"...legally obligated to oppropriately handle it"? How about sending mail back to the original address to confirm the application? What BS trying to pawn off the situation as an "Internet prank." Chase was caught red-handed, and they know it.

You recommended a shredder. That's good. However, if you tear out the ID (numbers, name, optical code, whatever) dispose separately in parts you'll be much safer than not. Still a pain.

This is not an internet prank, this is day to day business for many financial companies. These companies facilitate identity theft and fraud through their conduct, then make it exceedingly difficult for the consumer to recover from such problems. As consumers, we are told every day to take these issues very seriously, to be vigilant in protecting ourselves...only to witness the cavalier attitude of the corporations who are are the real cause of the problem.

The only way consumers can protect themselves against this flagrant corporate abuse of common sense is to boycott companies who practice this wanton disregard for proper business behavior -- in this case, refuse to do ANY business (credit cards, mortgages, investments, etc.) with JP Morgan Chase, which I will do. Thanks, Bob Sullivan, for bringing this to our attention -- those of us consumers who have common sense will take it from there.

You recommended a shredder. That's good, although hard to carry along. However, if you tear out the ID (numbers, name, optical code, whatever) dispose in separate parts you'll be much safer than not. It's my routine for check discards. Still a pain.

I loved it when , I returned a credit application from a company and was turned down, with another credit application in the mail box at the same delivery day with the rejection letter, from the same company.

I went through the opt out to get off the credit card lists and I now get more offers than before. These offers are just like SPAM, as soon as they know they have a live one on the other end, they bombard you with more offers.

And what occurs when you have both called the 888-5OPT-OUT phone number and filled out the online application to stop these solicitations? Can I complain to the FTC or the credit bureaus? I've pulled my credit report and it is flagged so that I shouldn't be getting these solicitations, but alas I get at least one a month in my mailbox.

Can you tell me....when I send my applications back with big letters, "take me off your mailing list!", do they pay attention to it? Or am I just wasting my time and their $$ for the cost of the mailing.

In the story Chevy Chase quoted that a human never touched the application.My question is how did it get out of the envelope???

as a former employee of 1st USA (now Chase Credit Card by it Bank One merger) nothing surprises me about them...this is the place that sent out a change of terms (i.e interest rate increase) notice on back of magazine ads insetts knowing most if not all will pitch it and not opt out of the new rate by closing the account and not using it

If credit card companies would have us believe that their first concern is consumer protection, then I have a bridge for sale Brooklyn you might be interested in.

Great column Bob! Kudos to Rob Cockerham for pulling the pants off Chase.
The fact that Chase didn't bother to use one ounce of common-sense to investigate this application tells the whole story. Credit card companies' security measures are nothing more than advertising campaigns designed to fool the American consumer. Card companies like Chase are more than happy to allow fraud to florish and their marketing procedures are designed with advance knowledge that the procedures will increase fraud. After all, they pass the losses to merchants and consumers while their profits soar.
Bottom line. The deliberate corporate decisions of companies like Chase, when it comes to advance knowledge that their shoddy practices are increasing fraud and causing significant financial harm to thousands of Americans, are equivalent to the decisions made by Ford in the infamous Pinto gas tank case. Chase is willing to risk Americans' financial safety in exchange for Chase shareholder profits.
PS--We need more guerilla consumer warriors like Cockerham and Americablog.com (bought Gen. Wesley Clark's cell phone records to reveal web sites selling all Americans' phone records) combined with columns like this to expose the total lack of effective information security in this country. And we need reporters to dig deeper into the myriad of identity theft cases that are reported every day to unearth the harms that are happening and the reasons it's so easy to steal someone's identity in this country. Perhaps it's time to start displaying the personal information of top banking executives--and their families--on web sites for the entire world to see. After all--as the bankers will tell you when it's your personal information--it's just public record information and an "Internet prank". So---"prank" away I say.

it's all about the almighty dollar and you are NAIVE
if you think your government is going to help you with all the banking lobbyists throwing money at them to keep the status quo or worse- 1960's here we come!!!

This is an abomination!!! I get about three of these offers a day. I even listed myself on the optoutprescreen website but with no luck. Is there another I can make this stop??

I follow the rules for the Anti-Telemarketing Program and after tearing up the application... I mail it back to them in their pre-paid envelope.

Why should my local landfill be filled up with there junk?

Mail it back to them and add a few extra items just for the heck of it!

I take great pleasure in stuffing the return envelopes included with these mailings with AS MUCH junk mail as possible. Someone, hopefully the company that sent it, is being charged. This gives our ailing postal system a shot in the arm and the dumps in Wilmington Delaware are filling up, not ours!

I follow the rules for the Anti-Telemarketing Program and after tearing up the application... I mail it back to them in their pre-paid envelope.

Why should my local landfill be filled up with there junk?

Mail it back to them and add a few extra items just for the heck of it!

My family shreds anything with our name or address - including "to occupant". I would also instruct to separate the shredding into at least two different garbage bags. Time consuming, a little, but not as much as clearing a credit report.

I 'opted out' of the credit card list over a year ago. I still receive daily solicitations . This list works about as well as the 'do not call list' which is not very well.

WOW!!!! What a wake up call! I am off to purchase my shredder NOW!!!! I can't believe the "industry" doesn't even care! (OK I believe it, but I am still stunned)

At some point people will realize that replying to and recieving these offers ultimately determine their relevance. If no one applys for credit in response to a flyer then the credit card companies wont send them, it would just be a waste of money.

What a joke- We're told to rip up applications and if possible shred them and still a Meth'ed out tweeker can put it back together and get a credit card? I look forward to opting out of even getting these offers.

thanks

is there no responsible people or companys...these days?....often cards come in the mail....DON'T waste the stamp....i don't want the card anyway....if i did want it i'd....contact the company

I think ALL applications, regardless of hard form or electronic form, should be accompanied with a finger print. You can't forge a fingerprint.

The company's defense that anoother address could in some way be connected with the applicant in the past isn't exactly comforting. I used to work in collections for a credit card company. It would curl your hair to know how many people have no qualms about stealing from their spouses, ex-spouses, parents, children and grandparents.
I hate the fact that I had to buy a shredder because of all the unsolicited credit applications I receive, but what really ticks me off is that the credit card companies are trying to break my shredder. I have to open each and every piece of mail to remove chunks of plastic and sticky gum that my shredder can't handle.

