Is it illegal for a card company to pull my credit if i did not consent?

Today I went into firestone to activate my card that I got approve for 3 years ago..... The reason for me going in to do this is because I called to update my mailing address and they told me that it was inactive and I had to go to a firestone to get it reactivated before I use it..... They said nothing about having to pull my credit.... Upon talking to the associate he told me that it was not active and asked if I wanted to run my credit again and I said no, why would I want to run my credit when I have already been approved for this card. To make a long story short he pulled my credit and then told me that I was declined. That doesn't make since to me, especially when the rep on the phone said all they had to do is reactivate my card cause I hadn't used it. Can they do that?