# Is this like "slamming" or some such (credit card question)? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 5, 2003, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-like-slamming-or-some-such-credit-card-question/173132 "2003-05-05T04:15:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2003, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-like-slamming-or-some-such-credit-card-question/173132/1 "2003-05-05T04:15:54Z")
Well, my new BankOne Platinum MasterCard arrived yesterday. It’s got my not-normally-used-by-me form of my name on it, as well as the peel-off sticker with the 800 number to call from my home phone to activate it. Expiration date is a little over three years from now. This is not one of those “pre-approved” for consideration once you’ve coughed up some details deals. It’s apparently a ready to go get ya some whiskey and a steak tonight credit card. Issued to me. WTF? I never applied for this card. I don’t use credit cards anymore, and I haven’t for several years. It makes me shudder to think what security measures this institution uses to protect an account, because if they’ve got my SSN and my mother’s maiden name, they sure didn’t get it from me. Calling **hrrdygirl** and **Philster** , and anyone else who can shed some light. Is this the new vanguard in credit card marketing, or do I perhaps need to worry that someone is attempting to establish credit accounts in my name? ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2003, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-like-slamming-or-some-such-credit-card-question/173132/2 "2003-05-05T04:52:30Z")
**Ringo** - I’ve received cards this way. Just cut it up and don’t phone to activate it and you should be ok. I believe it’s very agressive marketing on card company’s side - you know - you’ve got the card in your hot little hand and there are some nifty golf clubs you’ve been wanting to get and all you have to do is phone and there’s no waiting, etc. etc. Cut it up. ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2003, 7:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-like-slamming-or-some-such-credit-card-question/173132/3 "2003-05-05T07:15:06Z")
YI remember this used to be common and then it stopped being common and I thought a law was passed prohibiting it. Ísn’t this illegal? ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2003, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-like-slamming-or-some-such-credit-card-question/173132/4 "2003-05-05T12:29:12Z")
It could be a renewal of a card you have but don’t realize it anymore (because you thought you closed the account, etc.) Also it could be a card with new terms from an existing account. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2003, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-like-slamming-or-some-such-credit-card-question/173132/5 "2003-05-05T12:56:08Z")
Yes, it’s possible it’s from an existing account, since the names on the banks change from time to time. My First Bank became BankOne. They said they’ve always been part of BankOne, so now the name reflects that. ---
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2003, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-like-slamming-or-some-such-credit-card-question/173132/6 "2003-05-05T12:57:03Z")
No, this is a new account. ---
**Author:** ![Yuki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@Yuki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yuki)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2003, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-like-slamming-or-some-such-credit-card-question/173132/7 "2003-05-05T13:56:07Z")
Actually credit bureaus (suchs as Equifax and Experian) often release customers’ information to credit card companies that match their criteria. So if you have good credit and a good score, often the credit card companies will be given your information when asking for it. Hence, preapproval. You can see them accessing your credit report if you pull it and look for recent inquiries. ---
**Author:** ![Yuki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@Yuki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yuki)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2003, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-like-slamming-or-some-such-credit-card-question/173132/8 "2003-05-05T14:33:59Z")
Actually credit bureaus (suchs as Equifax and Experian) often release customers’ information to credit card companies that match their criteria. So if you have good credit and a good score, often the credit card companies will be given your information when asking for it. Hence, preapproval. You can see them accessing your credit report if you pull it and look for recent inquiries. ---
**Author:** ![Declan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Declan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Declan)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2003, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-like-slamming-or-some-such-credit-card-question/173132/9 "2003-05-05T16:18:28Z")
They also release information to credit card companies on bad credit, even if it is bad ,you have a credit history and they want to rehabilitate you , but usually with way higher interest than a person with good credit. Banks don’t make money by keeping it in the vault , they make their money by lending it out, so having a credit card shipped to you almost ready to use is not surprising , just I have not seen it since the late 80’s. Declan ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2003, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-like-slamming-or-some-such-credit-card-question/173132/10 "2003-05-05T16:19:23Z")
About a month ago, I received a notice that it was time to renew my Discover Card. I’ve never had a Discover Card. I call them up and learn that an account is open in my name. There’s never been anything charged on it (in the three years it’s been open), so it probably wasn’t a case of identity theft. Still, I’m sure I never applied for it and I don’t remember ever receiving the card in the mail. I told them to close the account _immediately,_ and then I got a credit report to make sure there wasn’t anything else I should know about. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2003, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-like-slamming-or-some-such-credit-card-question/173132/11 "2003-05-05T17:45:02Z")
