Opting Out of Pre-screened Credit Offers

Anna and I cut up our last credit card last  year.  We have no credit cards.  We’ve got our Visa debit card that connects to our checking account, and we do our non-written-check transactions with it.  But we still get those pre-screened credit card offers.  Oy.  Do we get the offers.  One day last week we got five in one day.  I recall this, because one offer in particular made me very, very angry.  That offer was sent not only to me and my wife (we often get the same exact offer since we each have had credit cards in our individual names), but as icing on the cake, each of our daughters got one too.

I was livid!  So, I called and gave a blistering phone call (and as one who has worked in call centers for a good portion of the last fifteen years, I know how to give those asbestos-ear phone calls), and got all of our names removed from future marketing efforts.

Well, another offer came today that made me just as mad.  It was one of those “live checks” from Wells Fargo that any schmoe could take and cash at some less than reputable payday loan (sharking) office.  I hit the roof again.

But this time, there was some very helpful information on the offer that I utilized and want to pass on to you all.

It’s the 5-year opt out equivalent of the telemarketing “Do Not Call” list.  The website is here, or www.optoutprescreen.com.  According to the website:

OptOutPrescreen.com is a centralized service to accept and process requests from consumers to “Opt-In” or “Opt-Out” of firm offers of credit or insurance. OptOutPrescreen.com is a joint venture among Equifax Information Services, LLC, Experian Information Solutions, Inc., Innovis Data Solutions, Inc., and TransUnion, LLC (collectively the “Consumer Credit Reporting Companies”).

Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), Equifax, Experian, Innovis, and TransUnion, are permitted to include your name on lists used by creditors or insurers to make firm offers of credit or insurance. The FCRA also allows you the ability to “Opt-Out”, which prevents Consumer Credit Reporting Companies from providing your credit file information for firm offers of credit or insurance that are not initiated by you. If you want to remove your name from lists supplied by the four Consumer Credit Reporting Companies listed above for firm offers of credit or insurance, you will need to provide your personal information on the “Click Here to Opt-In or Opt-Out” link. Once you provide your information through this secure website, your name will be removed from inclusion on firm offer lists provided by all four companies. If you have previously completed a request to Opt-Out from receiving firm offers and would like to Opt-In, you may also complete your request on this website. The personal information you provide is confidential and will only be used to process your request. You can also complete this process via phone by dialing 888-5-OPT-OUT (888-567-8688).

OptOutPrescreen.com is the only internet website authorized by Equifax, Experian, Innovis and TransUnion for this purpose under the FCRA. Please note that, as a security precaution, consumers should never provide their personal information to any other company or person in connection with requesting Opt-In or Opt-Out services. OptOutPrescreen.com will not contact consumers via email, telemarketing or direct mail solicitations.

I called the tollfree number and took all our names off the marketing lists.  I hope soon to start seeing the end of the credit card offers.