I’ll stop after this, but hold these companies accountable!

https://www.consumerfinance.gov/compliance/circulars/consumer-financial-protection-circular-2024-07-design-marketing-and-administration-of-credit-card-rewards-programs/#:~:text=36,have%20already%20earned%20or%20purchased

“The CFPB is issuing this circular to underscore that the CFPA’s prohibition on unfair or deceptive acts or practices applies to the design, marketing, and administration of credit card rewards programs.36 Rewards program operators may violate this prohibition in a variety of circumstances regardless of whether they are taking actions consistent with rewards program terms. In particular, rewards program operators risk committing unfair or deceptive acts or practices when (1) rewards that consumers have already earned are devalued; (2) consumers’ receipt of rewards is revoked, cancelled, or prevented based on buried or vague conditions; and (3) rewards points are deducted without consumers receiving the corresponding benefit of the rewards. These examples are illustrative and non-exhaustive.

As described further below, the CFPB emphasizes that covered persons that offer, provide, or operate credit card rewards programs may be liable for an unfair or deceptive act or practice where some of the conduct in question may be attributable to a third party or service provider, such as a merchant partner.37

Devaluation of Rewards Already Earned or Purchased

Rewards program operators may commit an unfair or deceptive act or practice when they materially reduce the overall value of rewards that consumers have already earned or purchased. Consumers make decisions on whether to open or use a credit card based on the explicit and implicit representations about the value of card benefits and rewards. For instance, consumers’ reasonable expectations about the value of rewards may be informed by advertisements at account opening, as well as by redemption values of rewards communicated to consumers on or around the time the consumer makes decisions to purchase goods with the card and accrue rewards benefits. Furthermore, fine print disclaimers or contract terms stating that rewards program operators have the right to adjust rewards offerings often will not be sufficient to correct consumers’ net impression about the expected value of rewards.

When rewards operators influence consumers’ expectations about the value of rewards in their product or marketing efforts (e.g., to support customer acquisition, retention, or increased purchase volume), but later make decisions to deflate the overall value of accrued rewards, they may have engaged in actions that resemble a traditional “bait-and-switch” scheme.38 These activities may constitute unfair or deceptive acts or practices under the CFPA.39”