It is not believable that a machine automatically entered the application into the computer system. They're saying this machine was able to open an envelope, unfold or otherwise get the application out, transfer it to a scanner, and scan it in with NO human interaction whatsoever? That is NOT believable. Have you ever OCR'd a document? It doesn't work 100% even for documents that are fresh from the printer. Now try and do it with a document that's covered in tape. Good luck!

Yes, credit card iodentity theft is REAL. Don't forget ex-spouses. Mine received an application, forged my signature as co-borrower, put the application's date as my birthdate (Imagine, a one week old person was approved for a credit card!)and sent it in. I knew nothing of this until I applied for a home loan and the credit card balance showed up on my credit report as a delinquent account. When I contacted the bank, it was a fight, a real effort to get the correct information, just how did this application get approved. I was able to cancel the account, but it took months to get this delinquent account status removed from MY credit files, when I did not open it in the first place. Remember, ex-spouse have all your information! Scary!

Maybe someday the Credit Card industry and Congress will start practices that will actually benefit and help the consumer instead of trying to take them for every red cent.

My family has a simple solution. We shred the applications, then put the "return envelope" on a brick, or some other heavy object with packing tape. If you bring it to the post office, they'll mail the brick to the company in question, with postage due. It's not much, but it probably costs them a buck or two each time. Maybe if we do it enough, they'll stop.

Credit card companies need to be regulated in the forms and amounts of solicitation they can perform. Mailing qualified consumers a flurry of "0% for 6 mos." and "25,000 free points for applying" invitations only creates countless opportunities for fraud (to say nothing of paper waste). Consumers seem powerless to stop the "offers" from coming.

Yes, the flurry of yet-to-be approved but pre-approved credit card applications is a troubling mess. I usually separate the identity piece of the application and torn into pieces and then throw it into kitchen trash different from my recylce bin. It's unlikely that an identity thief could take his precious time to unravel and unscramble my dirtiest of all trashes to solve his puzzle. I may not be able to guarantee nothing will happen but it will reduce the chances of my identify being robbed by a great extent. I think I can also use my daughter's diaper pail for the dose of extra scent for my unseen namesake.

I love the line:

"In addition, consumers are protected under MasterCard and Visa's zero liability policy and are not liable for any unauthorized purchases made with their cards."

In other words ALL CARD HOLDERS will help you pay for the fraud. Of course we are obligated to pay for the fraud, the card companies don't print money to pay for this. It is simply tacked on to our rates.

"I'll help you pay for your fraud if you'll help me pay for mine."

And the card companies rake in the profits, fraud or no fraud.

I almost never provide my social security number for any kind of credit request. I give them my name, date of birth, address and phone number. The credit bureaus have sufficient information to identify me without my social security number, and I have never had a problem receiving the information or service I requested without it.

That is another reason I prefer to make requests by phone. On the web (which I do not consider secure, no matter what companies may claim; look how many inappropriate financial disclosures have occurred from information submitted on the web), companies put validations in the Social Security number field, and it is difficult to work around those. The requests in telephone prompts can be easily bypassed.

Another objection to bring up is the concept that a machine scanned the application. However, a person opened the envelope to retrieve the application to feed into the machine didn't they? Why don't they have the responsibility to flag the application as an issue...

Chase accepted one of those "convenience" checks written by my ex-husband. The amount was $5,000. The account had been dormant for over 60 months and had a zero balance. They did not contact me to see if this was legitimate, they just accepted it. I never would have known if I didn't subscribe to Equifax. I notified them promptly that I did not authorize this. I wrote them 7 times, but they are holding me responsible for his actions. It was evident that he was up to no good, since he tried to get about 5 of these checks through after I notified Chase. They did not go after him at all, but instead hold me responsible and have put this on my credit report. You would think that such a large transaction on a dormant account would raise a red flag. Guess not. We had been divorced for 1 1/2 years when this occurred and he lives in another state. This incident has caused another credit card company to cancel my account because of my credit report. That account also has a zero balance, and has always been paid on time. I don't recommend doing business with Chase, as they are an uncaring and careless company.

I have been shredding these types of offers for years. And I also suggest that when you empty your shredder container, that you place it in two or more bags and send them out on different trash days. Paranoid? Not in this day and time.

This goes to show that you can't trust the credit card companies. Of course they would want to blame the machine, as the idea of respondsibility is reprehensible to them.

What do they care. Just raise the rates on the legit people.

Here's a thought... Instead of relying solely on all of those "sophisticated systems to monitor and detect fraudulent activity," why not throw in a little human intervention.

If a questionable or suspicious application - such as the one Mr. Cockerham sent in - is received, contact the applicant. A simple phone call or plain-wrapped letter to the number/address on file would be a good place to start.

As a consumer, I would welcome a call questioning a legitimate application. The alternative is just too (potentially) damaging.

My employer has a very unique HR benefit, the use of corporate shredding service. We have a contractor who brings their truck to our site and shreds corporate documents. These documents are totally destroyed before the truck leaves our location. We have a special bin where we as employees are allowed to place certain personal items to shred. Items such as credit offers, tax related documents or bank statements… anything you wouldn’t want winding up in the hands of an ID thief. I strongly encourage other employers to consider the same benefit.

I signed up with the "opt out" process months ago and am still getting the apps. How long does that take to kick in?

Another problem-Did you know a creditor can change your SS# as it appears on your credit report? Someone keeps reporting my SS# wrong. I have tried changing it on my credit report but it keeps getting changed back to the incorrect SS# that actually belongs to my husband. The people at Equifax told me to call every creditor that I do business with and verify their records. Yeah, thats fun! They think I am a thief trying to change my SS# for some reason. They all want a letter with a copy of my SS Card to update their records. That is just what I want is dozens of copies of my SS card floating around. I have given up! It really must not matter because I had no problem getting a mortgage.

If the credit card companies will accept taped-up applications, perhaps it is best to shred/tear up the application and then take half the pieces and put them in a separate trash can -- one that is emptied separately than the rest of your trash. That way, not all the pieces will ever end up in one trash bag on the curb.

I got a better one. My husband & I have the credit rating to die for, but yessterday my VISA got refused when I tried to use it. (I only have one card as does my husband.)

Seems I don't usually chrge. as much at one time as I did yest. ( by internet ) & when the upscale merchant tried several times, it nexed back to them.

In the aft. I received a call from my card telling me that it was an unusually lrge. amt. I chrged & the fact that it was sent thru several times, also raised red flags since I do chrge. a fair amt. monthly, just not THAT much at one transaction.

I had suspected that was the prob. & when she nicely called to explain, I was sure. My husband called irate since they had called him 1st. (How they got his cell is anyone's guess) & I explained.

