Citibank's United Airlines Visa - Fees prior to activation

Recently I decided to accept one the unsolicited offer to receive a Visa from Citibank that provides airline miles.  The promotion I signed up for was a no annual fee for the first year and 20k miles upon first use of the card. There were a few other terms and conditions which were not surprising regarding paying the bills on time in order to keep the low interest rate etc.

So I, read the mail, call the 800 number to sign-up, get the run down on all the Ts&Cs, then I go on out of town for a few weeks. Upon my return I notice the card has arrived at my home. I don't activate the card for an other two weeks as I really don't want to start using the card until I close out an other credit card and that card's balance isn't due for an other week or so. All told about 6 weeks pass from the time I made the phone call to initiate the process and make a call to activate the credit card.  We then go on a family vacation this time taking my new airline miles accruing credit card with me. 

When I get home and open the credit card statement (hadn't time yet to setup online access) I notice, an annual fee has been charged, it is considered late and unpaid which triggers a fee, and now all of my current charges are hit with an interest charges although they aren't past due.

Being Underemployed as I am I have the time to complain and did and had all the charges unwound.  I can certainly understand the credit card companies run a lot of promotions and may make a mistake and charge me an annual fee when they weren't supposed to....BUT what really ticks me off is that that annual fee is put on your balance BEFORE you receive the card and certainly before the card is activated.  This seams to me like a class could take action....