How to prevent the credit bureaus from selling your name to mailing lists
Isn't it annoying to get all that junk mail from companies trying to get you to apply for their credit cards? This is a typical letter from our readers:
I keep getting pre-approved credit card offers in the mail (several a
week), and this makes me very uncomfortable. Many of them are from out
of state banks or companies I have never heard of. I have been told
there is a way to keep these companies from sending me these offers or
inquiring about my credit, but no one has been able to tell me how I
should go about this. Is there an address or phone number I can contact
to take care of this?
Not only does it kill baby trees, fill up your trash bin and tempt you unnecessarily, you run the real risk of having someone steal your discarded mail and apply for the card for you, essentially hijacking your identity. This is not a pleasant experience. Check out this letter as an example.
Call this one number to opt out of all three bureaus:
Opt Out
888-567-8688 or
800-353-0809
One call to the Opt Out Request Line is all it takes to remove your name from any marketing lists that the four credit reporting agencies supply to direct marketers. You do not need to call each one. You will be given the choice to "opt out" for a two-year period, renewing your request at any time in the future, or to "opt out" permanently.
To get rid of most other junk mail, write a letter giving your complete name, name variations and mailing address to:
Mail Preference Service
Direct Marketing Association
P.O. Box 9014
Farmingdale, NY 11735
Other sources:
http://www.dmaconsumers.org/cgi/offtelephonedave
http://www.dmaconsumers.org/cgi/offmailinglistdave
http://www.dmaconsumers.org/optoutform_emps.shtml
To remove your name from many telephone solicitation lists, send your complete name, address and phone number with area
code to:
Telephone Preference Service
Direct Marketing Association
P.O. Box 9014
Farmingdale, NY 11735
Once you write, you'll remain on the Direct Mailing Association opt-out list for five years. It may take up to three months before you notice a significant reduction in the amount of direct mail and phone calls you receive.
To be removed from the mailing lists of the major data compilers, call or write to these firms. (Note: These companies also subscribe to the DMA's Mail Preference Service.):
R. L. Polk & Co.
List Compilation
26955 Northwestern Highway
Southfield, MI 48034
810-728-7000
First Data Info-Source Donnelley Marketing, Inc.
Data Base Operations
1235 "N" Avenue
Nevada, IA 50201
888-633-4402 or 515-382-8321
Metromail Corp.
List Maintenance
901 West Bond
Lincoln, NE 68521
800-426-8901
Database America
Compilation Dept.
100 Paragon Dr.
Montvale, NJ 07645
201-476-2000 or 800-223-7777
To reduce or stop receiving coupons, ads and/or product samples in your mail, you will need to contact the companies distributing these materials to your residence. You can write or call these companies and request that your name and address be removed from their company's mailing lists. One such company mailing these materials is:
Advo Incorporated
Delivery Services
1001 West Walnut Street
Compton, CA 90220-5191
Tel. No.: (310) 637-0438
Online resources:
- The web site of Junkbusters offers a number of free
services to help you get rid of unwanted snail-mail and e-mail.
- Outpost Network is another online service that
helps you cut down on junk mail (fee charged).
- Read the Computer Professionals
for Social Responsibility online guide on reducing junk mail.
- Other online resources are:
Take Your Name Off Call Lists
While you are doing away with those mountains of junk mail, why not stop those disruptive sales calls, too? Although it does not protect your credit rating in any way (unless you are susceptible to saying "yes" to whatever the salesperson du jour is selling), adding your phone number to the Do Not Call list will protect your privacy and prevent unwanted interruptions at home.
Thanks to recent legislation, you can now register your home and mobile phone numbers with the National Do Not Call Registry and stop most unsolicited sales calls. (It won't stop calls from companies you do business with, charities, political organizations, or telephone surveyors.) It takes three months from the date you register to take effect and will remain in effect for five years.
To register online:
- Go to donotcall.gov. Submit your phone number(s) and email address for registration.
- You will receive email verification from Register@donotcall.gov. To complete your registration, open the email and click on the link provided within 72 hours. Your registration is not complete until you do this.
- After you click on the link, print the web page and keep it for your records. You will need it in order to file a complaint in the future.
You can also register by calling toll-free at 1-888-382-1222, but you must call from the phone you want registered.
Now you will have a legitimate place to complain if a telemarketer calls just as you are getting ready to relax in the hot tub with that gorgeous guy. You'll need to provide the date of the call and either the name or telephone number of the company that called you. To register a complaint, visit www.donotcall.gov.
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Document last modified Monday, 17-May-2004 17:59:47 EDT
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