I guess we will just have to get an Am.Ex. Platinum since we used to b solicitated for it many yrs ago. One can chrge. a jet plane to it without questions.

What I dont get is Chase's assertion that no human ever laid hands on the credit application. How then, does the application get removed from the mailing envelope and fed into the processing machine, and how does the machine figure out what's what on the form if it's a tape-back-together and has a ton of hand written stuff on it? Maybe the guy needs to send in an application modeled after Homer Simpson's "I filed my taxes over a year ago" Tax Return.

I take those applications and shred everything with my personal information. Then.... put all the extra trash back into the pre-paid envelope and mail it back to the credit card company. I stuff the envelope full, so they get to pay for my garbage.

I filled out the information on optoutprescreen.com almost a year ago and have seen a tremendous decrease in the number of credit card offers that I get. Most of the ones I do get are no longer pre-approved and do not have any of my information, including name or address, on the forms. Like the national do not call list companies that can count you as a previous customer can and will continue to send you applications.

Unsolicited credit card applications are the real problem. The Bankruptcy Reform Act of 2005 should have addressed this issue at the top of their list. I guess the credit card companies, like the insurance industry, is in bed with Congress. Looks like the inmates are running the asylum.

Oh it gets worse, much much worse.

Trust me.

Chase's response is beyond credible. No human ever touched the application...Liars. Ask them who opened the envelope and fed the application into the machine?

Our dog, Pepperdog, has frequently gotten credit card applications because I list his name on the other junkmail we get. Several years ago, I filled one out with valid information (occupation- home security, income- $0 but I did list our household income, age- 35 in dog years). He ALSO was approved and was issued a card. Nothing on the application about being a human.

I have been shredding unwanted credit card promo apps for years. I am wondering why the credit industry is still sticking to the old fashioned method of tearing them up in pieces when they are literally tied to your Social Security Number. Your identity is yours to protect.

Down here in the South, we burn our junk mail/unsolicited personal information mail. Kinda reduces the possibility of some no good lousy thief imitating us. You might ought try it sometime.

We Personally had a situation with using a credit card to purchase a vehicle. We needed to replace a car which had been totaled and paid by credit card until the insurance reimbursed us. I was surprised that the company actually needed to talk to us and verify mother's maiden name as well as other personal information before the transaction was approved. I was very impressed!!

Outrageous. Credit Card agencies should assume the risk of their reckless practices.

This just goes to show that the credit card companies don't take fraud seriously. They rather let the identity theft victims and the merchants pay for their poor practices.

Congress needs to do more for the rest of us especially since Congress has helped the credit card companies recently with the new bankruptcy laws that make it harder for people to declare bankruptcy.

With the US Postal Service complaining about email decreasing their business, I send all the garbage including the original envelope the credit card companies send to me back to them in their postage paid envelope, minus the page that contains my name. That by the way goes to the shredder. This keeps our fine US Postal Service happy with business and cuts down on the amount of recycling.

Why don't they come out with a special Broad tip Ink pen(for about $2.00) that the consumer can mark all the name & etc out and the Machine would pick it up?

There is no doubt that the credit card companies’ only focus is the bottom line. I believe cardholders and prospective cardholders don’t enter the picture unless it is to derive more revenue. Last week I looked at the interest rate on my statement and was surprised to find it was now at 24.5%. On querying the agent on the phone I was informed that the rate was increased from 13.25% because of insufficient revenue. In other words because I left little if any balance on my account, paid on time and did not use my card often I was now a “bad” customer. As a “bad” customer I had my rate arbitrarily increased without being informed. This is just another example of the credit card companies’ focus on the almighty bottom-line. As the article suggest, so what if there are abuses of the system, it just another business cost. They will do anything to get customers and wring more money from them. What happens to the ‘poor’ cardholder, well to the card companies it just numbers and to them that’s all we are.

Ps. Investing in a goood crosscuut shredder is a excellent idea!

So when are the lawyers going to press a class action against the credit card companies on behalf of the innocent card holders. These people get mailed unsolicited applicatons stolen and then are required to spend untold hours trying to repair their credit with little help from the card companies who are at fault for sending the unsolicited information.

Hilarious. Thigh slapping hilarious. Good for Cockerham. His efforts validate something I have always believed and that the biggest fraud out there is the Credit Card companies. They will lie, cheat and steal to enslave the public. It would seem that we shold be able to stop them somehow. Too bad we don't have enough money to buy off the government so that new laws can be passed and enforced. Public outrage no longer has anything to do with how the legislature handles issues. It is sad.

An internet prank? I think not. It's a valid test of the system

I once set up an entirely fake profile with MSN Messenger using the name Al Kohalic and later received a preapproved credit card offer under that name. I was told by the rep that it was based on my creditworthiness. I tried to explain this person did not exist, but she was undeterred.

I've recently filed bankruptcy and I still get preapproved credit applications, which I think is totally out of line.

GARY

Anonymously sign up your elected representatives for any credit or Freebee online you can find. They’ll soon change their position.

And these are the ads on Cockerham's blogsite ...
... perpetuating the cycle?

Ads by ________ on this site
Apply for Credit Cards
Compare & Apply. Instant Approval. 0% APR, $0 Fee. Bad Credit OK.
www.________-Land.com
Credit Card Applications
0% Intro APR, Rewards and Cash Back Compare Offers and Apply Online
www._________Guide.com
Credit less than perfect?
Rebuild your credit today with our MasterCard - no-risk Inquiry Form.
www.__________bank.com

Congress only needs to make companys liable for damages to innocent victims of identity theft.
They as the responsible party for unwarranted damage should be no less responsible than a wrecking
company destroying the wrong house. A judge would not rule that the home owner is responsible for
rebuilding of that home.

Since I retired last June I have made it a daily ritual to reply to all c.c. apps. My wifes , kids, all , by putting everything back in the envelope after I have crossed out the app. columns. I even look around for more stuff to put in the prepaid envelope. It has reduced my trash quite a bit , but the real joy is in sticking it to them. I suspect that the envelope is overwieght and might require them to pay more postage. Retirement is great and I look forward to the mail everyday now!!

Identity theft is not taken nearly seriously enough. The fact that broken bones are not suffered by the victims is no excuse. Identity theft needs to at least occasionally be taken seriously by District Attorneys, EVEN if they consider a couple thousand dollars "small potatoes". Otherwise, crooks will know the limits and sap millions of dollars from thousands of victims, and allow crooks to practice their evil arts on innocent people. It is not enough to suggest that victims sue in civil court. Victims already have day jobs! Our law enforcement and justice communities need to do the job the have sworn to do. Until that happens, the incidence of ID theft will rise to unsustainable levels, and they will be FORCED to act, but not in an effective, proactive manner.
Recall that when minor crimes like jaywalking and etc. were vigorously pursued in NYC - major crimes fell dramatically too. Crooks understand that message - that if a minor crime won't be ignored, a major one will attract major attention!

