Pre-Approved Credit Card Offers: How to stop getting them

[scfr]

Yesterday on the Today show, Jean Chatzky was on talking about how identity thieves have been dumpster diving to get the pre-approved credit card offers that companies mail out to people, unsolicited.

People usually just rip them up and toss them out. A reporter ran a test where they ripped up the applications, then taped them back together and mailed them to the credit card companies. Amazingly, many companies (including BofA) actually issued the credit cards, and some even accepted "change of address" information on these messy ripped-and-re-pasted things!

This is what Jean recommended:
1. SHRED: Don't just rip up the applications. Shred them.
2. OPT OUT: You can call 1-888-5-OPT-OUT and register your information. Then, by law the companies have to stop sending you the pre-approved credit apps.

[poundwise]

Or online at: https://www.optoutprescreen.com

It should be noted that whether you call or opt-out online, the period is five years. If you want to permanently opt-out, you must "confirm" your request in writing by submitting a signed "Permanent Opt-Out Election" form.

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by scfr

This is what Jean recommended:
1. SHRED: Don't just rip up the applications. Shred them.
2. OPT OUT: You can call 1-888-5-OPT-OUT and register your information. Then, by law the companies have to stop sending you the pre-approved credit apps.

Absolutely agree. If you don't have a good cross-cut shredder, buy one today. Not a strip shredder. Must be cross-cut.

And opt out too. But keep in mind that will slow but won't stop the flood of offers. Companies that you have ever done business with can continue to send solicitations. This includes banks, brokerages, investment companies, organziations and societies you belong to, etc. You can also get offers from companies you already have a CC from if they have other offers. Even though we've opted out, we still get 2-3 CC offers every day. That's why you need that shredder.

[vishenda]

thanks good information you have here scfr

[tener]

i used to worry about that, the best way to deal with it is getting a shredder

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

Think I mentioned elsewhere that I sometimes just rip up and compost some of these things. I don't think anyone will be raiding my compost bin for financial stuff.

Also I will cut out portions of the necessary info--name, address, any numbers that look like any sort of tracking. I might cut that into smaller pieces and drop into different trash cans that will get taken out on different days. This makes me feel paranoid. Then I can recycle or compost the very largest protion of the papers.

In reality, I hardly ever get CC advertisements. I think that's due to my zip code.

[aurielle]

Yep I shred those puppies. I get alot of convenience checks too. Those get shredded immediately. I opted out a few weeks ago and that seems to have slowed the amount of CC offers I get which is good.

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by aurielle

I get alot of convenience checks too.

You can call your CC company and tell them to stop sending you convenience checks. I did that a few years ago and it totally eliminated them. There is no central opt-out number, though. You have to call each card company individually.

[instantinfo4you]

I recieve a flurry of pre approved cc offers on any given day. Until this time I have always just put them in a pile on my desk. One day I decided to shred these offers and it took me over 4 Hours. All from a couple of months worth of offers. They send SO many. Once you sign up for one, they just don't stop. It's absolutely ridiculous, even if I have a card, the same company wants to give me another one. I receive like 5 offers from chase in a week. Every week. This is probably the #1 reason for americans growing debt. It has to STOP, but as long as it keeps working it will not. It is up to us.

[autofx]

thanks i get alot of those letters on other. i just did opt-out online, the period is five years.