Even if you are tired of all the credit card and insurance offers in your mailbox, you should know there is a more important reason to put a stop to all the junk mail: identity theft. The more credit card offers you have in your mailbox, the more likely you are to become a victim of a “flagger” – someone who steals mail from mailboxes and submits credit card offers in your name with a fraudulent address.
Either way, you will be glad to know there is an easy way to put a halt to most credit card offers in a matter of days. Here’s how:
The easiest way is to access the online portal at OptOutPreScreen.com. Here, after entering your name, address, social security number and date of birth, you will have the option to opt out of promotional credit card offers for five years. If you have already opted out and really miss all that junk mail in your mailbox, you may also opt back in at this same site.
If you prefer to opt out by phone, you may call 888-567-8688. Again, you may opt out for five years, but not permanently.
If you would like to opt out permanently, you must go to OptOutPreScreen.com, select the “Opt Out Permanently” option, fill out your information on the form, then print, sign, date and mail it to:
Opt-Out Department
ATTN: Permanent Opt-Out Election Form
PO Box 530200
Atlanta Georgia 30353
Hand written requests may be delayed or even rejected.
Another protection for your credit is known as a security freeze and, since 2018, is free to place on your credit report. Find out why this is so helpful and how to do it in our next segment.