Given that relatives and aquaintances such as former room maters are the most common instigators of identity theft, issuers should be careful about sending new cards to prior addresses associated with an applicant.

Cockerham's advice to buy a shredder to feed all these unwanted solicitations is good. I have thought about the opt out route, but revenge was sweeter.

I mail the business reply envelope back to the credit card issuer. It costs the issuer (Citibank) 34.8 cents for each of the BRM (Business Reply Mail) envelopes.

Diligence, people, diligence. A shredder at Walmart costs around $20. Why more people don't own them is beyond me. Go and opt out of pre-screened credit offers. Shred everything. Don't wait for someone to protect your interests. Do it yourself!

Pre-approved credit card applications don't just come in the mail. On a recent shopping trip, I received two that printed from the register after the receipt. One of them, I almost discarded until I saw my name, address and phone number; the other the clerk was going to discard because "They print all the time and no one wants them". Both had a toll-free number to activate. Management of both stores were shocked that I was upset with the practice.

I am dismayed that banks and credit card companies are so sloppy with credit card approvals. I get several of these each week, mostly from the same companies.

I now believe that we should all do more than just tear up these unsolicited credit applications. I think a shredder will be a good investment.

I knew that there was a reason I was shredding all of these unsolicited credit card offers. This is truly scary stuff!

It is not just at home..
When you go to Mr. Cockerham's site, there are credit card ads at the bottom..

They can say that a 'person' may not have handled teh application all they want....they will NEVER convince me that a compter opened the envelope and unfolded that tapped up piece of paper... :)

Thank you for this article, it was an eye opener. I can asure you I wont toss these applications anymore. The only way to combat identity theft and credit abuse will be to hold the banks and creditors accountable for merchandise lost to this type of fraud rather than the consumer who has to fight the entire system by himself.

I've heard of sending the junk mail back to companies who send it out. Wouldn't 5 billion postage paid envelopes being returned to these credit card companies encourage them to stop sending all of these out? 5 billion X 39 cents?? A LOT of money, and no new customers. Hmmmm!

Excellent article.

I love the remark from Chase "In addition, consumers are protected under MasterCard and Visa's zero liability policy and are not liable for any unauthorized purchases made with their cards?"
I think that's great but they fail to mention that the victim has to go through the torture of proving the card was a fraudulent issue and the purchases were made by the thief. I became an identity theft victim in 2001. The biggest hassle was always proving I wasn't the bad guy.

Thanks for the info. I will share it in an identity theft presentation I'm giving at a local university this month.

www.IdTheftAwareness.com

Identify Theft

A solution to the identify theft problem is to prevent credit issuers from issuing credit to thieves. The credit issuers stand all of the direct losses. If credit issuers use due diligence when giving credit, no identity theft succeeds. A verification of the address, if different than the address listed in the credit record, would eliminate all identity theft. When credit issuers are exposed to defamation of character lawsuits when credit issuer report, in error, to the credit reporting companies, they may be more concerned. All the credit companies need to do is to be sure they are reporting actual deadbeats, not identify theft victims. The credit recording companies should report address conflicts to credit issuers as they are detected. The credit issuers should sue the reporting companies if they don’t.

What's the big deal? People in America move *all the time.* And yes, they're even known to get new phone numbers. As long as an application has a name with a matching Social Security number, what's the credit card company supposed to do? Moral: protect your SSN with your life.

Same old same old. Don't just get a cheap shredder, get one of the better cross shredders, thats the only really effective protection.

I used to just tear up the junk mail and trash it until I moved to a semi rural area that uses a waste transfer station instead of the local county dump. While I was dumping my trash, I noticed the sort line, it’s a conveyor system uses people to sort thru and separate the trash into various piles for recycle. Having got a good look at the types of people working that line and noting the lack of cameras or other theft prevention, I realized how easy it would be to go thru my trash and pick out the credit card mailers. Because of this observation, I now use all credit related junk mail as starter fuel for my woodstove. Almost every metro area in California is required to use this type of recycling system, which means almost everyone’s trash is gone through. Also, I was able to walk around the paper pile one day and saw several unopened obvious credit card mailers that I could have easily picked up and put in my pocket.

Inhouse identity theft is also a problem. Five years ago I called CitiBank when my statement did not arrive.I was told my address had been changed to Trumbul, CN ( CitiBank Security). As I wastalking to the operator, a charge came in ftom Gainesville,FL.
All atempts to have the bank take any action were met with complete resistance. The entire episode was wiped from their computor within three days. Fortunately I had asked for a copy of my statement which showed the changes. I cancelled my accounts with CITI and eventually turned it over the the whit collar crimes unit at the FBI. Eventually several employees at Cedant were convicted. Still no explanation from CITI, but I continue to receive unsolicited credit card offers. Interestingly, when I apply in person, my Fraud Watch alert comes up and I have to provide adequate identification. Of course, now the rule have changed and it is more difficult to put an alert on your records with the reporting agencies.

As someone who's been through identity theft, dealt with an apathetic approach by law enforcement and every other entity involved except for my bank, I believe it's time to see every member of congress and the credit industry get their own ultra personal taste of what it's like to be the actual victim of identity theft. Maybe, just maybe, then they won't consider it just a part of doing their dirty business.

This is IMHO another way the banks are pushing the burden of proving innocence and data protection to their potential customers (us). When will the tables be turned so they are responsible for the security of their product? Every other industry must warrant the safety of their products (autos, baby toys, etc.) Fraud is and should always be their problem. Let them prove the charges are valid, not John Q. Public trying to get his savings back!

i just send the empty envelope back so they have to pay the postage both ways.

We are quite concerned about identity theft, too. When we throw way our credit card applications, we tear it into several pieces, deposit half in the garbage and half in the recycle bin. Obviously this article proves we have to protect ourselves because the credit card companies aren't trying to.

I'm SO glad I don't use credit cards, I could just about dance, and this story just reinforces the fact that we should all use credit cards as a last resort, only. Cash Is King! Not to mention, a whole lot safer, if you want to avoid identity theft! I wonder if credit card companies that send unsolicited credit apps are responsible for identity theft that occurs when one is stolen????? And all of the costs associated with clearing one's name???