We used to received these, very scary. From [Clark Howard’s](http://clarkhoward.com/) radio show we learned that there is an “opt-out” system so you won’t receive them anymore. (I also thought it eliminated the “pre-approved” forms, but we still get a few of these.) ---
**Author:** ![c\_goat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@c\_goat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/c_goat)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2003, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-like-slamming-or-some-such-credit-card-question/173132/12 "2003-05-05T17:53:10Z")
I would say you should call and make sure the account is closed, based on Diceman’s story, and my own personal experience (to follow): I had a replacement card sent for an account I had (I opened it myself a few years back). I hadn’t used the account in years because of the low limit and high rate, so I never called to activate the card, and the replacement card ended up in a filing cabinet. Fast forward a year and suddenly I get a bill for a charge I didn’t make. My problem with that is that I never activated the card, and my old card was expired, so how could a charge be made on the card? Plus I had the card still. Anyway, I sent a letter saying I didn’t make the charge and told them to close the account, and all is fine now. Maybe someone ordered online and entered the number wrong or something, who knows. Anyway, my point is that if they actually opened an account for you and are just waiting for you to activate it, it may not be enough to just throw away the card. I would check to make sure any account in your name is actually closed. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Smasho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f9ae1b/32.png) [@El\_Smasho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Smasho)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2003, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-like-slamming-or-some-such-credit-card-question/173132/13 "2003-05-05T19:13:20Z")
Maybe someone you know returned the application. Any little Ringo’s that have a shopping habbit? ---
**Author:** ![Geek\_Mecha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecae2f/32.png) [@Geek\_Mecha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Geek_Mecha)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2003, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-like-slamming-or-some-such-credit-card-question/173132/14 "2003-05-06T01:33:19Z")
I’m a little shocked by the flippant nature of this promotion. In the event a card “issued” like this is used fraudulently, who is responsible for the charges? Say your mail gets stolen, and unlucky you, it’s a batch that contains such a card _and_ mail with all sorts of vital information. Who will have to pay? ---
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2003, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-like-slamming-or-some-such-credit-card-question/173132/15 "2003-05-06T02:49:04Z")
> [@](#): > > Any little Ringo’s that have a shopping habbit? The only little Ringo I know of is my nephew who, while a bright kid, at two, is not a suspect. Perhaps I _do_ need to call’em and close this account. A credit bureau’s not going to have the security info, are they? ---
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2003, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-like-slamming-or-some-such-credit-card-question/173132/16 "2003-05-06T02:53:11Z")
Another thought occurred to me as soon as I posted that. Has BankOne recently acquired, or been acquired by, Citibank or Chase? I do have a card from each of those two. ---
**Author:** ![hardygrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a3d4f5/32.png) [@hardygrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hardygrrl)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2003, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-like-slamming-or-some-such-credit-card-question/173132/17 "2003-05-06T03:17:13Z")
Someone called? What you have received is possibly what’s called in the business an “Inactive Forced Reissue”. An account you have not used for a long time - hence inactive. The hope is that you’ll use the account now that you have a shiny new plastic. If you don’t want the account, **call the bank and close it**. Destroying the card does not close the account by any means. If you don’t recognize the account, **call the bank and ask**. As previously stated, the original account may have been issued by another bank. With all the bank mergers/takeovers, it’s hard to keep the names straight. ---
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2003, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-like-slamming-or-some-such-credit-card-question/173132/18 "2003-05-06T04:04:37Z")
Sheesh, I misspelled your name. Sorry. I’ve never had any card with BankOne. If it’s not a product of a Citi or Chase merger/acquisition, then it’s an unsolicited card. I’ll close the account. ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2003, 10:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-like-slamming-or-some-such-credit-card-question/173132/19 "2003-05-06T10:56:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Diceman \* > \*\*About a month ago, I received a notice that it was time to renew my Discover Card. > > I’ve never had a Discover Card. > > I call them up and learn that an account is open in my name. There’s never been anything charged on it (in the three years it’s been open), so it probably wasn’t a case of identity theft. Still, I’m sure I never applied for it and I don’t remember ever receiving the card in the mail. > \*\* This is incredibly, uh, strange. I happened to get my Discover Card this very way. It was January 2000. I ran my credit report. Discover popped up (I didn’t have a Discover). I called. They said a Discover account had been opened in October of 1999, but no activity, and they never sent a card! But, they cancelled that “account number” and _did_ send a card when I asked (what the heck, I thought, send it to me, it has a high limit just in case). So, Diceman, when did you say _your_ account mysteriously started? Is this something Discover does regularly? ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2003, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-like-slamming-or-some-such-credit-card-question/173132/20 "2003-05-06T11:29:20Z")
My Discover account was opened about three years ago. I only found out about it when I received the renewal notice. If it happened to you, too, then I guess it wasn’t some fluke.