Stop Credit Card Junk Mail in Its Tracks
Almost all credit card applications you receive are “pre-approved” offers. The “pre-approved” part tells you that one or more of the credit reporting bureaus has provided credit card marketer with your name, address, and some information about your credit worthiness.
You can prevent the credit bureaus from sharing your information with marketers, and thus prevent credit card marketers from sending you pre-approved offers based on your credit history, by calling the opt-out hotline. Calling the opt-out hotline allows you to remove your name and address from the lists supplied to credit card direct marketers.
The number to call for removal is (888) 567-8688. You have the option of removing your name for two years (with the option to renew biannually) or removing your name permanently. The choice is yours; however most people choose to be removed permanently.
Please note that it may take several months before you notice a decrease in the quantity of credit card solicitations you receive. This procedure by no means guarantees that you will be removed from all marketing lists, but it should at least be a step in the right direction.