Yikes. What is even worse are those checks they send you in the mail that draw against your current credit card. I really wish they would stop sending those. I am afraid one of these days someone is going to intercept them and go on a spending spree. If I wanted a cash advance, I would call the company or use my card. I don't need the checks sent to my door for someone to steal and use.

What double talking garbage!! When credit companies are telling us, the average consumer; that they are on our side to protect us against fraud, and identity theft, and then to pull something idiotic like accepting a taped together credit application. Who's side are they really on!?! I guess if it's that easy, I'm quitting my 9-5 job and hitting towns across America on trash day!

Wow. The card companies will do just about anything to issue a credit card won't they? And this "zero liability" policy is a bunch of BS in my experience. I had my purse stolen not long ago....they used my credit card for anything and everything. The credit card company said, when I reported it missing, that the cards had been used in the past hour and that I WOULD HAVE TO PROVE that it wasn't me.

I opted out of the pre-screen offers many years ago and I have loved not getting the mail and having to shred so much. I feel even better about not needing to shred now that I know Meth addicts might take the time to put my shredding back together. Keep in mind that if you move, you have to opt out again. You can also opt out of most unsolicited mail through the DMA. The FTC has great information and links on this. http://www.ftc.gov/privacy/protect.htm#Direct

Hey America, listen to this one:
One credit card company in particular bombarded me with phone calls and mail. Finally, in exasperation, I told the credit card company representative with whom I was speaking to send me the card but that I would never use it. I NEVER ACTIVATED THE CARD. To make a long story short, after two years the company contacted me to inform me that the card was being resended due to nonuse. They inquired as to the reason for this, to which I promptly replied that the only reason I had the card in the first place was because they had aggravated me practically to death and that I told them I would never activate the card. Can you imagine if millions of persons accepted credit cards and never activated them and tied up all those card numbers issued? Maybe it would mean nothing, but who knows. Something has to be better than the present system.

This actually happened to friends of mine. When they applied for a home equity loan, their credit report revealed a number of credit card accounts that had been obtained fraudelently by people culling through their garbage. They had torn the cards, but to no effect. Applications were filled out with a falsified social security number and approved. The problem doesn't end there, though, because once you establish credit, you can easily apply for MORE credit, so outstanding unpaid loans were also attributed to my friends. Let's get real, though. In a time when banks and credit card companies are pushing for state and federal legislation making bankruptcy claims more difficult to file, they are simultaneously offering credit to their delinquent creditors and others. Card companies and banks need to cease sending unsolicited "credit approvals" to potential customers. They are abusing direct mail and are, themselves, ultimately responsible not only for the havoc they wreak on their own businesses, but on the credit problems they cause for unwitting consumers. I believe they only way to solve this problem is to legislate it out of existence. Fat chance, though. The same lobbyists who bring you bankruptcy "reform" are the ones who'd be arguing against this type of government intervention.

How do we know the shredding the application into bits would work. Similar to torn up Credit application, you can stick back shedded strips of the application and mail it in. Only effective way to get rid f it, "BURN" it up - use it for fire logs. Save yourself on the heating coast too.

1-888-5OPT-OUT does work for CC applications from organizations you don't do business with, but it's nearly impossible to stop them from coming from financial institutions and affiliate organizations you do business with without universally canceling any contact with them. There needs to be a way to stop credit offers specifically in privacy choices. (And the same goes for those balance transfer checks that so often accompany statements. You can ask them until you are blue in the face to stop sending them, but they still arrive

I'm in the IT business - have been for 25+ years. I work in security aspects of the industry. I shred everything that has my family's information on it. FYI - strip shredders are useless as the pieces can be put back together. You need a cross-cut shredder to make really tiny pieces of your documents.

I could get a college degree in my pets name with back dating to reflect my cat's life experience, any number of credit cards, etc. Yes, IMHO, the system is "broken". The credit card companies deal with fraud as a cost of doing business. The impact of an individual's ID theft is apparently none of their concern.

Also FYI, my Am/Ex has picture ID on it's back. Only because it is also my Costco Card. It is amazing how useful that "security feature" is.

Thanks for the article. Most amusing / alarming.

Great piece, Bob. I enjoy reading your take on these issues and respect your craft. Wholesale change needs to happen if consumers are to be protected from credit fraud and ID theft. Keep up the good work of holding feet to the fire.

One small deterrent to this is to return empty EVERY postage paid envelope you receive. If they received an envelope back for every one they sent out, they would be dealing with the same problem we confront. Also their costs would rise considerably for postage and processing.

I opted out from receiving any offers and I wrote letters to Chase, MBNA as well as other companies to stop sending these preapproval letters. Well,these letters are still coming. My wife an I find such letters in our mailbox every day almost. These banks and credit card companies do not care about you, they only care about making profit even if it means that your identity can be stolen. Then you are stuck there to fix your credit, which cost time, money and a lot of other things. Banks, credit card companies; stop sending these stuff, if I need a credit card I'll call you, just sit tight and watch the phone.

If we hope that congress will tackle this issue think again. They are bought and sold by various lobby groups. If full disclosure took place on the number of 'information gathering' trips congress has taken on this issue or the amount of money donated to various campaigns and party affiliates by the credit lobby we would see that the true goal is to get reelected and line your pockets for future use. Perhaps a real attack on this issue is a class action lawsuit directed towards the credit industry for these actions including the credit reporting agencies selling your personal information as for profit mailing lists.

In the mean time take out a card in your dogs name, max out the card and claim fraud. After all, in thier own words, "consumers are protected under MasterCard and VISA's zero liability policy and are not liable for any unauthorized purchases made with their cards".

I shred these applications when I receive them with a cross-cut shredder. Then they are mixed in the hefty bag with the used cat litter and the dog poop from the back yard (yeah, I know we arent' supposed to put that stuff in the trash). If a meth addict wants to sift through that wet, crappy, soggy mess to try to put it back together...more power to them.

And my wife laughs at me for burning all of these applications. He who laughs last, laughs best.

When buying a shredder, get one that messes up the shreddings to that it becomes harder to put things back together. They are more expensive than other shredders, but the results are harder to put back together.

Those shredders that create neat strips of paper are NOT the ones you want for security shredding.

I think the government won't stop card companies from mailing pre-approved applications to people, because they make so much money off of the postage.

I like to tear them up and just mail back in envelope provided if postage is pre-paid.

