Letters promising 0% financing and no annual fees pile out of mailboxes every day, but the number of letters hawking new credit card deals and insurance offers can be maddening.
Reducing the number of unsolicited credit and insurance offers you receive
If you decide that you don™t want to receive prescreened offers of credit and insurance, you have two choices: You can opt out of receiving them for five years by visiting www.optoutprescreen.com or you can opt out of receiving them permanently by calling toll-free 1-888-5-OPTOUT (1-888-567-8688). The telephone number and website are operated by the major consumer reporting companies. When you call or visit the website, you™ll be asked to provide certain personal information, including your home telephone number, name, Social Security number, and date of birth. The information you provide is confidential and will be used only to process your request to opt out.
If you have joint credit relationships, like a mortgage or a car loan with a spouse, partner, or other adult, you may continue to receive some prescreened solicitations until both of you exercise your opt-out right.
Why would someone opt out ” or not?
Some people prefer not to receive these kinds of offers in the mail, especially if they are not in the market for a new credit card or insurance policy. They may prefer to opt out to limit access to their credit report information for credit and insurance solicitations, or to reduce some mailbox œclutter. However, you should be aware that some companies send offers that are not based on prescreening, and your federal opt-out right will not stop those kinds of solicitations. Many of these solicitations include information which in the wrong hands can lead to indentity theft and opting out is a great way to reduce the likelihood of your indentity being stolen.
As you consider opting out, you should know that prescreened offers can provide benefits, especially if you are in the market for a credit card or insurance. Prescreened offers can help keep you informed about what™s available, compare costs, and find the best product for your needs. Because you are pre-selected to receive the offer, you can be turned down only under limited circumstances. The terms of prescreened offers also may be more favorable than those that are available to the general public. In fact, some credit card or insurance products may be available only through prescreened offers.
Does opting out hurt my credit score?
Removing your name from prescreened lists has no effect on your ability to apply for or obtain credit or insurance.
If I decide to opt out, how long will it be before I stop getting prescreened offers?
Requests to opt out are processed within five days, but it may take up to 60 days before you stop receiving prescreened offers.
What if I opt out and then change my mind?
You can use the same toll-free telephone number or website to opt back in.
Will calling 1-888-5-OPTOUT or visiting www.optoutprescreen.com stop all unsolicited offers of credit and insurance?
Calling the opt-out line or visiting the website will stop the prescreened solicitations that are based on lists from the major consumer reporting companies. As stated previously, you may continue to get solicitations for credit and insurance based on lists from other sources. For example, opting out won™t end solicitations from local merchants, religious and charitable associations, professional and alumni associations, and companies with which you already conduct business. To stop mail from groups like these ” as well as mail addressed to œoccupant or œresident ” you must contact each source directly.
What other opt-out programs should I know about?
The federal government has created the National Do Not Call Registry ” a free, easy way to reduce the telemarketing calls you get at home. To register your phone number or to get information about the registry, visit www.donotcall.gov, or call 1-888-382-1222 from the phone number you want to register. You will get fewer telemarketing calls within 31 days of registering your number. Your number will stay on the registry for five years, until it is disconnected, or until you take it off the registry. After five years, you will be able to renew your registration.
The Direct Marketing Association (DMA), a trade association for businesses in direct, database, and interactive global marketing, maintains a Mail Preference Service that lets you opt out of receiving direct mail marketing from many national companies for five years. When you register with this service, your name will be put on a œdelete file and made available to direct-mail marketers. However, your registration will not stop mailings from any organizations that are not registered with the DMA™s Mail Preference Service. To register with DMA, send a letter to:
Direct Marketing Association
Mail Preference Service
PO Box 643
Carmel, NY 10512
Or register online at www.the-dma.org/consumers/offmailinglist.html.
The DMA also has an EMail Preference Service to help you reduce unsolicited commercial emails. To œopt-out of receiving unsolicited commercial email from DMA members, visit www.dmaconsumers.org/offemaillist.html. Your online request will be effective for one year.
The FTC works for the consumer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint or to get free information on consumer issues, visit http://www.ftc.gov/or call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261. The FTC enters Internet, telemarketing, identity theft, and other fraud-related complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure online database available to hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad.
