More Than Points: Tired of Receiving Credit Card Offers - Read On!
...practical help for the road warrior...

• Tired of Receiving Credit Card Offers - Read On!
  

  Every week after returning from work on the road, I come back to a stack of mail piled on my kitchen table. Most of it is junk mail and of that, the majority are credit card offers. If you have good credit, you’re probably in the same boat as I am. All those credit card offers go directly into my paper shredder – you can never be too careful with the rising incidents of identity theft. I hate having credit card offers being past out like candy especially since my postal person has a problem delivering mail to the right address. Sometimes I wish there was a way to opt out, similar to the website for opting out of marketing phone calls.

  Good news! While watching CNN’s Tip of the Day, I came across the solution to the problem. There is, in fact, a website (https://www.optoutprescreen.com) that let’s you opt out of all those credit card offers! It’s the only website that is endorsed by the four credit reporting bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion, and Innovis). This also includes insurance-related offers as well.

  Please keep in mind that it will also opt you out of receiving credit-related offers from your existing credit card companies as well – so you’ll have to call them directly if you want to hear about any special offers they have for existing card holders.

  You can also call (888) 5-OPT-OUT if you need help filling out the forms.

  From the website:

  Benefits of Receiving Offers:

  Equifax, Experian, Innovis, and TransUnion, (collectively the “Consumer Credit Reporting Companies”), encourage you to make an informed decision about receiving firm (preapproved / prescreened) offers of credit or insurance. There are several benefits of receiving firm offers.

  • Consumers are provided with product choices
  • Consumers learn about and have an opportunity to take advantage of offers that may not be available to the general public
  • Firm offers help consumers to “comparison shop”, which may increase a consumer’s buying power.

  Purpose of the Website:

  Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), the Consumer Credit Reporting Companies are permitted to include your name on lists used by creditors or insurers to make firm offers of credit or insurance that are not initiated by you (“Firm Offers”). The FCRA also provides you the right to “Opt-Out”, which prevents Consumer Credit Reporting Companies from providing your credit file information for Firm Offers.

  Through this website, you may request to:

  • Opt-Out from receiving Firm Offers for Five Years - (electronically through this website).
  • Opt-Out from receiving Firm Offers permanently - (mail Permanent Opt-Out Election form available through this website).
  • Opt-In and be eligible to receive Firm Offers. This option is for consumers who have previously completed an Opt-Out request - (electronically through this website).

  If you choose to Opt-Out, you will no longer be included in firm offer lists provided by these four consumer credit reporting companies. If you are not receiving firm offers because you have previously completed a request to Opt-Out, you can request to Opt-In. In doing so, you will soon be among the many consumers who can significantly benefit from having ready access to product information on credit and insurance products that may not be available to the general public.