A woman on TikTok called out retailers that use deceptive practices to get people to sign up for their store’s credit card, after having a disappointing experience at TJ Maxx. Had she not stepped in to help an elderly customer, the person would have ended up signing up for a credit card they didn’t want or need.
This is something that happens to many people. There are numerous online articles and forums of people sharing how they accidentally signed up for a store credit card, thinking it was a loyalty or rewards card that tracked how much they spent with the retailer—but it’s actually a brand new line of credit.
The majority of Americans, about three in five, are in credit card debt, owing about $5,800 on average, Yahoo Finance reported. The thing with this debt is that it can be hard to get out of, given how staggering the interest rates on many cards are.
In the TikTok, a woman (@hancockhousehold) explains a recent incident at a T.J. Maxx store that she couldn’t help but get involved in.
She said that one of her pet peeves is when cashiers ask at the register if a person wants to sign up for the store’s credit card, but they use deceptive language, like a rewards card, to get the person’s information and sign them up.
While @hancockhousehold says she doesn’t have a problem with people wanting to sign up for the cards (depending on the card’s benefits, it may be a good move for some people), she takes issue with the lack of transparency, especially when it comes to deceiving older customers.
“A lot of people, namely elderly people, don’t realize that what they’re asking is if you want to sign up for a credit card. That seems like common sense to some of us, but listen, they’re very, very sneaky about these things,” the shopper says in the clip.
She recounted recently being at TJ Maxx and overhearing the elderly customer at the register near her tell the cashier that it was only her second time in a TJ Maxx. The cashier responded by asking the woman if she wanted to sign up to be a rewards member.
The elderly woman was hesitant and asked what all she needed to join the program, and the cashier, who to this point hadn’t explained that it was actually a credit card, made it sound simple to say she just needed her driver’s license and to answer some questions.
“It’s the “rewards card” wording that is so tricky. They KNOW that rewards cards are offered in many stores that aren’t credit cards. It’s sneaky,” one commenter wrote in response.
Seeing what was happening, @hancockhousehold couldn’t help but step in and explain it was a credit card and confirm with the woman whether she actually wanted that or not.
When the elderly woman said she didn’t want a credit card, the cashier understood and stopped the process, and @hancockhousehold was thankful that she didn’t get rude about it.
“They know that they’re kind of tricking these people into getting the credit card and it makes me sad. So just, I wish that people could do better,” @hancockhousehold concludes, though she acknowledges that cashiers face pressure to sign people up.
@hancockhousehold Silly but people should know what theyre signing up for. #tjmaxx #creditcard #tjmaxxrewards #daveramseywouldntapprove ♬ original sound – Hancock Household
Her video has over 15,000 views and about 140 comments as of Tuesday afternoon.
“This just happened to my friend! She thought it was like their email list/points thing NOT an actual credit card,” one viewer shared.
“I used to work for marshall’s, and if we didn’t get a certain amount of cards we got written up,” a former employee wrote.
“That direction 100% comes from upper management they have to use a specific script. I’m sick of every store offering a credit card!” a further commenter said.
The Daily Dot reached out to @hancockhousehold for comment via TikTok direct message.
Update Oct. 29, 2023, 7:46pm CT: For those who are interested in a new credit card, a Nerd Wallet review of the TJ Maxx rewards product is generally favorable. As for the creator who brought this issue to light, she’s made a new video following-up on the issue she flagged.
In it, she highlights a comment she received from an alleged former TJ Maxx worker who admits she was told to never use the phrase “credit cards” because TJ Maxx knew that would just deter readers.
“Come on companies, do better,” she concludes.