It seems to me that if a grass-roots effort were started on the scale of the National Do-Not-Call list, Congress would act pretty quickly. There was no benefit to Congress or any business interest in decreasing telemarketing calls, but having 90% of the population behind a proposal makes it that much more likely to get pushed through, regardless of special interests and lobbying. All we need are a few congressmen to lead the charge, openly and loudly, and this issue could be resolved in much less time.

If I RETURN TO SENDER every piece of Junk Mail I get, will this put a dent in the mass mailings ?

Credit card companies need to protect us consumers more. Instead of mailing out tons and tons of offers how about back off. I think the credit card companies have plenty of customers. Do ads on TV with a phone number or website to have information sent. I get 3 offers a week from Chase...you would think after a few years they would get a clue! These companies are more worried about making a buck then protecting the customers they already have.

I cannot believe that in this day and age, our elected leaders cannot stop these practices. The credit industry is out of control. Everytime I get a "Convience check", I instantly call and tell them to stop. Of course now they come attached to the billing statement. I think its time for all of America to act by doing 2 things. One, Open up a caredit card in your dogs name. And two, mail back the return envelopes with a coupon and something so they have to pay the postage.

It seems to me that buying a shredder will not be enough if these meth users will tape it together and the companies will approve it. Until and unless the legislation changes to prevent this type of blanket mailing the best bet seems like it might be burning the applications. At that point there is nothing left for someone to pick out of the trash.

I am going through Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University and have forwarded this to the others in the class. There are too many people that have said they send the apps back marked with don't send me these. The opt-out web link makes it too easy to stop these apps now. We need Congress to step in and actually do something for once.

This is why I don't just feed the offers to a shredder. I tear out my name, address and other identifying information. Those items get shredded, and put in my regular garbage. The remainder of the offer (sans the information) is shredded and placed into the recycling. I also try to avoid placing ANYTHING with my name or address in the recycling. The trash and the recycling go different places, and picked up by different services (I also do not put out garbage or recycling until the morning they will be picked up). Paranoid? My wife thought so, until she read this article.

This goes to show that you can't be too careful with your personal information and that no one cares about it's loss except you and the identity thief. My advice?-buy a shredder, one that cross-cuts the paper into tiny pieces and shred anything you throw away with your personal information on it. I even spread the shreds around in the dumpster and try to dump other trash (preferably something wet) over them, anything to help foil the would-be identity thief.

Make it unprofitable for them. For years I have been removing all bar codes, names, application numbers, etc. and sending the envelope and all its contents and any other junk mail that is lying around back to them. I use the pre-paid envelope they supply. They pay both ways, it is good revenue for the USPS and it provides a little stress relief. Cut their profits and they may cut the practice.
Happy mailing.

Don't know why the cell phone number on the app is being driven home as a negative. With local-number-portability, that is all some people have as a phone.

I got tired of wearing out my shredder with all of the credit card applications I was running through it. I finally realized that tearing off my name and address and shredding that small part of the application was all that was necessary....

Not only should you be concerned with the paper credit card application, but also with phone credit applications. National City approved a Visa card in my name without my knowledge which I've been trying to resolve for months. I was told that the application was approved based on information they had on file from 1994 (a store credit card)! I'm beginning to believe the only protection you can have from the credit card companies is having no credit cards.

Good morning Bob,

Thank you for another excellent column on the credit industry and how to better protect myself. My wife and I suffered electonic theft from our checking account late last summer. One of the remedies we took advantage of was a 5-year block on our credit accounts with the Big now 4? credit reporting companies. Unfortunately, to have the 5-year block enacted we needed to provide a copy of the police report recording the theft. Considering the quantity of credit theft these days, I find it ironic that the credit companies require you to be victimized in order to protect yourself.

Hi,

I have my own worries about CHASE. I submitted an application (online) for a basic joint checking account. I entered everything that was requested on the site and submitted the information. I was emailed back the next day that I did not have enough information or they could not verify my information and they denied the application (no "please give us a call", they just closed the request).

However, about 1 month later I received a phishing email asking me to please verify my CHASE account information. Since I never opened an account and never completed any account setup, I want to know where the phishers got this information that I had anything to do with CHASE.

My belief is that someone got ahold of data from Chase and that Chase was sloppy in keeping it safe. I will NEVER do business with them and am going to get in touch with them and make sure that there is nothing in their system about my old request. So far, I have noticed no unsual activity on any other accounts so I think I am okay.

When purchasing a shredder, be sure to get one that shreds the shreddings so that it becomes even more difficult to reassemble them. Low end shredders create simple strips of paper that are easy to reassemble. More expensive shredders crumple these strips and break them into pieces. The best shredders create confetti small enough that it would be extremely difficult to reconstruct the document, especially if it is mixed up with hundreds of other documents.

If you are really paranoid, add water to the shreddings to turn them into mush. Burning them is an option, but be careful because they might act like tinder.

When purchasing a shredder, be sure to get one that shreds the shreddings so that it becomes even more difficult to reassemble them. Low end shredders create simple strips of paper that are easy to reassemble. More expensive shredders crumple these strips and break them into pieces. The best shredders create confetti small enough that it would be extremely difficult to reconstruct the document, especially if it is mixed up with hundreds of other documents.

If you are really paranoid, add water to the shreddings to turn them into mush. Burning them is an option, but be careful because they might act like tinder.

Here's a solution to the Pre-Approved credit card apps. If a person WANTS a credit card, have actual brick and motar banks offer them with proper identification. If the credit card companies want to continue soliciting the apps, only allow the person to get the card when he/she goes to a business that processes them with proper id. At any rate this forces a person to walk into a place of business with proper id and with the possiblity of being photographed by security cameras. This satifies the junk mail problem and gets banks involved with another service while protecting the unknowning victem of id theft. But, as we all know the credit card companies are in the business of making money at everybodies expense.

1-888-5opt-out and www.optoutprescreen.com don't work and are scams.

BTW, I love howl this web site doesn't allow copy and paste.

I called the optout 800# in Jan 2006for both insurance and credit card mailings to be stopped. I now receive 3 times more mailings than I previously received. This week's mail, Tuesday so far, I have received 3 credit card mailings and 6 insurance mailings, often from the company I already do business. American Express and Citi are the worst.

Dear Mr. Sullivan:

All Mr. Cockerham had to do to reduce unwanted credit card solicitations is to opt-out with the credit reporting agencies, either online or over the phone. My husband and I did it, and it worked. The unsolicited credit card offers stopped altogether, whereas we had previously been innudated.

For years Congress has been a slave to the credit card industry, just look at the new bankruptcy laws. Individuals wishing to file Chapter 7 now have to pay for credit counseling - these companies are owned and operated by the same credit card companies that got people into trouble in the first place.

