If your mailbox fills up with “You’re pre-approved!” credit card envelopes, there’s a free, official way to turn most of them off. It takes about five minutes, and you can choose to stop the offers for five years or for good.
What Prescreened Offers Are
A prescreened offer is a credit or insurance offer mailed to you because your credit report matches criteria a company set. The company asks a credit bureau — Equifax, Experian, TransUnion or Innovis — for a list of people who qualify, and you end up on it. According to the Federal Trade Commission, prescreening doesn’t hurt your credit score; the inquiries show up on your report but don’t count against you.
Still, those envelopes carry personal details, and a stolen one can help a fraudster. If you aren’t shopping for a new card or policy, there’s little reason to keep getting them.
How to Opt Out for Five Years
- Go to optoutprescreen.com, the official site run by the major credit bureaus, or call 1-888-5-OPT-OUT (1-888-567-8688).
- Choose the option to opt out for five years.
- Enter your name, address, Social Security number and date of birth. The FTC says the bureaus may use this information only to process your request.
- Submit the request and keep the confirmation for your records.
Because you’re typing your Social Security number, make sure you’re on the real site: type the address yourself rather than clicking a link in an email or text.
How to Opt Out Permanently
Start the same way, online or by phone, and choose the permanent option. You’ll then need to print, sign and mail the Permanent Opt-Out Election form the site provides. The opt-out isn’t permanent until that form arrives.
What to Expect Afterward
- Timing: Requests are processed within five days, but the FTC notes offers can keep arriving for several weeks from companies that already had your name.
- What it won’t stop: Mail from companies you already do business with, local merchants, charities, alumni groups, and anything addressed to “Resident” or “Occupant.” Contact those senders directly.
- Changed your mind? You can opt back in at the same website or phone number.
Two More Ways to Cut Junk Contact
- DMAchoice.org, run by the Association of National Advertisers, lets you choose which catalogs and promotional mail you get. The FTC says it costs $6 and lasts 10 years.
- DoNotCall.gov (1-888-382-1222) is free and covers home and cell numbers. Sales calls can take up to 31 days to stop.
When to Keep the Offers
If you’re actively shopping for credit or insurance, prescreened offers can help you compare terms, and some deals are only available this way. You can always opt out later, once you’ve found what you need.
For stronger protection against someone opening accounts in your name, an opt-out isn’t a substitute for a credit freeze. The two work well together.
More on Contoh
- How to Freeze Your Credit (and Unfreeze It When You Need To)
- How to Check Your Credit Reports for Free (Every Week)
- What to Do If Your Identity Is Stolen: A Step-by-Step Recovery Guide