Consumer complaint received 2018-02-24
Company: Netspend Corporation
State: OR
Product: Credit card or prepaid card
Sub-product: General-purpose prepaid card
Issue: Advertising
Sub-issue: Confusing or misleading advertising about the card

Complaint:
Sir, or Madam, This evening I received, in the mail, a " NetSpend '' Debit XXXX, which I did not request or apply for. This was not a card board picture of a card, with my name on it, it was a real card, with activation instructions on the front and a XXXX expiration date!!!. 

I called the NETSpend customer service number, from the back of the card, in which the prompts require the card number, and/or my social security number, before it allows any other prompts. I had to hit the " XXXX  '' sign, and " XXXX '', and ask for a " Representative '' a number of times before I finally got their system to say, " I'll put you through to a representative ''. 

I ask the agent, " XXXX '' who was applying for a card in my name, without my permission. She assured me that no one had applied for a card in my name, that it was solicitation only, and that the only information they had was my name and address. When I advised her that their prompts required the card number, which tells me it's not activated, and to enter my social security number, in order to gain access to their phone prompts, she advised me that, by entering my social security number, the could confirm the match. When I ask, if they did not have my social security number, how could they verify if it's accuracy??? Her response was to go back to her prompts, and assure me that they do not have my social security number!!! 

As a former Fraud Coordinator, with XXXX XXXX, I am extremely surprised that any firm would, as solicitation, send a real debit XXXX, through the postal system, which, as we all know is severely prone to delivering mail to wrong addresses. The mailer alone has enough information, my legal name, with my middle initial, and my address, to allow someone to start a search, which, without too much difficulty, could identify my social security number. 

In today 's cyber security environment, this is not acceptable on so many levels, the first two that come to mind are : If, as " XXXX '' states, these cards are sent out, with only the cardholder 's name and address, without a request from the consumer, and without a verifiable social security number in their file ; The consumer is not aware that the card is on the way, which means that a 3rd party could have the card end up in their hands, locate a social security number and activate the card, without the consumer 's knowledge. 

If, as " XXXX '' states, " Netspend '' does not have, in their file, my social security number, and a 3rd party ends up with the card, enters their own social security number, which Netspend must run my credit report, using that social security number, there by attaching that social security number permanently with my credit file, or activate the card, with the erroneous social security number, that they have no way to verify. 
I believe, opening accounts without the customer 's knowledge was recently a problem, for XXXX XXXX, " XXXX- XX/XX/XXXX @ XXXX XXXX XXXX 2 Free Issues of XXXX XXXX XXXX Fined {$180.00} Million For Opening Accounts Without Customers ' Knowledge ''!!! 



While these debit cards are supposedly sent out, " merely as solicitation '', needing activation, establishment a XXXX, to attach to the card, and prepayment deposits ; The results could be devastating, either giving a 3rd party access to too much related information, or the unwitting consumer, who does not take the time to read the fine print, and/or is desperate for credit assistance, and does, without understanding the ramifications of their actions, activate the card. 



I have cut up the card. 



Regards, XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ( XXXX ) XXXX Issues Resolved, Customers Satisfied

Company public response: Company has responded to the consumer and the CFPB and chooses not to provide a public response
Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation