We present CCD UBVI photometric and medium/high resolution
spectroscopic observations obtained in the field
of the previously unstudied dissolving open cluster
candidates NGC 5385, NGC 2664 and Collinder 21. Our
analysis stands on the discussion of star counts, photometry,
radial velocity distribution, and proper
motions available from the Tycho 2 catalogue. All the
three aggregates clearly emerge from the mean Galactic
field, but, regrettably, the close scrutiny of proper
motions and radial velocities reveals that we are not
facing any physical group. Instead, what we are looking
at are just chance alignments of a few bright unrelated stars.
Our analysis casts some doubt on the Bica et al. (2001) criterion
to look for Possible Open Cluster Remnants. It seems mandatory to
define a better criterion to adopt for further investigations.