How to stop getting mass mailed "pre-approved" credit offers

[Matt Flynn]

We were getting 3-5 of these a day. Very annoying because a lot of them look like real mail. There is a national program that allows you to opt out for 5 years or permanently if you wish. It takes a few months to come into effect because the mass mailing firms only check the lists every few months.

The process takes a minute. You will need your birthdate and social security number.

www.optoutprescreen.com

Matt


Ok, there were some valid questions about authenticity. No way to know for sure. However, transunion.com, one of the big four credit sites, has a link to www.optoutprescreen.com with an explanation. To get to it that way go to www.transunion.com, follow the link for "Dispute" on the right side and click on "Opt Out" on the left column.

Also, fwiw the site has a valid Verisign seal.


P.S. Please bump this for a couple of days so everyone can see it.

[touchfaith]

If it came with a pre-paid postage envelope, cut the app into little pieces and mail it back to them on their dime.

[kipin]

This isn't a scam?

[swede123]

This webpage looks way way shady for an official opt-out form. Look at the URL at the top for example, it looks nearly as bad as the emails from the Nigerians. No way am I giving out my information including SSN to something like that.

Swede

[Matt Flynn]

Well no way to know for sure. However, transunion.com, one of the big four credit sites, has a link to www.optoutprescreen.com with an explanation. To get to it that way go to www.transunion.com, follow the link for "Dispute" on the right side and click on "Opt Out" on the left column.

Also, fwiw the site has a valid Verisign seal.

Matt

[gumpzilla]

Furthermore, if you dial 1-888-5-OPTOUT - the phone number for opting out of the four major credit bureaus preapproved offers - you get told that that website will work as well. So I'm pretty sure that it's legit.

[swede123]

Cool. If it is legit it's definitely worth filling out. I also hate all that spam. Still, the webmaster needs to be smacked around a bit.

Swede

[kipin]

[ QUOTE ]
Cool. If it is legit it's definitely worth filling out. I also hate all that spam. Still, the webmaster needs to be smacked around a bit.

Swede

[/ QUOTE ]

Agreed 100%. After Matt gave some background on it I signed up.

FWIW I did a whois on the domain, and the person who registered it regged it anonymously, which makes it seem even more shady.

[felson]

This isn't a scam. Paul Phillips linked to this site back in January and I used it then.

http://extempore.livejournal.com/69717.html

[ChipWrecked]

Getting your credit rating trashed helps too. That's what happened to some guy I know. They don't send him any offers now.