GE subsidiary reprimanded over unsolicited credit cards

GE Consumer Finance, a division of the US-based global company, General Electric, was yesterday found in breach of consumer law for replacing more than 100,000 store cards with credit cards, without the customer asking for them.

The Office of Fair Trading in Britain ordered the company to reform its policy of issuing Debenhams and Harrods customers with unsolicited credit cards.

A spokesman for the financial watchdog said GE had failed to clarify in letters to customers that they had a choice of either activating the card or ignoring it.

GE Consumer Finance issues more than half of all store cards in the UK.