So I was approved for my Citibank Signature Visa on the 18th, unsure of the time when I expect the card, gave it a week or so.
I gave Citibank a call after I notice the whole CC account missing on my Citibank Online and they informed me that the card had been used and blocked because it was unactivated. Okay, I thought, I'll get the card reissued and sent to my work address instead.
Later checking that the account is back on my Citibank Online portal, I notice a Caltex charge for $43.30 made on 25/12. I called into Citibank to question this, since I had never received nor activated the card. I now have to go through an Investigation Request for a charge I never made on the card I never received.
So, word of warning, at least with Citibank cards, they can still be used even when they haven't been activated. I still don't know why I need to go through with this because it seems like a failure on Citibank's end to properly secure the card prior to activation.
My sister was in the same worst situation. She had never received her credit card, never activated it and had to pay ING direct $5000 as that was the amount used on the CC.
I'm not surprise to hear your story at all.