Mr. Cockerham's "experiment" with submitting the torn credit card application was an exercise in futility and redundancy - we all know the credit card industry is overly aggressive and careless, so we have to take charge of the situation ourselves.

Thank you for taking the time to read my comments.

If your going to tear up your credit card offers by hand, don't throw all of the waster in the same garbage receptacle.

I will go around the house and divide up the shreddings amongst several garbage bags so that even if a crook got a hold of one of the bags, there wouldn't be enough information there to piece together.

I wonder if a shredder is even good enough.

Because of problems like this I've always cut up any cards sent to me and put some of the pieces in two different trash bags at home and some in the trash at work. I shred "anything" that have my name and address in my shredder and the shreds go to the dump on separate trips.

I once witnessed dumpster diving in my neighborhood. A couple of guys got out of a running van and were looking for bundled up mail on the night recycling garbage was put out. Everyone should buy a shredder.

With a $16 shredder from Walmart, we have shredded (on every piece of mail of any kind) the section containing our name, address, account #, special offers, etc. for over a year. I can't believe that people still think it's ok to throw any piece of mail away and securing themselves by simply tearing it up. For example, if we share a news magazine by leaving it in the lunchroom of my husband's employer, we tear off the address label first. When we get promotions from our bank, we tear off the top 1/3 of the stationery that contains our name and address and shred it. When we receive countless term life insurance offers, we shred any pages that contain our name and address.

Additional point: we use a crosscut shredder. No chance of that being reconstructed when each time the shredder is emptied there's about 8 square inches of packed "shred" being put in the garbage.

Come on, people. It's not complicated. I hate it when the masses turn out to as passive as they are sometimes portrayed by the "experts".

Quote: In addition, consumers are protected under MasterCard and Visa's zero liability policy and are not liable for any unauthorized purchases made with their cards."

This is true but they will suffer for years trying to get it off their credit report. I found that out the hard way.

We have found that if there is a pre-paid return envelope, we tear the application and all paperwork (and original envelope) and send it back to them. The credit card companies have to pay postage to get it back - it's junk mail in reverse! It's greatly slowed down how many offers we receive!

Best option: Burn these, and all other personal identifying papers. While many people may object that they can't start a bonfire in their apartment, even a small, portable grill on your patio will do.

This is funny, because I just had a conversation with a friend about this the other day. I was talking about how I hated getting these credit card applications in the mail, because they were such an easy form of potential identity theft. Her exact words were, "Only you would worry about something that silly." She then tore the application in half, and threw it in the garbage. I wanted to say something about buying a shredder, but held my tounge. I think this shows how many otherwise educated people are completely ignorant of the dangers associated with all these applications flying around.

I finally got Capital One to stop when I called their bluff, called the main switchboard and asked for the vice-president whose name was all over the pre-approved mailings I'd been getting. I haven't gotten anything from them since. I shred everything else that comes in. (BTW sending envelopes full of shredded mailers doesn't do anything. I've opened mail at a credit card company and the managers didn't care. All it did was amuse or irritate the person stuck with going through the mail who is in a totally different department from customer service and offten has no contact with them at all.)

You know, I have been bombarded with these mailings enough (11 in one week from Chase). I decided that tearing the applications up and trashing them was not good enough. I now tear them up and mail the blank applications back to them in their envelopes. Postage paid (by them) of course..

J9 - WHAT did you want to copy and paste from optoutprescreen.com? There is nothing repeated there.

Many have opined that the way to get a reduction in the amount of "junk" from these comapnies is to:

REMOVE the portion of the "offer" with your identifying information (then shred or burn that little piece)

PACK the rest of the stuff into the postage paid return envelope and SEND IT BACK TO THEM. Enough postage and they will probably get the message

Of course, there are some folks who opt to get every piece of junk mail they can - it makes a GREAT fire starter for the wood stove - some even use it for lining the bottoms of birdcages

If the banks and credit card companies are responsible enough to mail-out these credit-applications, then they should take the responsibility of their huge errors for approval, not the consumers. Use their postage and return applications to companies.

We were very annoyed by the dozen or so credit card applications we had received from Chase in just a matter of weeks (which by the way, we just found out they did a credit check on us each time they mailed one to us) so we decided to repsond. Whenever they send us a new application, we take the forms (removing any personal info) and fill up the envelopes as thick as we can with junk mail and mail back the envelope in their pre-paid envelope. Costs them extra money for the postage each time we do this. I know it's just nickels and dimes, but if everyone did this, maybe they would start to realize how annoying their solicitations are and cut back on some of their mailings.

Don't shred or tear up unwanted credit card application,,,,burn them. I have a little can out back that I Burn credit card offers, this assures me that no one will get them to commit fruad

An "Internet prank"? is that the best excuse they could come up with to redirect attention from their sleezy tactics?
This was not an "Internet prank" this is the credit card companies doing what they do best, GREED.

To those who think that industry can better police itself than government can, why is this case an exception? Or do you not believe this is an exception, that overall the credit card industry is doing a great job policing itself, and appreciative of the great effort the industry goes to to ensure that every application, no matter how tattered, no matter how outdated the information the hand-entered information or incorrect the information besides name and SSN, gets processed.

Don't shred or tear up unwanted credit card application,,,,burn them. I have a little can out back that I burn credit card offers, this assures me that nobody will get them to commit fraud

Interesting - Who can forget that Chase also solicited a customer as "Mr Palestinian Bomber"! Doesn't sound like their screening criteria or systems are solid! They have definitely seen a decline in quality since their merger with Bank One! Thanks Jamie Dimon - Keep up the good work!

Fill the return application envelope with powdered wall paper adhesive or fine silica sand which will disable the automatic letter opening equipment.

I've been using a cross-cut shredder for years. I rip out my name and address info, sometimes there's a barcode also, then I shred these portions. After that,
I get shredded paper from the bottom of my shredder and stuff the envelope with whatever will fit. This way my shredder bag never fills up so I don't even have to waste a trash bag on them, and, there's no possible way to reassemble it because the bottom of the shredder holds the oldest shredded documents, so the pieces I am sending back aren't from the letter they sent.

The opt out numbers do work, also you can go to each credit bureau's site and restrict your credit report to be viewed only when you authorize it. Each site is a real pain to get a membership to, but once you are in there's a checkbox to opt out of unsolicitated viewing of your report. Between those two, my CC offers have dropped to almost 0. The only ones I get now are from my own bank.

