Bank of America Hit With Lawsuit Over Alleged Bait-and-Switch on Credit Card Rewards

Case Overview: A class action lawsuit claims Bank of America engaged in a "bait-and-switch" scheme with its credit card rewards program, misleading consumers and violating consumer protection laws.

Consumers Affected: Consumers who applied for a Mastercard with an offer to earn 70,000 bonus miles + 40 XP after making $3,000 or more in purchases within the first 90 days of opening their account, and were not provided those rewards.

Court: U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts

A Massachusetts man is suing Bank of America, accusing the financial giant of deceptive business practices after it allegedly changed the terms of a promotional credit card offer after he had already signed up and met the spending requirements. 

The lawsuit, filed by Jean-Baptiste Boyer-Gomez, claims the bank lured him in with the promise of generous Air France-KLM travel rewards—only to later downgrade the perks without notice.

According to the lawsuit, Bank of America knowingly engaged in a "bait-and-switch" scheme and admitted to receiving similar complaints from other customers. Despite this, the bank refused to honor the original offer. 

Bank of America Accused of "Bait-and-Switch" with Credit Card Rewards

Boyer-Gomez says he applied for an Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard in April 2024, tempted by a limited-time promotion: 70,000 bonus miles and 40 XP (experience points) after spending $3,000 within 90 days, plus an additional 60 XP upon approval.

Relying on those terms, he signed up, reviewed the contract, and spent nearly $7,000 on the card—more than double the required amount. But instead of receiving the promised rewards, Bank of America allegedly switched him to a less generous offer, giving him only 50,000 miles and 60 XP, a difference valued at $200 or more.

Frustrated, Boyer-Gomez contacted customer service, where a representative acknowledged that others had complained about the same issue. Despite spending hours trying to resolve the matter, he says the bank refused to correct what he argues is a clear breach of contract.

Consumer Watchdog Warned of Deceptions

The lawsuit comes amid growing scrutiny of how banks handle credit card rewards programs. In May 2024, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) published a report detailing consumer complaints about banks denying promotional rewards after customers met the stated requirements.

Among the most common issues? Customers applying for a card based on one offer, only to later receive a downgraded promotion with less attractive rewards—a pattern that mirrors Boyer-Gomez’s allegations against Bank of America.

The CFPB has previously penalized the bank for deceptive practices. In a past enforcement action, regulators found Bank of America had violated consumer protection laws by misleading customers about sign-up bonuses.

Bank of America’s Legal Troubles Pile Up

This isn’t the first time Bank of America has faced legal action over its treatment of customers. In recent months, the bank has been hit with multiple lawsuits, including:

• Fraud Investigation Failures: A North Carolina lawsuit alleges the bank refuses to properly investigate fraud claims and instead blames customers, violating federal law.
  
  
• Foreclosure Nightmare: A Virginia woman says the bank failed to send her loan statements, leaving her unaware of a lingering debt until it sued her—potentially costing her family their home.
  
  
• Hidden Interest Charges: A Brooklyn woman claims Bank of America charged her interest despite her balance being paid in full for two consecutive months.
  
  
• Broken Promises on Overdraft Fees: A California judge sided with customers in a class action lawsuit, finding that Bank of America misled account holders by advertising overdraft fee refunds it had already discontinued.
  
  
• Wire Transfer Surprise Fees: The bank recently reached a settlement over claims it secretly tacked on extra charges for incoming wire transfers.

In the Bank of America credit card rewards lawsuit, Boyer-Gomez wants to represent anyone who applied for a Mastercard with an offer to earn 70,000 bonus miles + 40 XP after making $3,000 or more in purchases within the first 90 days of opening their account, and were not provided those rewards. He is suing for violations of Massachusetts business law, breach of contract, breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, and unjust enrichment and is seeking damages, injunctive relief, restitution, costs, fees, and interest.

Case Details

• Lawsuit: Boyer-Gomez v. Bank Of America, N.A.
• Case Number: 1:25-cv-10123
• Court: U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts

Plaintiffs' Attorneys

• Nicola S. Yousif (Shield Law, LLC)

Have you experienced issues with Bank of America's credit card rewards program? Share your experience in the comments below.