Is there a way to stop credit card junk mail

[terry1156]

I'm getting sick and tired of getting these credit card offers in the mail. Is there any good way to stop them from coming?

[Tree0164]

Terry I am tired of it too. I get very concerned with identify theft too. A couple of years ago I got an actual credit card in the mail that I never applied for. They send a physical card and all I would need to is activate it by a phone call. I didn't like that at all and gave the bank my piece of mind. I called up the attorney general in Mass and they did tell them it was legal to send out unsolicated credit cards out in the mail.

[jseffer]

I get them all the time too. I wonder how much money the credit card companies spend each year just on postage...

[2moretrees]

I don't know if it stops the credit card companies, but I will tell you what I do. I take the return envelope that the credit card application is supposed to go in and in big letters write

All you do by sending me these applications is waste your money. I will send this note back in every application you send me!

since the return envelopes are prepaid by the credit card company, they have to pay the return postage. Maybe if everyone would do this instead of just throwing the junk mail in the trash, the credit card companies would stop sending out so much mail as it wouldn't be cost effective. At the very least, it gives me a little satisfaction

[Tree0164]

It is such a waste of trees and resources. They would have to spend millions in mailing and paper.

[terry1156]

Thank you for your comments. 2moretrees, I like you idea. I'm not sure it will do any good, but it will make me feel better knowing it cost them money to send the junk mail to me. it would be great if everyone here started doing it. We could get a movement going and force them to stop sending us junk mail.

[2moretrees]

I'm all for getting a movement going. The junk mail makes me crazy. I would love to see everyone do it and make the companies think a bit before they send out their next mailing.

[chocoholic1976]

All,
I just went through this process. All you have to do is call this 1-800 number for each credit agency (Experian, Equifax, Transunion) and tell them you want to "Opt Out". They are automated systems. You then get a form in the mail that you have to fill out and send back. It's very easy to do and it will save trees and your sanity! Here is the number:
You can remove your name from prescreened credit or insurance offer mailing lists from Experian, INNOVIS, TransUnion and Equifax by calling 888 5OPT OUT (888 567 8688).
** Taken from artofcredit.com

[jhd815]

You can elect to “opt-out” of receiving mail from direct marketers
and unsolicited phone calls from telemarketers by contacting the two
services listed below.

Contact them by letter and give them your full name, your complete
home address, your telephone number and your signature. Inform them
that you want to register for their “opt-out” Preference program.
This registration will stop mailings and telephone calls from many
national companies for a period of five years. However, it will not stop
calls or mailings if the company is not registered with the Direct Marketing
Association (DMA).

Step #1 - “opt-out” from receiving direct mail marketing by contacting:
Direct Marketing Association
Mail Preference Service
P.O. Box 643
Carmel, NY 10512

Step #2 - “opt-out” from receiving telemarketing calls by contacting:
Direct Marketing Association
Telephone Preference Service
P.O. Box 1559
Carmel, NY 10512

It will take about 90 days to honor your request if you contact them
by mail. The DMA circulates their “opt-out” list quarterly to their
members, so you may not see a significant change for three to six
months.

If you want a faster way to “opt-out” of their lists, then consider
going online and registering for this service. You will need a credit card
since they will charge you $5.00 to register online. Contact the DMA
online at www.dmaconsumers.org. There is no charge to register by mail
however.

I've been returning the credit card offers in the prepaid envelopes for a few years now. I'd say it works 40% of the time - you won't hear back from that company again. The problem is there are only a few of the major corporations, and they continue to hound me.
I write on their letter, something like TAKE ME OFF YOUR MAILING LIST and then initial it.

[PrincessPerky]

I finally did the mail thing. I got a letter from two of the companies stating that they did remove me. I also started keeping track of who I ask to not call me, so far I havn't seen improvement but like jhd said it takes a few months.I have noticed that when you ask for a name of the person you are talking to they seeem much more serious and less in a hurry to get off the phone, they might actually be putting my number on the 'do not call list'. Or not.
Now all I have to do is get the cards I do have to stop ending those checks out!