Do you want to stop credit card offers from appearing daily in your mailbox? If so, you're not alone. The average person receives at least two of these per week in their mail, and some individuals receive even more. Getting rid of these pesky pieces of mail is not as difficult as you might think!
How to Stop Credit Card Offers
There are two ways to get rid of the credit card applications that are littering your kitchen table. One way is to simply shred them and throw them in the recycle bin. The other way is much more effective and it can be accomplished quickly with pen and paper, by picking up your phone, or by filling out an online form.
Put it in Writing
A surefire way to stop credit card offers is to write to the credit reporting agencies directly. If you have ever stopped to read one of the credit offers in your mail, they will provide you with the addresses needed to stop the mail. In case you have already thrown them away, here they are again:
Experian Target Marketing
P.O. Box 919, 701 Experian Parkway B2
Allen, TX 75013
Equifax Options
P.O. Box 740123
Atlanta, GA 30374-0123
Innovis Data Solutions
P.O. Box 1358
Columbus, OH 43216-1358
Trans Union Opt Out Request
P.O. Box 505
Woodlyn, PA 19094-0505
Include your full name, home address, and Social Security number to ensure your request is processed.
Opt Out by Phone
Call 1-888-5-OPT-OUT and respond to the questions presented by the automated system. It's a quick process and will result in the major credit bureaus not issuing your credit information to companies wanting to prescreen you for an offer. This will not change the ability of potential creditors to check your credit report if you have filled out a credit application.
Use the Internet
Equifax, Experian, TransUnion and Innovis offer consumers the opportunity to opt out from prescreened credit card offers by filling out information online. Visit the official opt-out website and fill out the form to stop prescreened offers from landing in your mailbox. This request will remain valid for a period of five years.
Why Stop Credit Card Offers?
Why should you bother trying to stop all the credit card offers you receive in the mail? There are a few reasons:
- Unsolicited credit card applications can put you at risk for identity theft. An identity thief can reach into your mailbox and steal a preapproved credit card offer relatively easily, giving the thief access to the beginning stages of opening accounts in your name.
- Junk mail can be annoying. In addition to being a security risk, many people find the barrage of unsolicited credit card offers an annoyance. Stopping credit card offers can greatly reduce the amount of junk mail you receive. Some consumers also take the environmental impact of junk mail into consideration, which may compel them to minimize all forms of unsolicited mail.
- Offers can be an unwelcome temptation. People who have personal financial trouble might want to stop credit card offers so they don't apply for more credit and fall further into debt.
A request to stop credit card offers will reduce the information you receive regarding available credit card products. Consequently, when the time comes to choose a credit card, you may have to seek out information on your own regarding the best interest rates and terms, which is usually the best idea anyway.
