STOP JUNK MAIL
STOP JUNK MAIL – To stop junk mail, you can reduce the number of unsolicited credit and insurance offers that you receive via the mail.
If you decide that you don’t want to receive pre screened offers of credit and insurance, you have two choices:
You can opt out of receiving them for five years or opt out of receiving them permanently.
To opt out for five years:
Call toll-free 1-888-5-OPT-OUT (1-888-567-8688) or visit www.optoutprescreen.com
The phone number and website are operated by the major consumer reporting companies.
To opt out permanently:
You may begin the permanent Opt-Out process online at www.optoutprescreen.com
To complete your request, you must return the signed Permanent Opt-Out Election form, which will be provided after you initiate your online request.
When you call or visit the website, you’ll be asked to provide certain personal information, including your home telephone number, name, Social Security number, and date of birth. The information you provide is confidential and will be used only to process your request to opt out.
If you don’t have access to the Internet, you may send a written request to permanently opt out to each of the major consumer reporting companies. Make sure your request includes your home telephone number, name, Social Security number, and date of birth.
Why would someone opt out or not?
Some people prefer not to receive these kinds of offers in the mail, especially if they are not in the market for a new credit card or insurance policy. They may prefer to opt out to limit access to their credit report information for credit and insurance solicitations, or to reduce some mailbox “clutter.”
Note that some companies send offers that are not based on pre screening, and your federal opt-out right will not stop those kinds of solicitations.
As you consider opting out, you should know that pre screened offers can provide many benefits, especially if you are in the market for a credit card or insurance. Pre screened offers can help you learn about what’s available, compare costs, and find the best product for your needs. Because you are pre selected to receive the offer, you can be turned down only under limited circumstances. The terms of pre screened offers also may be more favorable than those that are available to the general public. In fact, some credit card or insurance products may be available only through pre screened offers.
Consumers can register at the Direct Marketing Association’s (DMA) consumer website
www.DMAchoice.org for a processing fee of $2 for a period of ten years.
Registering online is a fast way to see results.
DMAchoice offers consumers a simple, step-by-step process that enables them to decide what mail they do and do not want.
In addition, DMAchoice online offers registration for DMA’s eMail Preference Service (reduce your unsolicited commercial email)
If you do not wish to complete your registration online, you can register for DMAchoice by using the mail-in form that is online:
fill out the DMAChoice Mail In Form with all required information, print it and mail to the address below.
Also, you can register by sending your name and address (with signature),
along with a $3 processing fee (check or money order payable to DMA) to:
DMAChoice
DMA
PO Box 900
Cos Cob, CT 06807
Right on the DMA website, the application states “Processing of your opt-out request requires that we share the information you have entered with client organizations for the sole purposes of removing matching data from unsolicited marketing lists. It is not intended to be used for any other purpose.”
In addition, DMAchoice online offers registration for these services:
· eMail Preference Service (reduce your unsolicited commercial email);
· Telephone Preference Service (to reduce national commercial calls for consumers who live in Pennsylvania and Wyoming – consumers in other states are referred to the National Do Not Call Registry: www.donotcall.gov);
· Deceased Do Not Contact list (for name removal of deceased individuals’ names); and
· Do Not Contact list for Caregivers (for caregivers to register name removal on behalf of those individuals for whom they care)
The mailing addresses of the credit bureaus / Stop Junk Mail
Experian
Opt Out
P.O. Box 919
Allen, TX 75013
TransUnion
Name Removal Option
P.O. Box 505
Woodlyn, PA 19094
Equifax, Inc.
Options
P.O. Box 740123
Atlanta, GA 30374-0123
Innovis Consumer Assistance
P.O. Box 495
Pittsburgh, PA 15230-0495
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