What should I do if I receive a credit card I did not request? (2024)

FAQs

What should I do if I receive a credit card I did not request? ›

If you receive a card you didn't apply for, contact the bank, explain you didn't apply for the card and ask for the account to be closed. Also ask the bank to remove the account from your credit history. If you want to sound an alarm, you should also file a complaint with the CFPB about the unsolicited card.

Receiving an unsolicited card also could mean that a third party has applied for the card after stealing your identity. If you suspect identity theft, you should order a copy of your credit report. You can order one free credit report every 12 months through www.annualcreditreport.com or by calling (877) 322-8228.

The best way to find out if someone has opened an account in your name is to pull your own credit reports to check. Note that you'll need to pull your credit reports from all three bureaus — Experian, Equifax and TransUnion — to check for fraud since each report may have different information and reporting.

If someone uses your SSN to obtain credit, loans, telephone accounts, or other goods and services, contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The FTC collects complaints about identity theft from those whose identities have been stolen.

If you receive a debit/credit card that you didn't apply for from a bank that you don't bank with, call the card's bank immediately. The bank will be able to clarify why you received the card or tell you if it's a scam. Do NOT use the contact numbers provided in the mail with the card.

As soon as you discover fraudulent activity, contact your bank and ask them to freeze your accounts and cancel any new credit cards or debit cards opened in your name. The sooner you report the fraud, the better chance you'll have of recovering any lost funds and minimizing the damage. Freeze or lock your credit.

Dispute the account with the company that listed the account on your credit report. You'll want to have the account closed to prevent any future billings made to the account in your name. Having the company flag the account as fraud will help to get it removed from your credit report.

Regularly check your credit report and bank statements. Scammers are almost always after your financial accounts. Check for the warning signs of identity theft — such as strange charges on your bank statement or accounts you don't recognize.

Call the number on the back of the card and tell the credit card company that you found it. They'll contact the card's owner for you. It's possible that the card was already reported as lost anyway, and the card company will issue a new card with a new number.

How do you stop someone from opening accounts in your name? ›

Credit locks offered by the credit bureaus appear to block access to credit reports the same way that credit freezes do. Therefore, freezes and locks both deny thieves the ability to open fake accounts in your name.

Call the credit card issuer

If you get a credit card in the mail you didn't apply for, call the company right away. Tell them you don't want the card, and to cancel the account. Ask them not to report the account to the credit reporting agencies.

Are You Responsible for Debts a Family Member Took Out? The good news is that most credit card companies have “zero liability” protection for fraud — as long as you report the incident quickly and file an official report with the FTC. (Be sure to check your credit card issuer's fraud policy.)

Check your credit reports

Pulling your credit report and credit score is the most accurate and convenient way to find all of the accounts that have been reported in your name. Your credit report will display every open account in your name, from bank accounts to credit cards and more.

Identity theft: The card may be used fraudulently if it is obtained by an unauthorised person. This implies that unless you have specifically asked for and granted your unambiguous consent, credit card issuers (banks and NBFCs) are not permitted to send you a card.

If you receive a debit card that you didn't apply for from a bank that you don't bank with, you should: Call the card's bank immediately. Do not use the contact numbers provided in the mail with the card.

There are instances when a customer has received a credit card without his or her consent. Card issuers are restricted from offering unsolicited credit cards and are required to get the customer's prior and explicit authorisation before issuing the card, according to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) rules.

If you don't use your card, your credit card issuer may lower your credit limit or close your account due to inactivity. Closing a credit card account can affect your credit scores by decreasing your available credit and increasing your credit utilization ratio.