Reduce Unwanted Offers
With so many demands for our attention, it can be tough to cut through the noise and clutter. To help, there are a number of steps you can take to help reduce the amount of unsolicited offers you receive in the mail, in your inbox, and on the phone.
Companies are able to purchase lists from the major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, Innovis, or Transunion) that identify people in the credit bureaus’ reporting databases whose credit profiles match their credit eligibility requirements. They may also give the credit bureaus lists of potential customers and request the agencies identify the individuals that meet their requirements.
If you are included in these lists, you may receive offers for credit cards or loans that state you are prescreened or prequalified. You receive these offers because of information in your credit report.
If you have recently applied for a loan with us, our inquiry to obtain your credit report could trigger additional prescreened offers from other companies. To stop these unsolicited offers, follow the steps below to opt out.
You Can Opt Out of Prescreened Offers of Credit
If you decide that you do not want to receive prescreened offers of credit in the mail, you may opt out of these offers by selecting from the following two choices:
- Opt out for five (5) years
- Opt out permanently
To select one of these options, visit or call
- optoutprescreen.com
- 1-888-5-OPT-OUT (1-888-567-8688)
To learn more about opting out of prescreened offers and other unwanted calls, mailers and more, visit the Federal Trade Commission’s website at consumer.ftc.gov/articles/prescreened-credit-insurance-offers.
Please note: The major credit bureaus operate optoutprescreen.com and 1-888-5-OPT-OUT (1-888-567-8688). When you call or visit this website, you will be asked to provide your personal information, including your name, address, Social Security number, and date of birth. The information you give is confidential and will be used only to process your request to opt out.
Prescreened inquiries do not hurt your credit report or credit score, and if you change your mind, you can use this same number and website to opt back in at any time.
Register with the National Do Not Call Registry
The National Do Not Call Registry lets you limit the amount of telemarketing calls you receive. Stop unwanted sales calls by registering your phone number:
- Online: Visit DoNotCall.gov
- By phone: Call 1-888-382-1222 or TTY: 1-866-290-4236
If you register online, you'll receive an email to complete your request. You must click on the link in that email within 72 hours in order for your registration to take effect. Visit DoNotCall.gov or call 1-888-382-1222 to verify the status of, or unsubscribe, your phone number on the registry.
Placing your phone numbers (landlines and/or cell phone numbers) on this national registry will stop telemarketing sales calls. But you might still receive calls from scammers and robocallers. Some telemarketing calls are still permitted. You may still receive phone calls from:
- Political organizations
- Charities
- Telephone surveyors
- Debt Collectors
- Some companies and organizations with which you have a relationship
File a Complaint About Unwanted Calls
You may file a complaint if your phone number has been on the national registry for 31 days. File a complaint online or at 1-888-382-1222. Include the date of the illegal call, phone number, and the company's name in your complaint. You can also file a complaint about recorded messages or robocalls.
To decide what types of mail you do and don’t want from marketers, register at the Direct Marketing Association’s (DMA) consumer website DMAchoice.org, and choose what catalogs, magazine offers, and other mail you want to get. DMAchoice will stop most, but not all, promotional mail. You’ll have to pay a $4 processing fee, and your registration will last for 10 years.
If you do not have online access, register by sending your name and address (with signature), along with a $5 processing fee (check or money order payable to the Association of National Advertisers or ANA) to:
DMAchoice
Consumer Preferences
P.O. Box 900
Cos Cob, CT 06807
The site also offers the no-cost option to stop mail from being sent to someone who’s deceased (Deceased Do Not Contact List) or to a dependent in your care (Do Not Contact for Caretakers List). Registration for the Caretakers List will last for 10 years.
DMAchoice.org also has an Email Preference Service that lets you get less unsolicited commercial email. Registration is free and will last for six years. To learn more about what options you have for dealing with unwanted email, read this article on email spam.
For more information about DMAchoice, visit https://www.dmachoice.org/static/faq2.php.