Credit Card Opt-out Program
A trip to your mailbox seems simple enough, you walk outside, open the mailbox lid, and pull out your mail, case solved, your mail has been found. Of course there is the entire issue of identity theft, and the hours you could spend fighting to have your credit restored. I 00004000 know, a drastic cliffhanger is not why you're reading this article, but the truth is the case above happens on a daily basis to individuals all over the country. The culprit? "Pre-approved" credit card offers from Visa, Mastercard, Discover and even American Express.
While it is true that the real hard copy plastic credit cards are no longer sent to recipients, the simple acknowledgement can be enough for an identity theif to search out information on you and your loved ones. Sometimes "dumpster diving" that is the act of going through your trash. Sometimes it occurs through email scams when they search you out on the internet and have some of your information, such as the pre-approval credit card name on hand. Either way they have an in, and they will use it to their advantage.
Luckily, there is a way for you to assure that safety to your identity is at least slightly more secure. According to http://www.creditcardappfinder.com the answer is the credit card Opt-out program, a program often described as the "do-not-call" list of the credit card industry, actually it should be the "do-not call, do not-mail, in fact just don't" list. But I digress
Credit Card Opt-out Program
The program is simple to join, simply go to www.optoutprescreen.com and fill out the quick 60 second form. You have the option of choosing to opt-out for good, or for 5 years, which seems like a good options for those of us who are compulsive shoppers and won't need a new pair of shoes for more than a few years. After opting out all mailings will stop, and telemarketing calls not only from credit card issuers, but also from credit card merchants as well. And you can Opt-in to the mailings anytime by simply visiting the site again and opt-ing back in.
It isn't the solve all to credit card issues, but its a nice easy to follow step, and it can't hurt. After all credit protection in this day and age is increasingly hard to follow, and even a little help couldn't hurt, so unless you simply wait for your new instant approval, cash back, rewards card to arrive in the mail, I say, Opt-Out for the peace of mind and the added security it will bring
Good Luck
Credit Card Opt-out Program
Opt-ing out,
James Johnson
e-mail for opting out of pre-applications for credit cards?
I don’t want credit card companies to be checking my credit for the purpose of offering me a credit card, I receive way too many. I want to opt out of it and I understand there is a e-mail you can enter to do that. What is is?
What I would suggest you do is stop throwing those pre approved apps in the mail and start opening them. There are phone numbers and addresses on those things.. that you can contact and opt out of those mailings. Of course, each company has different contact info. So call or write to each one individually.
Does opting out of prescreened credit card offers effect immediate store credit such as a Sears card?
I’m talking about the Sears credit card offers they make at the register. They denied me due to unfavorable credit history– which I don’t have, and recent credit applications– which I haven’t made. I checked my Equifax report and everything is normal– the only reason I can think of is the opt-out but I can’t confirm it.
No. I’ve been enrolled in the opt-out for about three years and have never ran into this problem. Since you know you have good credit, ask them for a copy of the credit report (you are entitled to by law after denial). Odds are some info was input wrong either on your report or on the Sear’s request for it. This way you see what they see… The opt-out program just limits you to only receive offers from companies that you already hold an account with; it has no effect on your credit score but it does limit the number of inquiries which helps your score in the long-haul. Keep in mind that Sears may have pulled your report from Transunion or Experian, without checking the Equifax report.
How do I opt out of credit card applications, there is a phone number?
There is a phone number just like the one to opt out of telemarketing calls. I am moving and do not want these applications around when mail forwarding stops