In PIPEDA Case Summary #2016-012, the complainant received an unsolicited credit card and discovered a “hard inquiry” on their credit report. The bank claimed consent was obtained via an electronic tablet, but the OPC found no evidence that the individual had seen the consent screen or clicked the check box. The financial institution failed to obtain valid consent (Principle 4.3), ensure accuracy (Principle 4.6), and maintain proper procedures (Principle 4.1.4). The complaint was well-founded and resolved after the bank apologized, cancelled the card, and discontinued the tablet pilot program.
