Help! I opened a credit card by mistake, what should I do?

[Anonymous]

Some one coached the cashier to use the term rewards card.  Possibly the head cashier or store management. The question is where did they get it from.  Some stores reward cashiers for getting cards applied for. One of part time jobs many years ago was in Macy's better dressed men's wear. I got money for 1) card applications and 2) grabbing unsigned Macy cards and getting them signed or we cut them up.   I think the term   rewards card  is misleading.     

[SouthJamaica]

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@JakeRogue wrote:

This is mildly embarassing, but this past Sunday I was at Homegoods purchasing some kitchen knives with my girlfriend (my first time in a Homegoods store I might add). The register lady kindly asked if I was interested in a rewards card, if I signed up I could get 10% off my purchase and then I accrue points on future purchases. I have tons of rewards cards with different stores (I'm referring to membership and loyalty cards, NOT credit cards), so I said, "Sure why not!". She asked if she could borrow my license as it's easier to type in my name quickly, I did not object. She asked for my email and I gave it to her. She gave me this little thing to sign, and I signed it.

Not 30 seconds go by and I look behind her and see a poster advertisement that Homegoods has a credit card which offers 10% off your first purchase upon approval of the credit card. I ask the lady if that's what she meant by rewards card, because if that's the case I'm not trying to sign up for a credit card. But then her register prints a receipt, and it has my name, DOB, and it says I'm approved for $2000 at 27.XX% for a TJX card or something while simultaneously she says, "Yes I signed you up for the store card like you agreed to."

I immediately tell her I want to cancel this application process, manager comes over, they call customer service on the phone, and long story short 45 minutes later they said I can cancel the account on my own but since I'm already approved, I can't undo the application...

1) So first thing's first. I acknowledge that I clearly goofed and was not paying as sharp attention as I probably should have. I'm very embarassed and my GF was shocked this happened too and she didn't realize I was signing up for the credit card either when we discussed what transpired over and over.

2) In my defense, I was feeling very sick when we went to the store. This could possibly explain my lapse in judgment/paying attention.

3) Is there ANYTHING I can do or should do? Or is it too little too late? I've already received emails from my Discover Credit Monitoring and Credit Karma about a new account opening in my name. I'm very angry that I opened this card but I'm assuming that it's just my own dumb fault and that I have to live with the consequence.

Any advice, heckling, trolling, or solutions appreciated.

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Personally I don't think there's anything you can do to get the account off your credit report.

This is why I steel myself, before I go to the cashier, to resist any entreaties. These folks are under enormous pressure to push the store's cards.

[SBR249]

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@Anonymous wrote:

Some one coached the cashier to use the term rewards card.  Possibly the head cashier or store management. The question is where did they get it from.  Some stores reward cashiers for getting cards applied for. One of part time jobs many years ago was in Macy's better dressed men's wear. I got money for 1) card applications and 2) grabbing unsigned Macy cards and getting them signed or we cut them up.   I think the term   rewards card  is misleading.     

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I'm not saying using the term "rewards card" is not misleading but if you are going to argue your case based on that there's probably a higher bar to pass. Like I said, the term doesn't have a formal definition that you can point to and say that it was used incorrectly in order to deceive. It would also be difficult to prove that the term was purposely used to conceal the fact that it was an application for credit. It could be that "rewards card" just sounds better and is more likely to entice people and that's why she used it or was coached to use it. Merely saying that the cashier intentionally used vague or ambiguous language to promote the product and entice people to sign up makes for a pretty weak case, I mean that's basically the definition of what an advertisement is. 

My point is that in this case, if the OP plays hardball right off the bat, it may make companies less likely to be more accommodating in trying to get this resolved and legally the OP's case may not be all that strong to begin with. 

[marty56]

If you don't have any accounts with Synchrony, this will help you establish a relationship with them and worst case score some points with GF.

As rule,  when a checkout person asks a question that starts with "Would you like...", I go into nagging DW mode and tune them out. 

