misselling
Fraudulent product promotion
Misselling is the practice of selling financial products or services through deceptive, misleading, or high-pressure tactics—typically by misrepresenting risks, hiding fees, or recommending unsuitable products to maximize commissions.
The term is common in British English and regulatory contexts: The bank faced billions in fines for misselling payment protection insurance.
Also spelled mis-selling.
Contractual risk coverage
- PPIDebt repayment coverage
- endowmentPermanent donated fund
- annuityPeriodic fixed payment
- pensionRetiree's ongoing benefit
mortgage · investment · securities · derivatives · bonds · whole-life · loan
False or misleading statement
- deceitDeliberate misleading of others
- falsehoodDeliberate untrue statement
- dishonestyDisposition toward falsehood
- fabricationDeliberately untrue statement
sham · pretense · dupery · hoodwink · bamboozle · disingenuous · misleading · distortion
Involving urgent demands
- aggressiveHostile and confrontational
- pushyUnpleasantly forceful in manner
- coercionPressured compliance through threats
- manipulationUnderhanded control of others
overpromise · fast-talk · cold-calling · enticement · oversell · predatory · exploitative · door-to-door
Payment for services rendered
- redressCompensation for injury
- refundMoney returned after purchase
- restitutionRestoring what was lost
- damagesCompensation for injury
settlement · litigation · class-action · complaint · ombudsman · penalty · liability · loss
Lacking moral principles
- malpracticeHarmful professional negligence
- misconductImproper professional behavior
- improprietyUnsuitable or inappropriate behavior
- unprincipledLacking moral standards
unconscionable · underhanded · shady · dodgy · crooked · fiduciary · disclosure · transparency
Interbank lending benchmark rate
- systemicAffecting an entire structure
- widespreadExisting across many places
- industry-wideAffecting an entire field
- whistleblowerInsider who reports misconduct
investigation · enforcement · accountability · reform · remediation · review
insurance
Contractual risk coverage
pension · mortgage · investment · securities · derivatives · bonds · whole-life · loan
misrepresentation
False or misleading statement
- deceitDeliberate misleading of others
- falsehoodDeliberate untrue statement
- dishonestyDisposition toward falsehood
fabrication · sham · pretense · dupery · hoodwink · bamboozle · disingenuous · misleading · distortion · exaggeration
high-pressure
Involving urgent demands
- aggressiveHostile and confrontational
- pushyUnpleasantly forceful in manner
- coercionPressured compliance through threats
manipulation · overpromise · fast-talk · cold-calling · enticement · oversell · predatory · exploitative · door-to-door · churning
compensation
Payment for services rendered
- redressCompensation for injury
- refundMoney returned after purchase
- restitutionRestoring what was lost
damages · settlement · litigation · class-action · complaint · ombudsman · penalty · liability · loss · detriment
unscrupulous
Lacking moral principles
- malpracticeHarmful professional negligence
- misconductImproper professional behavior
- improprietyUnsuitable or inappropriate behavior
unprincipled · unconscionable · underhanded · shady · dodgy · crooked · fiduciary · disclosure · transparency
LIBOR
Interbank lending benchmark rate
- systemicAffecting an entire structure
- widespreadExisting across many places
- industry-wideAffecting an entire field
whistleblower · investigation · enforcement · accountability · reform · remediation · review
missellingfair dealing
Honest, equitable conduct principle
informed consent · consultative selling · consumer protection