Consumer complaint received 2015-12-21
Product: Credit card — 
Issue: Advertising and marketing — 
Company: CAPITAL ONE FINANCIAL CORPORATION (TX)

This complaint pertains to the direct mail marketing practices of Capital One. Although under the Constitution companies and individuals have the right to free speech, i.e., the right to solicit consumers, solicitation of financial products including those containing partially completed applications and especially if " pre-approved '' can in today 's world cause harm if they fall into the wrong hands as well as place a burden on the recipient with respect to their proper destruction. As a result, they are not the same as the weekly ad that comes from the supermarket. 
On XXXX/XXXX/XXXX I sent a " permanent '' " Opt-out '' form from the XXXX XXXX XXXX to the XXXX, XXXX. XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX, IL XXXX. The form was honored in a timely fashion by XXXX and XXXX. Experian conveniently ignored this request until I filed a complaint through the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau earlier this year. 
Since the beginning of XXXX I have been receiving unsolicited offers of credit from Capital One for their XXXX Rewards and XXXX Rewards cards sometimes on almost a monthly basis ; scans of the front of the envelopes for XXXX of these are attached ( CapitalOneXXXX ). Most of these offers have been addressed to my legal name but recently a " fictional '' name has been used either separately or in parallel with my real name so that sometimes XXXX offers a month are received. This " fictional '' name uses the initials of my Middle and Last Name and my First Name as my Last Name, i.e. Middle Initial/Last Name Initial/First Name as Last Name. Nowhere does that name appear on any of my credit reports ; I have NEVER used that name for any purpose or granted anyone permission to use that name with any of my personal information for any purpose. I would hope that use of that name would NOT allow a person to gain XXXX clearance, apply for insurance, get an XXXX refund etc. when used in conjunction with my address let alone obtain credit. If this name is that of a " real '' person THEY DO NOT RESIDE AT MY ADDRESS and THE USE OF THIS NAME MAY BE PART OF AN IDENTITY THEFT. 
Having recently reported an Identity Theft to both the FTC and the Sheriff there could be someone who has created this " fictional '' person and is using my address for nefarious purposes. The so-called " Identity Protection '' company XXXX has also sent solicitation by mail to my address using this name. Based on previous experience I know that Capital One 's unsolicited offers will continue unabated month after mind-numbing month for many years to come. 
If a person has not responded after XXXX or XXXX offers, why would they respond after XXXX, XXXX, XXXX or more? I do not exaggerate when I state these numbers of offers. 
Prior to the financial crisis of XXXX I was also relentlessly marketed by Capital One, including offers for " XXXX '' branded credit cards ostensibly based on the spelling of my last name and their guess as to my heritage. While there is no law against this type of grotesque and to some people possibly offensive ethnically-based marketing, the long-term tactics that Capital One has used are deeply troubling and over the many years have the effect of " stalking '' given their sometimes deeply personal nature and relentless regularity. 
I 've seen Capital One 's ads on TV. If I want a credit card I will research it and apply as I see fit. Based on Capital One 's behavior I would not do business with them and have NEVER responded to any of their offers.