How Long To Receive Actual Mail Offer

[MB2714]

So we hear a lot on this forum about prequalified sites such a BOA, Chase, Discover, Amex, Capital One. But if you get a online offer is available how long if ever does it take for them to send you a mailed offer if their is one available online? I know sometimes companies buy your name on credit reports for preapproved offers but never send one. Does anyone have any idea how that works and do you sometimes only have an offer online but they never spend the money to mail you an actual offer?

[Anonymous]

I checked my Citi prequals earlier this month.  They prequaled me for a few cards.  

I have now gotten 3 of those Citi offers in the mail, maybe once a week.  They are all "valid" until later janurary or early february.  

I have checked discover and amex, and was prequaled for a card, but never got a mailer (at least not yet).

However, a prequal doesnt always mean approved.  They will still do a hard pull when you apply.

[wasCB14]

Until I opted out, Capital One would send me mail offers for Platinum and QS1 while also saying I pre-qualified for Venture on their website. Mail and online offers can be very different.

I made the right decision in avoiding them entirely.

*And, as fltireguy says, prequalified is not preapproved. With some issuers, prequals are just ads. Issuers and their cobrand partners don't suffer when an application is rejected.

[fltireguy]

Remember, prequalified IS NOT the same as  PREAPPROVED

[Anonymous]

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@fltireguy wrote:

Remember, prequalified IS NOT the same as  PREAPPROVED

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Yes, but even preapproved can still be denied once they HP.

I really like "You are invited to apply...." kind of stuff.    Anyone can apply, with or without an invitiation!

[MB2714]

I Know pre-qualified is not the same as pre-approved, and I also know you can still be denied after a HP, but I was asking more to find if there was a correlation to online offers and receiving an actual mail offer not to receive an actual approval or denial.