Opting Out of Pre-Approval Offers
If you’re tired of getting credit cards & other pre-approved offers in the mail (whether it’s because you’re tired of all that paper waste, or because you want to reduce your risk of identity theft) you can choose to opt-out.
The FTC publishes a web page called prescreened offers of credit and insurance that explains some of the details behind these types of offers. Though, you can choose to opt-out for either 5 years or permanently by calling 1-888-5-OPTOUT (1-888-567-8688). You can also go to OptOutPrescreen.com. That will stop offers by companies that use credit reporting agencies to screen. (And you can always opt back in later if you change your mind.)
I like the extra time each day that I don’t have to spend shredding those offers.
Thanks for this pointer! I throw out tons of this stuff every day that clogs my mailbox. It’s a PITA to shred all those offers that are partially filled in with my name and address.
Thank you! I did this…and anything that saves me from temptation…
I also find I get alot of emails about stores having sales…if I DELETE them Im not tempted to go to the site and check out the “deal”…
Do you know how long it takes to start feeling the effects of this? I opted out a little over a week ago, and I’m hoping it kicks in by mid-December.
It’s been so long since I did it that I don’t remember, but maybe 6-8 weeks?