As I see it, even if you've opted out, if you run a pre-qual, you're opting in for the purpose of that query. I know it doesn't work that way, but it should. 
@sr383 wrote:As I see it, even if you've opted out, if you run a pre-qual, you're opting in for the purpose of that query. I know it doesn't work that way, but it should.
I'm inclined to agree with you, actually. And I had run the prequalification checks on that premise - not even to apply to anything but more for ego and being competitive, honestly. And I found it interesting that only one company lists me as prequalified for anything, but I'm prequalified for 3 cards from them, each at the lowest advertised APR. So I figured that there's got to be some difference between Amex and everyone else because it doesn't make sense that I'd qualify for them but not anything else (especially as I just got 2 cards a month and a half ago).
@Anonymous wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:The part about the opt out notice is interesting. I opted out of recieving targeted ads several years ago, and (I'm assuming as a result) I'm not prequalified for anything (I checked)...
EXCEPT American Express lists me as prequalified for a few cards despite that. So I'm a bit confused. American Express is the ONLY company that list any prequalified cards for me, so is that because my credit report is only good enough for American Express (I somehow doubt this) or because everyone else got the opt-out memo except Amex? And if the latter is true, how did it happen?
That is a good question. My first instinct is that perhaps one of the lenders you currently have shares your info in regards to your credit worthiness with others. Most lenders do this, and you have to select "no" in your Privacy options. Some lenders allow you to do this online, but some (like Cap1) makes you call in. I'm not a big fan of my info being shared with every Tom, Dick, and Harry, so I always change my Privacy options to not allow the lenders to share my info. They won't let you turn off all sharing, but they usually do for affiliates and non-affiliates. Not saying this is why you pre-qual for Amex even though you're opted out, but it wouldn't surprise me either.
The theory that Amex got my credit info from one of my current lenders deserves consideration. I read Barclays information sharing form, and they only share with other companies they own, so it's unlikely to be them. But I can double check with Chase & Capital One.
@Anonymous wrote:
The theory that Amex got my credit info from one of my current lenders deserves consideration. I read Barclays information sharing form, and they only share with other companies they own, so it's unlikely to be them. But I can double check with Chase & Capital One.
Barclay had the sharing with others turned off by default on my Ring card - I like that. I wish all lenders would have sharing turned off by default, but I suppose it's one of the ways they make money off of us
@Anonymous wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:The theory that Amex got my credit info from one of my current lenders deserves consideration. I read Barclays information sharing form, and they only share with other companies they own, so it's unlikely to be them. But I can double check with Chase & Capital One.Barclay had the sharing with others turned off by default on my Ring card - I like that. I wish all lenders would have sharing turned off by default, but I suppose it's one of the ways they make money off of us
You're probably right. I was reading something recently about how Microsoft pays people to use Bing as a search engine and thinking "the people who sign up for this are geting paid a pittance for telling Microsoft precisely how to target them for ads."