You can keep credit card offers out of your mailbox.
Credit card bureaus make money selling reports to lenders when you apply for new accounts. They also make a profit from selling your information to banks and insurers who wish to send solicitations to certain population segments. Fight Identity Theft, an anti-fraud website, explains that companies can give financial and demographic criteria to the bureaus and buy a list of consumers who fit the profile. You have a right to block this information sharing and stop the offers.
Instructions
1. Find your Social Security card or another document that lists your Social Security number if you do not have it memorized. You must provide it to confirm your identity when you sign up to stop receiving credit card offers.
2. Log on to the Internet and visit optoutprescreen.com. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) explains this is the official site to stop credit card offers. It is jointly provided by Equifax, Experian, TransUnion and Innovis. All of these companies collect and sell financial data on consumers.
3. Select the method by which you wish to complete your opt-out. The site allows you to sign up electronically, but this only stops credit card offers for five years. You can halt them permanently if you choose the postal mail option and print out the appropriate form. You can renew your opt-out as often as you wish if you prefer to use the electronic form.
4. Follow the instructions to complete your chosen opt-out method. The site will walk you through the electronic form or give you a printable form to fill out and send in through postal mail.
5. Monitor your mail once you have signed up to stop credit card offers. The FTC advises that you should see results within 60 days. You may still receive offers from companies with which you have a current business relationship. Call them individually and ask them to stop sending offers to you.
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