“That’s because the companies never told the public about the arrangement.”
I’d bet it’s in the 12 pages of font #6 legalese found in their “Privacy Disclosure” they send you each year. Use of their card acknowledges your acceptance.
Anybody ever read that? Search for the word “partner”...substitute Google.
Also...I buy what I want and need...not what they suggest. Their ads fall on deaf ears. Can’t remember the last time I clicked on an ad to purchase something.
Actually, I make it a point NOT to do that because, well, screw’em. I consider online ads akin to the spate of health insurance spam calls I’ve been getting for the last several months. Sometimes 3 call a day. Maybe you’ve gotten those calls. I call them the “be healthy and be blessed” people because that’s how they end their spoofed-number calls. There is no chance I would EVER buy from them.
OR, the ads that pop-up on the Spider Solitaire app on my phone. No way in heck would I ever click on those nuisance ads.
Besides, I don’t have that much time left above ground. Their info will soon be worthless.