About a month ago I applied online for a credit card. After I clicked on the "send now" button, the usual "thank you for applying" thing came on with a further note that they will contact me wether they approved me or not. About a week and a half later I get the first statement/bill from this credit card outfit. Statement indicated the credit limit, and the amount of the annual fee ($39) /balance, and due date for the payment. Two days after receiving the statement/bill I received the actual credit card. How the hell could they have generated a statement/bill without me actually having activated that card?
Annual fee, or account service fee. If this is a "sub prime" card, most likely there is an intial fee or charge. They assume you will activate the card.