Credit card companies buy your information from credit bureaus and use it to send pre-approved offers. Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, you have the right to opt out entirely — free of charge.[8] One registration at OptOutPrescreen.com cuts off all of them at once.
The One Tool You Need
OptOutPrescreen.com
Run jointly by Equifax, Experian, TransUnion, and Innovis.[8] Opting out removes you from the pre-screened lists sold to credit card companies, insurers, and lenders — all with one registration.
5-Year vs. Permanent Opt-Out
- 5-Year: Done entirely online in under 2 minutes. Requires name, address, date of birth. Renewable.
- Permanent: Start online, then sign and mail a paper form. Best if you're committing long-term.
- Both are free. SSN field is optional — only used to improve identity matching.
- Takes 30–60 days to fully take effect across all bureaus.
Watch the default: OptOutPrescreen defaults to opting in to more offers when you load the page. Select "Electronic Opt-Out for 5 Years" deliberately — do not click through on the pre-selected option.[8]
The Identity Theft Angle
Pre-screened credit card offers are a primary tool in mail-based identity theft. A thief who intercepts your mail can use a "pre-approved" offer to open a card in your name via a change-of-address redirect. Opting out eliminates this attack vector entirely.
- Pre-screened offers include your name, address, and credit tier — enough to enable fraud
- Mail theft and subsequent identity fraud affects millions of Americans annually
- Opting out permanently removes this vulnerability
- For extra protection, place a credit freeze at all three bureaus — free under federal law [10]
What This Won't Stop
OptOutPrescreen covers pre-screened offers from lenders and insurers using credit bureau data. It won't stop mail from companies you already have a relationship with — your current bank, a card you hold — because they retain the right to market to existing customers. For those, contact each company directly and request removal from their marketing list.
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