[Anonymous]

No problem Ima, I dunno the going rate for CMRR but I can tell you that prepaid flat rate priority mail postage I get from the kiosk in my post offices lobby runs $6.65. The tracking/delivery confirmation labels & the 6x10 clear panel flat rate envelopes I use are free. The process I following calls for 6-12 pieces of trackable mail so I prepaid and stocked up on the free supplies before starting.

As far as the strength of your "legal argument" in the matter of your new card I have to agree with others here and say it's legally flimsy at best on account of you signing. That said it doesn't necessarily mean you don't stand a chance if you dispute but from my personally experienced but unprofessional and not providing-legal-advice perspective I don't think the laws on your side here.

I'll agree about the coaching to push cards though. Having to hound and even corrective-action my employees based on their success or lack thereof in pushing Redcards (and credit at that, the debit didn't boost metrics nearly as much as the credit versions) was part of what I hated most about managing Target and was one of the many many reasons I left asap

[AverageJoesCredit]

Stinks big time but signers remorse happens. Been there done that. At the end of the day, you have a card that can grow big limits should you choose but also one that can be closed as well. I agree with other posters opinions on mater but in the end , we gotta take the final responsibilty for signing our name on something even if we were decieved by a cashier. Like they say, now you know, and knowing is half the battle, yo joe!

[RadioRob]

Out of curiousity ... the card was opened with just the info on a drivers license?

I did not think an account could be opened without a SSN (which should not be on any modern license) and without income information (which obviously is not).

[arkane]

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@Anonymous wrote:
No problem Ima, I dunno the going rate for CMRR but I can tell you that prepaid flat rate priority mail postage I get from the kiosk in my post offices lobby runs $6.65. The tracking/delivery confirmation labels & the 6x10 clear panel flat rate envelopes I use are free. The process I following calls for 6-12 pieces of trackable mail so I prepaid and stocked up on the free supplies before starting.

As far as the strength of your "legal argument" in the matter of your new card I have to agree with others here and say it's legally flimsy at best on account of you signing. That said it doesn't necessarily mean you don't stand a chance if you dispute but from my personally experienced but unprofessional and not providing-legal-advice perspective I don't think the laws on your side here.

I'll agree about the coaching to push cards though. Having to hound and even corrective-action my employees based on their success or lack thereof in pushing Redcards (and credit at that, the debit didn't boost metrics nearly as much as the credit versions) was part of what I hated most about managing Target and was one of the many many reasons I left asap

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Ah so that's why they pushed the "do you want to get 5% off" card so hard. I don't really blame them for doing their job, but man one of them actually tried to guilt trip me by going "sir do you want to save 5% today? No?! You don't like free money?!" And meanwhile I was just dying inside and trying very hard to contain my groan and eyeroll.

I'm so glad they opened self-checkout stations, because now I can avoid these conversations entirely. Though next time if I have to go through a cashier, when asked this question, I'll just answer with "no thanks, I already have 4 credit cards, and that's 3 too many!!"

[CreditInspired]

Unfortunately, OP, I think you may have to live with the consequenses. Like others have said or implied -- treat it as a lesson learned. For kicks, I Googled a TJMaxx credit application to find out just what you signed, and it states:

By applying you agree that, if approved, Synchrony Bank may provide you with a TJX Rewards® Platinum MasterCard® or a TJX Rewards® Credit Card.

I also noted two separate boxes (both 27.99% APR). So, I think as someone else noted, you probably wasn't deliberately deceived because they are actually called rewards cards. Also, as someone else noted, it would be surprising if you didn't have to provide your income and SSN.

Also, look at it this way. At least the inquiry was for an approved card. It would be worse if you had been declined and got an inquiry too.

Like others have said, we have all been there, done that. I can still recall the rant I went on in March for applying for a Chase Slate and got 3 HPs because I had the audacity to see if my SL could be increased. Yep, hard lesson-learned.

GL2U

[AverageJoesCredit]

Good info CreditInspired. How dare Chase! Lol