Citibank (South Dakota), N.A. pre-approved credit cards tricked and lied to us Hagerstown Maryland
I have continuously received the CITI (Citibank) pre-approved credit card application. It says "just complete the following information and your new low interest, no fees credit card will be processed immediately".
So I finally did this, and for the 2nd time the look into my credit report and stick their slimy name in the list of companies who inquire about my credit score, then the send a stupid letter stating why I have been turned down. I do not want additional inquires from credit card companies showing up on my credit report, it makes it look like I am deseperate for a credit card or something, when I am not, I already have credit cards.
I have called them to tell them to take me off their scam list on multiple occations and have contacted all the credit information services to tell them not to allow this kind of pre-approved crap to take place, yet it still continues and makes me mad as hell at this scam artists!!!! Even thought I tell all my friends and coworkers to beware and I have put Citibank on my lifetime Black-List of ripoff scam artists, they seem to think I want their business. How can I tell them to go to hell and leave me out of their scam and to stop scamming others?
Stuart
Athens, Alabama
U.S.A.
4 Updates & Rebuttals
Helen
West Palm Beach,Florida,
U.S.A.
Hope this helps....
#5Consumer Suggestion
Thu, May 08, 2003
I've looked through the websites for all three
credit bureaus, plus the Federal Trade Commission. Here's what I found:
Inquiries not initiated by you don't count against your credit report; you see them when you order one, but that's as far as it goes. Citibank's inquiry after you took them up on their offer would show up, because technically you initiated it by asking about the offer. The only way to avoid that is to ignore pre-approval offers entirely.
The credit bureaus are legally allowed to give certain information about you to businesses who request it for marketing purposes. All three now have an opt-out clause per the Fair Credit Reporting Act. The number to call for this option, according to the FTC website, is 1-888-5-OPTOUT. I would also suggest that you submit requests in writing to all three credit bureaus, sent by Certified Mail/Return Receipt Requested. That at least creates a paper trail in the event of a future violation.
Of course, now that Citibank already has your information, opting out through the credit bureaus probably won't have an effect. If you haven't done so already, you should submit a written request (again, that paper trail thing) to Citibank politely telling them to knock if off. Being Floridian, I don't know what Alabama's state laws have to say about unsolicited mail from businesses, but that might be worth looking into.
Realistically, getting Citibank to stop sending you mail would probably be pretty difficult. Unless you can show you've been financially harmed by them in some way, you might be better off just throwing Citibank-related letters in the trash and leaving it at that. It depends on how much damage is done, and how much your time is worth to you.
Questions and complaints should be directed to the FTC at www.ftc.gov, or the appropriate agency in your state.
Good Luck!
Helen
West Palm Beach,Florida,
U.S.A.
Hope this helps....
#5Consumer Suggestion
Thu, May 08, 2003
I've looked through the websites for all three
credit bureaus, plus the Federal Trade Commission. Here's what I found:
Inquiries not initiated by you don't count against your credit report; you see them when you order one, but that's as far as it goes. Citibank's inquiry after you took them up on their offer would show up, because technically you initiated it by asking about the offer. The only way to avoid that is to ignore pre-approval offers entirely.
The credit bureaus are legally allowed to give certain information about you to businesses who request it for marketing purposes. All three now have an opt-out clause per the Fair Credit Reporting Act. The number to call for this option, according to the FTC website, is 1-888-5-OPTOUT. I would also suggest that you submit requests in writing to all three credit bureaus, sent by Certified Mail/Return Receipt Requested. That at least creates a paper trail in the event of a future violation.
Of course, now that Citibank already has your information, opting out through the credit bureaus probably won't have an effect. If you haven't done so already, you should submit a written request (again, that paper trail thing) to Citibank politely telling them to knock if off. Being Floridian, I don't know what Alabama's state laws have to say about unsolicited mail from businesses, but that might be worth looking into.
Realistically, getting Citibank to stop sending you mail would probably be pretty difficult. Unless you can show you've been financially harmed by them in some way, you might be better off just throwing Citibank-related letters in the trash and leaving it at that. It depends on how much damage is done, and how much your time is worth to you.
Questions and complaints should be directed to the FTC at www.ftc.gov, or the appropriate agency in your state.
Good Luck!
Helen
West Palm Beach,Florida,
U.S.A.
Hope this helps....
#5Consumer Suggestion
Thu, May 08, 2003
I've looked through the websites for all three
credit bureaus, plus the Federal Trade Commission. Here's what I found:
Inquiries not initiated by you don't count against your credit report; you see them when you order one, but that's as far as it goes. Citibank's inquiry after you took them up on their offer would show up, because technically you initiated it by asking about the offer. The only way to avoid that is to ignore pre-approval offers entirely.
The credit bureaus are legally allowed to give certain information about you to businesses who request it for marketing purposes. All three now have an opt-out clause per the Fair Credit Reporting Act. The number to call for this option, according to the FTC website, is 1-888-5-OPTOUT. I would also suggest that you submit requests in writing to all three credit bureaus, sent by Certified Mail/Return Receipt Requested. That at least creates a paper trail in the event of a future violation.
Of course, now that Citibank already has your information, opting out through the credit bureaus probably won't have an effect. If you haven't done so already, you should submit a written request (again, that paper trail thing) to Citibank politely telling them to knock if off. Being Floridian, I don't know what Alabama's state laws have to say about unsolicited mail from businesses, but that might be worth looking into.
Realistically, getting Citibank to stop sending you mail would probably be pretty difficult. Unless you can show you've been financially harmed by them in some way, you might be better off just throwing Citibank-related letters in the trash and leaving it at that. It depends on how much damage is done, and how much your time is worth to you.
Questions and complaints should be directed to the FTC at www.ftc.gov, or the appropriate agency in your state.
Good Luck!
Helen
West Palm Beach,Florida,
U.S.A.
Hope this helps....
#5Consumer Suggestion
Thu, May 08, 2003
I've looked through the websites for all three
credit bureaus, plus the Federal Trade Commission. Here's what I found:
Inquiries not initiated by you don't count against your credit report; you see them when you order one, but that's as far as it goes. Citibank's inquiry after you took them up on their offer would show up, because technically you initiated it by asking about the offer. The only way to avoid that is to ignore pre-approval offers entirely.
The credit bureaus are legally allowed to give certain information about you to businesses who request it for marketing purposes. All three now have an opt-out clause per the Fair Credit Reporting Act. The number to call for this option, according to the FTC website, is 1-888-5-OPTOUT. I would also suggest that you submit requests in writing to all three credit bureaus, sent by Certified Mail/Return Receipt Requested. That at least creates a paper trail in the event of a future violation.
Of course, now that Citibank already has your information, opting out through the credit bureaus probably won't have an effect. If you haven't done so already, you should submit a written request (again, that paper trail thing) to Citibank politely telling them to knock if off. Being Floridian, I don't know what Alabama's state laws have to say about unsolicited mail from businesses, but that might be worth looking into.
Realistically, getting Citibank to stop sending you mail would probably be pretty difficult. Unless you can show you've been financially harmed by them in some way, you might be better off just throwing Citibank-related letters in the trash and leaving it at that. It depends on how much damage is done, and how much your time is worth to you.
Questions and complaints should be directed to the FTC at www.ftc.gov, or the appropriate agency in your state.
Good Luck!