Get Removed From Credit Card Solicitation Lists
If you do not want to receive credit card solicitations, you can use one or all of these methods to remove yourself from the lists. We recommend that you visit optourprescreen.com first and then evaluate if you need to take further action by calling or writing.
Do It On-line
You can opt-out online at
www.optoutprescreen.com for either 5 years or permanently.
Learn more at this article from
FTC.gov.
Do It By Phone
You can call this federally-mandated toll-free number to opt-out: (888) 567-8688.
Other Resources
www.dmachoice.org
www.donotcall.gov
Understanding Pre-Screened Credit and Insurance Offers
Pre-screened credit and insurance offers are targeted promotions that financial institutions and insurance companies send to consumers. These offers are based on specific criteria determined from your credit history. The goal is to extend offers to consumers who meet the lender's or insurer's predefined credit or demographic profiles.
How Do These Offers Work?
- Data Compilation: Credit bureaus compile your credit information and sell lists of consumers who meet certain criteria to credit card companies, banks, and insurance firms.
- Targeted Criteria: These offers are usually sent to individuals whose credit reports align with the institutions' preferred risk levels or financial profiles.
- Firm Offers: When you receive these offers, they typically represent firm offers of credit or insurance, meaning the provider has already pre-approved you based on the information supplied by the credit bureau.
- Convenience: These offers can save you the effort of searching for credit or insurance products, as they come directly to you.
- Potential Savings: People may find better rates or terms than what they currently have.
- Credit Impact: Receiving offers does not impact your credit score as these are usually soft inquiries.
Opting Out
If you prefer not to receive these offers, you can opt out by contacting the major credit bureaus. This choice won't prevent you from applying for credit or insurance independently but will stop the flow of unsolicited offers to your mailbox.
By understanding pre-screened offers, you can better decide whether to make use of them or opt out for a cleaner mailbox.
How to Send a Written Opt-Out Request for Pre-Screened Credit Offers
If you're looking to halt those pre-screened credit offers, sending a written opt-out request is a straightforward process. Here's how you can do it:
- Prepare Your Information: Gather essential details such as your full name, complete address, and Social Security number. Make sure to sign the request as well, which verifies your identity.
- Compose Your Written Request: Clearly state your desire to opt-out of receiving pre-screened credit offers. Use polite and concise language to ensure your request is easily understood.
- Send Your Request by Mail: Address your written request to the designated bureau's mailing address responsible for managing these opt-out requests. It’s advisable to use certified mail to track your submission and ensure it’s received.
What Happens Next: The bureau will handle removing your name from pre-screened lists and notify other major credit reporting agencies: Experian, TransUnion, and Innovis. This ensures a comprehensive opt-out experience.
By following these steps, you can effectively stop those offers from cluttering your mailbox, contributing to a more streamlined and private financial life.
To opt out of receiving pre-screened offers, ensure your written request contains the following details:
- Complete Name: Include your first, middle, and last names as they appear on your credit records.
- Full Address: Provide your full residential address, ensuring it matches the one in your credit profile.
- Social Security Number: For verification, list your full Social Security number.
- Signature: Sign the request to authenticate your identity.
After you've compiled these details, your request will be processed and shared with major consumer reporting agencies.
When you decide to opt out of pre-screened credit offers, your request to be removed from these lists is not handled in isolation. Instead, the process extends across several major credit reporting agencies.
Here’s how it works:
- Unified Communication: Once you opt out, your request is shared among the major credit bureaus. This coordinated effort ensures that your name is withdrawn from pre-screened lists they generate.
- Comprehensive Action: By sharing your opt-out decision with other credit agencies, these bureaus help to ensure that you’re shielded from receiving unsolicited credit offers across the board, not just from one agency’s list.
- Information Privacy: While opting out doesn’t alter your credit report details, it does reduce the exposure of your information for marketing purposes, adding a layer of control over who sees your data.
- Continuous Improvement: This system-wide approach allows each credit bureau to update their databases, reflecting your preference to opt out and enhancing the accuracy of their marketing data.
By opting out, you're effectively minimizing the chances of your information being used for marketing pre-screened credit offers by the major credit reporting agencies.