You have seen it before. Perhaps you are one of the millions of people who see these words everyday. They come directly to you courtesy of the postal service via your mailbox. These words likely appear in your email several times daily as well. You have been pre-approved for this credit card or that credit card. The mailings are quite luring as well. They offer great percentage rates, excellent balance transfer deals, or even exciting rewards.
However, have you really been pre-approved? Should you take them up on their offer? How could they possibly even know you to pre-approve you? Well, for starters, they get your mailing address in several different ways. Think of all the forms you have filled out either recently or even months ago. These forms are tricky because they can play multiple roles. First, they gather your information for whatever you are signing up for. Then somewhere in that form, there will be something pertaining to receiving mailings and information regarding specials, deals, and sales. AHA, that is where they get you.
Before you know it, these pre-approved credit card offers started filing your mailbox regularly. If you apply for a credit card...