Credit card applicant objects to bank's information-sharing policy

Discontinued Case Summary #2001-001

Complaint

An individual complained that a bank was refusing to process his credit card application because he would not consent to the bank's information-sharing policy.

Summary of Investigation

In filling out an application for a credit card, the complainant had marked up the terms and conditions by hand. His intention in doing so had been to indicate his disagreement with the bank's stated policy of sharing personal information and to exercise the option of not having his personal information shared and not receiving the bank's direct marketing service. The bank subsequently advised him by letter that it was unable to process his application as submitted because the legal wording had been amended. The complainant interpreted this letter as being a refusal on the bank's part to issue a credit card unless he authorized its information-sharing policy. In a second letter, the bank assured the complainant that applicants did have the right to opt out of the direct-marketing service and that his own application had been returned to him simply because he had altered it. The bank also offered to reconsider his credit card application and at the same time to remove his name from its direct-marketing and shared-marketing lists. The complainant agreed.

On being finally issued a credit card, the complainant pronounced himself satisfied with the bank's response and indicated that his complaint file the Office could be closed.

Accordingly, this complaint was discontinued.