When I worked for a CC company years ago "Preapproved" only meant that the card issuer bought thousands of names and addresses of people within certain credit profiles they requested (ie- no missed payments for 24 months, more than 2 cards w/3years history or whatever the criteria was they requested from the bureaus). By they time they recieve that data and the time you get the offer could be months later.
That's what it meant, until regulation required them to call that pre-selected. Now they actually have to have a credit criteria that you're approved for, and so long as it hasn't gotten worse from when they mailed you the app, they have to honor it. At least that's how I understand
it.
So my info was likely gathered before I applied for the BA card last month. Thanks for the explanation
Of course. Companies make a mint (no pun intended) using your information to push offers your direct. As someone put it so poignantly: To Google, advertisers are the customer, you (the user) is the product (being sold).
I just recieved a 25k mile offer from Sapphie today - not sure why they bother
What do you mean 'why they bother?', maybe they're giving you a reason to earn another 50k.