HOW TO GET RID OF PESKY PRE-APPROVED OFFERS

  

Congratulations!

You're the lucky recipient of another unsolicited pre-approved offer in the mail.  

Along with being bothersome, there's also the potential of identity theft invading more than your mailbox through this type of mail.

Companies use pre-approved or pre-qualified offers to solicit new credit card accounts, insurance policies or advertise similar products and services. Recipients are identified through information based on individual credit reports. Usually, these pre-screened offers come through the mail, but they can also arrive in an email or a phone call.

Here's how you can stop junk mail clutter, according to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission:

• You can opt out of receiving pre-approved credit materials for five years or stop receiving them permanently by contacting the credit bureaus. Call toll-free 1-888-5-OPTOUT (1-888-567-8688) or visit OptOutPrescreen.com.
• The phone number and website are operated by the major consumer reporting companies. You will be asked to provide specific personal information, including name, home telephone number, Social Security Number and birth date. The information will be kept confidential.
• If you have a joint credit account, like a mortgage or car loan, your partner, spouse or co-signer will have to opt out also.
• Requests to opt out are processed within five days, but it may take up to 60 days before you stop receiving pre-screened offers. If you change your mind and would like to receive pre-screened solicitations, you can use the same phone number or website to change your preferences.

Another option to stop direct mail from many national companies for five years is the Mail Preference Service maintained by The Direct Marketing Association (DMA). The DMA is a trade association for businesses in direct, database, and interactive global marketing.

After you register with this service, your name will be put on a "delete" file and made available to direct mail marketers. Additional information is available online at www.the-dma.org/consumers/offmailinglist.html.