Also, to the poster that recommended just giving in and getting a credit card but never using it, that's a terrible idea. For one thing, that is an open line of credit that brings down your credit score, and for the other, that is another credit card that can get lost, stolen, or misused.

Fill the return application envelope with powdered wall paper adhesive or fine silica sand which will disable the automatic letter opening equipment. Perhaps this action will dissaude the banks from using this blunder-buss approach.

Did the computer that supposedly openned the wnvelpoe and read the letter also correctly read the handwritten change of address and phone number?

From the board chairman to the minion answering the phone when you call, they all lie brazenly.

Their commercials are carefully crafted misrepresentations. Their answers over the phone are frequently lies. They avoid receiving written and signed letters and never reply in writing to any inquiry or complaint.

There is a need for regulation of this industry more than any other I know of. Yet no effective government response has happened, except for a few State Attorneys who have filed lawsuits to curb the deceptive or fraudulent practices the are common in this industry.

As an extra safety measure, I also shred envelopes that are bar-coded in advance, which many of the banks are doing now. Undoubtedly, that bar code is tied to the pre-approved application, and I've always been afraid that someone could call the card issuer and be able to talk their way through the approval process with just that envelope.

As an extra safety measure, I also shred envelopes that are bar-coded in advance, which many of the banks are doing now. Undoubtedly, that bar code is tied to the pre-approved application, and I've always been afraid that someone could call the card issuer and be able to talk their way through the approval process with just that envelope.

Do you selectively print comments. I have sent in several comments (over time)...all polite and very brief but I have never seen my posted. I know I sent mine in earlier than a lot of the times shown on these posts.

My husband had his credit card stolen and I was able to locate the criminals by spending some time on the phone with Dominoes Pizza, KFC, and some adult porno chat line that they were stupid enough to use. Unfortunately I was told by the police that the bank owns the credit card so they are the ones that have to prosecute. We could do nothing about it. Of course the credit card company will not spend the time or money to prosecute so the criminals were not even contacted. However, when the wife of my local Senator, John McCain, had her credit cards/identity stolen, the theives were caught and prosectued within weeks. Hmmmm.

Perhaps the best way to bring companies to task for their complicity with these scams (in this case, ID theft and fraud) is if a large group of victims get together and place a class action lawsuit against the banking and finance industry. Such action has made some impact on other industries (i.e., medical) when their business practices constitute or support illegal activities.

Chase Banks response is a crock of ***. My identity was stolen 10 years ago by a person using the same modus operandi. Visa did not inform me that a credit card had been taken out in my name. I knew nothing about it until that person had maxed out the card and stopped payment. Vesa then remembered how to contact me and aggressively sought to make me pay the full amount plus penalties and interest. After writing to all Sate Attorney Generals from which I received dunning notes and those States Attorneys contacting the Visa demanding to know what had happened Visa dropped their demand for payment and cleared my credit record. Credit Card companies need to verify all credit card applications prior granting that credit.

Proior verification of the identity of the person making the request for creidt would stop credit card identity theft in its tracks. This however seems to be too expensive for the credit card companies to do. They would rather hassle the person whose identity was stolen for payment and write off that which they cannot collect.

Credit card companies want the person whose identity was sstolen to be a victim and for that person to assist in actively perusuing the credit thief. The truth is that I was not a victim, the credit card company was the victim. I refuse to have stupidity on their end create a problem for me on my end. I did not create the problem they did, let them fix it and leave me out of it.

I not lnly destroy the applications, I add several ounces of metal to return envelope and send it back. If more would send the envelope back, maybe we wouldn't get these.

Burn all your personnal information and apps. and opt out when ever possible. You should also take responsibillity for your own stupidity when it happens. For example: A person leaves his/her debit and credit card in a taxi cab "with the PIN numbers written on the cards"--- should he/she be held somewhat responsible for the potential loss? According to VISA & Master Card they aren't. Should the financial institution be liable for the loss? Most of the general public seems to be of the opinion that if they make a mistake someone else should pay for it.

Simple Rules of survival - Shred EVERYTHING with your name and/or any piece of mail you recieve with any type of account number(s). Credit card offers you don't want- SHRED, Magazines-cut out shipping label and SHRED, even Old CD's that you may have made for data or music storage SHRED!

Better safe than sorry- A good confetti style shredder as another person posted- guard your SS# with your life...

My wife and I use a shredder that cuts both ways, and then I use the shredded paper to line the bag that I clean the dog's pen with.

I usually tear up the application, place most of it back in the pre-paid envelope and send it back to the company. I make sure the sent back portion doesn't contain any important information. Doesn't cost me anything but a little time to mail it with my bills. Of course the company gets to pay twice for mailing.

I am alarmed by the entire process. Many people do not know all these unsolicited credit inquiries on your credit report can and sometimes do adversely affect your credit rating. This came to light several years ago when I was told I had too many recent inquiries on my credit to be worthy of a new credit card or to even increase existing credit limits. I believe your credit reports should only be available to those have our written permission to access.

I always send back the blank applications in the pre-paid envelopes, minus my name and address, with the phrase: "YOU WASTE MY TIME, I WASTE YOUR POSTAGE" written on one of their papers. If we all waste their postage, maybe they'll slow down.
Also, I've been through the "OPT-OUT" procedure many times, and nothing has changed. I still get as many offers.

I've adopted the following solution to unwanted credit card soliciations -- I tear up the application in tiny pieces, put all the pieces in the return envelope, and send it back to the credit card company. The company has to pay the postage, and I feel less worried that someone will go through the trash.

I'm not surprised by the careless ways of Chase, or any other bank for that matter. It took a while to convince my office workers to shred or burn these "offers" but now they all do it as a matter of course.I've been called paranoid over the years by friends and family but that has subsided.
I agree that the checks that come attached to your bills are crimes waiting to happen. I shred and separate the shredded material, and have finally convinved my 84 year-old Aunt to buy a shredder. She was tearing her documents by hand. She now waits for me to visit and I spend 1/2 hour shredding and mixing with other pieces of trash.
You do a great service, and since I write about security, I have used you as a source and have quoted you in my pieces. Thanks.

If you're going to shred stuff, shred a LOT of stuff in the same bin and mix it up before you throw it away. A single shredded piece of paper is easy to put back together, a hundred sheets shredded together and mixed up is a *lot* more difficult.

The opt out number may not have too much effect either. I signed my husband and myself up last year and I still receive credit card aps from Citi Bank.

I spent some time about 4 1/2 years ago doing data entry for a private company that handled credit card applications. I can attest that everything Rob has to say is perfectly true. We were instructed to enter into the system every credit card applict