Apple and Goldman Sachs fined millions for misleading Apple Card holders

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has announced fines totaling $89 million against Apple and Goldman Sachs because the companies "illegally mishandled transaction disputes and misled iPhone purchasers about interest-free payment options" with the Apple Card. The CFPB says the issues affected "hundreds of thousands of Apple Card users."

Apple didn't send "tens of thousands" of Apple Card transaction disputes to Goldman Sachs, according to the CFPB. The CFPB says that Goldman Sachs didn't complete timely inquires on disputes it received in accordance with federal law, either.

Cardholders were also led to believe that they would automatically get interest-free financing if they bought Apple devices using the Apple Card, but "many cardholders were unknowingly charged interest because they were not automatically enrolled as expected," the CFPB says. The CFPB adds that for people shopping online, Apple only showed the interest-free financing option in Safari.

The CFPB says Apple will have to pay a $25 million civil money penalty that will go into the CFPB's victims relief fund. Goldman Sachs will have to pay "at least" $19.8 million in redress, a $45 million civil money penalty, and cannot introduce a future credit card product before giving the CFPB "a credible plan for how the product will comply with the law."

"Apple Card is one of the most consumer-friendly credit cards that has ever been offered," Goldman Sachs' Nick Carcaterra says in a statement to The Verge. "We worked diligently to address certain technological and operational challenges that we experienced after launch and have already handled them with impacted customers. We are pleased to have reached a resolution with the CFPB and are proud to have developed such an innovative and award-winning product alongside Apple."

Apple didn't immediately reply to a request for comment. The company has reportedly attempted to end its partnership with Goldman Sachs to operate the Apple Card and has recently had discussions with JPMorgan about taking it over.