signing up for credit card. Fraud?

3 Answers