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Opting
Out having pre-approved credit offers
The
consumer credit reporting companies (Equifax, Experian, Innovis, and TransUnion)
offer a toll-free number that enables you to opt-out of having pre-approved
credit offers sent to you for five years. Call 1-888-5-OPTOUT (567-8688) or visit www.optoutprescreen.com for more information. When you call, youll be asked for personal information,
including your name, address, telephone number, and your SSN. The information
you provide is confidential and will be used only to process your request to opt-out
of receiving pre-screened offers of credit.
Receiving
a lot of unwanted junk-mail (paper and electronic) and pre-approved credit
offers can be another way of making you more vulnerable to identity theft. If
you want to halt the unnecessary mail, send opt-out letters to businesses
you have a relationship with (such as your financial institutions, mortgage company,
telephone company, charities, credit card companies, etc.) restricting them from
selling, renting, distributing, or exchanging your personal information.
The
Direct Marketing Associations (DMA) Mail Preference and Email Preference
Services lets you opt-out of receiving unsolicited commercial mail from many national
companies. The DMA sorts mail preferences based on four subjects: credit offers,
catalogs, magazine offers, and other mail. For each of these categories, you can
choose whether or not you want to receive mail from companies one at a time, or
if you prefer, you can choose to stop receiving mail for all companies you havent
purchased from or donated to within an entire category. Any choices you make will
be effective for three years from the date you make them. Keep in mind that your
registration will not stop mailings from organizations that do not use the DMAs
Mail Preference Service. To register with DMAs Mail Preference Service visit www.dmachoice.org. |
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