Well I think I may have somehow accidentally gotten a credit card. But Im not really sure. Like your average college student I get bombarded with "youve been pre-approved" mailings almost every day, and I usually dont even open them and pitch them in the trash.

But we had a discussion in class the other day, and the teacher mentioned that sometimes when you fill out surveys and credit card type things, they will go ahead and give you a card, whether you really wanted one or not, and that even though you dont use it, it shows up as a liability when you try to get financing for things, and can even affect your credit score.

I just got a thing in the mail today that had all sorts of "important information about your account" and had a big privacy policy pamphlet and all sorts of other things that make it look like I actually do have a card. The problem is , if I do have a card, I dont physically have the card, meaning I threw it away. So I cant access any customer service or anything, because the first thing they ask for is my account #.

Is there any way to see whether or not I have credit card(*) in my name? I dont want a credit card right now, and I dont want it affecting my financial score.

You have to fill out an application, even if the pre-approve you. If you really want to know, call the credit card company and see if tehy can help you with your other pertintant information.

Also, if you never put your social on any of these surveys, you shoud have nothing to worry about.

And as a side not, if you don't want the credit card, shred the contents. Then, there will be no question.

I'm a little confused. Either you had a Credit Card or you never had a Credit Card. This "Important information" that you received, does it refer to your actual account #? If not, then you were never issued a card and just throw it out. It would also give you a phone # to call about your account. Somehow it doesn't sound like you were issued a card unless you physically signed a form that you wanted one and when you are issued the card, you are usually asked to call to activate the card.

You could probably go to your bank and have them pull a credit report for you which would show your open credit cards and loans.

Also, having open credit cards on your report isn't necessarily a bad thing either. It shows that you HAVE credit. Having TOO MANY open accounts and/or having little money available on those accounts can be a bad thing though.

yeah if you can Get a Credit Card and use it for one or two small purchases pay it off it will help you when it comes to your score.

the thing that hurts you is applying for credit and being refused that stays on your recored for 6 months. so try not to apply for to many cards at once

Yup, I agree. a credit report from your bank or whatever will show the card if you indeed have one.

When I was in college my freshman year there were some dudes at a table in the hall offering free phone cards if you filled out 10 card apps. I filled them out and put down some wrong info and that I made no money. Somehow I still got 2 of them. I never called to activate them and just cut them up and tossed them. When I went to get a loan for my house they showed up and I asked about them. The loan guy said they were actually helping my credit so unless I was worried about identity theft there was no reason to try to cancel them.

So I wouldn't worry about it too much unless you have a lot of other cards.

Well see, Ive done some similar things as Chinski, such as free food and meals and other things if you fill out a credit card thing. It seems like I may have put my SSN on one or two of them, but I honestly cant recall.

There was no reference made to an account number in the things I received. It just has a bunch of information that is new for 2007 which supposedly affects my account, which I may or may not have.

I guess I wont worry about it, and since Im not using it, it cant be horrible right?

Well, in any case you should get a credit report every year to make sure someone hasn't stolen your identity and everything is kosher(doesnt effect your credit if you only check once a year). You are entitled to one for free using annualcreditreport.com DO NOT USE FREECREDITREPORT.COM its not free. You can get your score too but that does cost money.

Like GXP Vince just said...check ur credit. There is a site that is totally free 1 time a year and you can see whats on ur credit from 3 different creditor company'*. 1 is expierian and i forget the other 2. Here is the link

https://www.annualcreditreport.com/cra/index.jsp

You SHOULD worry until you know what the heck is going on.

Any negative reprots made to your credit profile last for 7 years.