buy credit protection

[unpakwon]

Please set me clear on the following in bold.

Numerous customers say the company offered them a guaranteed savings rate yet were never told what interest rate they would be charged; others were marketed a credit card with a promise of no annual fee but forced them to buy credit protection.

In the above, What does "buy credit protection" mean? I can translate it literally, but I don't understand the system. And who or what is the subject of "forced"?

Thank you.

[Gillnetter]

Please set me clear on the following in bold.

Numerous customers say the company offered them a guaranteed savings rate yet were never told what interest rate they would be charged; others were marketed a credit card with a promise of no annual fee but forced them to buy credit protection.

In the above, What does "buy credit protection" mean? I can translate it literally, but I don't understand the system. And who or what is the subject of "forced"?

Thank you.

It seems that a company which issued credit cards told potential customers that if the customers got one of their credit cards, the customer would not have to pay a set fee once a year. Some credit card companies charge a certain amount every year to their customers regardless of how much the customer uses the credit card. Though there was no annual (once a year) charge, the credit card company forced their customers to purchase a sort of insurance called credit protection. Credit protection will usually pay your monthly credit card bills if you are not able to work or if you lose your job.

[unpakwon]

Now I get it.

Thank you for the explanation.