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Tired of spending five minutes every day sorting your real mail from that stack of credit card offers? Fortunately, you have options for eliminating the wasted time and paper from your life. Here are six ways to stop most (but probably not all) credit card junk mail, starting with a simple call or visit to OptOutPrescreen (1-888-5-OPTOUT).
Key Takeaways
- An easy way to start cutting down on junk mail is by filling out a form at OptOutPrescreen.com or calling 1-888-5-OPTOUT.
- You can opt out of direct-mail marketing at DMAchoice.com for $5, and commercial email marketing for free.
- If you still get a lot of junk mail, consider a third-party service (some are free, others cost money) or contacting the FTC.
- When you opt out of pre-screened offers, you’ll no longer receive offers for promotional credit card bonuses and pre-approved personal loan letters.
1. Use the Opt-Out Service
The three major credit bureaus provide a website, OptOutPrescreen.com, where you can fill out a form to opt out of pre-screened offers of credit and insurance. Or, you can call their toll-free number, 1-888-5-OPTOUT (567-8688).
When you do so, the three major credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion) will no longer provide your information to lenders and insurance providers. Be aware that this means you won’t receive any promotional offers for credit cards, loans, insurance, and other products.
According to Experian, although your request will take effect within five days, it may take several months before the credit card junk mail you get actually starts to slow down.
It’s important to know that both the website and phone options for opting out only last for five years, after which you can (and probably will) start receiving pre-screened credit offers again. If you want a more permanent solution, use the printable “Permanent Opt-Out Form” available on the website; you’ll have to print it, fill it out, and mail it in.
If you opt out and later would like to receive firm offers of credit and insurance again, you can use the same website to opt back in.
Take note that when you opt out of getting pre-screened offers, you’re only preventing the three major credit bureaus from providing your information to certain companies, who would use it to provide you with firm offers of credit or insurance. You may still receive all kinds of unsolicited offers from companies who obtain your information in other ways.
2. Notify the Major Credit Bureaus
If you’d rather not use OptOutPrescreen.com, you can send individual letters to the three major credit bureaus, which should achieve the same goal. The letters should state that you do not want to have your personal information shared for promotional databases or direct mailing lists.
Each credit bureau has its own specifications, but in general you’ll need to include your current mailing address, as well as a previous mailing address if you have moved within the last six months, your full name, Social Security number, and date of birth.
It’s a good idea to keep a copy of the letter for your own files (make sure it’s dated) so you have a record of the request.
3. Use the Direct Marketing Association’s Mail Preference Service
The Direct Marketing Association provides a Mail Preference Service, which costs $5 when registering online and puts your name on a “do not mail” list to be provided to direct-mail marketers for ten years. This service covers a different segment of junk mail than the above two methods, so it may be worth doing along with one of them.
Not all direct-mail marketers subscribe to the DMA’s service; however, the DMA says ” We expect that this name removal service will reduce the overall volume of prospect promotional offers received by about 80%,” so you could see a significant drop in the amount of junk mail that crowds your mailbox.
The service does not apply to promotional mail from companies and organization you’ve purchased from or donated to in the last two years. It also doesn’t apply to unaddressed mail, small, local companies, and political organizations.
4. Use the DMA’s Email Preference Service
The Direct Marketing Association also provides a free Email Preference Service, if you’re dealing with a flood of pre-screened credit card offers in your inbox as well as your mailbox. This service helps prevent unsolicited commercial emails to personal email accounts. As with the option above, it will not stop all commercial messages.
You can enter up to three email addresses at a time, and your preference will need to be updated every ten years. After submitting your email address, you’ll get an email prompting you to complete the verification process.
In addition, the Federal Trade Commission’s CAN-SPAM Act requires businesses that utilize bulk email for promotional purposes to provide conspicuous instructions for opting out of future emails. This usually entails a link at the bottom of the email labeled “unsubscribe.”
If you’re sick of unsolicited sales calls, you can register your home or cell phone number with the National Do Not Call Registry by going to DoNotCall.gov. Or, you can call (888) 382-1222 from the phone you want to register.
5. Contact the FTC if Mail Doesn’t Stop
The Federal Trade Commission is a consumer ally, so if you’re still receiving unsolicited credit card offers after trying the above methods, you might consider lodging a complaint.
Do keep in mind, however, that many companies only update their mailing lists quarterly, according to PrivacyRights.org. Allow at least three or more months for your junk mail pile to shrink before you contact the FTC.
6. Use a Third-Party Service
Several non-profit services will, sometimes for a fee, take on the work of getting your name off the mailing lists of various credit card companies and other direct-mail marketers.
PaperKarma, for example, claims to help reduce most magazine, catalog, credit card, and yellow page offers “very well,” and comes in a few subscription options, from $3.99 monthly to $24.99 annually. Catalog Choice, a nonprofit, offers a free service to help you opt out of specific catalogs.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How Do I Permanently Get Rid of Junk Mail?
You probably can’t permanently get rid of all junk mail and direct marketing messages, but you can reduce it significantly. Start by visiting OptOutPrescreen.com and submitting your information; then register with the Direct Marketing Association’s Mail Preference Service. This should go a long way toward reducing your junk mail pile. There are also third-party and nonprofit services to explore, and you can contact the FTC if the problem seems intractable.
Does Opting Out of Pre-Screened Offers Hurt My Credit Score?
No, opting out of pre-screened offers does not hurt your credit score. It simply prevents your information from being sent to certain lenders and insurance companies; it doesn’t affect your credit report or credit score. If you opt out of pre-screened offers you may miss out on certain promotional offers and deals related to credit, however.
How Long Does It Take Before I Stop Getting Pre-Screened Offers?
When you make a request to opt out of pre-screened or pre-approved offers, it can take several months before you start seeing a difference. This is because many companies update their mailing lists on a quarterly basis, or some other basis. Sending an opt-out request won’t instantly remove your name from those lists—you’ll have to wait a few months for the update. And, it’s important to know that an opt-out request won’t necessarily stop all unsolicited offers, although it can make a significant difference.
How Do I Stop Getting So Much Junk Mail in My Email?
Junk email is a common problem. You can make inroads against it by unsubscribing from specific companies that you receive mail from—check the bottom of the email for a link to unsubscribe. You can also register with the Direct Marketing Association’s Email Preference Service, which can help cut down on the number of commercial emails you receive. You can also try using an email alias for any fishy websites or third-party spam filters.
The Bottom Line
You don’t have to live with credit card junk mail, but keep in mind that trying only one option above may not eliminate all the credit card and other unsolicited offers you receive. However, even a single request could lower the number of junk offers you have to deal with on a daily basis, and they’re relatively quick and easy to make.