How To Opt Out of Prescreened Offers

Prescreened offers are unsolicited communications, such as credit card or insurance advertisements. Many individuals seek to stop these offers to reduce unwanted mail, address privacy concerns, and minimize potential risks associated with identity theft.

Understanding Prescreened Offers

Prescreened offers are permitted by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), which allows consumer reporting agencies (e.g., Equifax, Experian, TransUnion, Innovis) to provide consumer information to lenders and insurers. These companies use specific criteria, such as creditworthiness, to identify potential customers for firm offers of credit or insurance. This process allows businesses to target consumers likely to qualify for their products without requiring an individual application.

These offers are based on pre-established criteria set by the creditor or insurer, not on a direct inquiry for an application you initiated. The inquiries made for prescreening purposes are considered “soft inquiries” and do not negatively affect your credit score. Receiving a prescreened offer does not obligate you to accept it, nor does it impact your credit standing.

Methods for Opting Out

The primary method for stopping prescreened offers is through the official Opt-Out Prescreen service, maintained by the major consumer credit reporting agencies. You can initiate this process online by visiting optoutprescreen.com or by calling their toll-free number, 1-888-5-OPT-OUT (1-888-567-8688).

The website guides you through submitting your request. The process requires you to provide personal information including your full name, current address, Social Security number, and date of birth. This information is used solely to process your opt-out request and is kept confidential. The service offers two choices: a five-year opt-out, completed electronically, or a permanent opt-out. For a permanent opt-out, you must start the process online or by phone, then print, sign, and mail a Permanent Opt-Out Election form to complete the request.

Direct Mail Marketing

For general direct mail marketing, registering with DMAchoice (dmachoice.org) can help. This service, provided by the Association of National Advertisers (ANA), allows you to manage your mail preferences for a fee of $6 for online registration or $7 for mail-in requests, covering a 10-year period.

Telemarketing Calls

For telemarketing calls, the National Do Not Call Registry is a free service provided by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). You can register your phone number at donotcall.gov or by calling 1-888-382-1222 from the phone you wish to register. This registry primarily stops sales calls, though certain organizations such as charities or political groups may still be permitted to call.

Managing Your Opt-Out Status

After initiating an opt-out request for prescreened offers, the process is completed within five business days. Offers may continue arriving for several weeks, or up to two months. This delay occurs because marketing lists may have already been generated and mailings prepared before your opt-out request was fully processed.

If you wish to resume receiving prescreened offers, you can re-opt-in using the same Opt-Out Prescreen website or phone number. If offers continue long after the expected cessation period, remember that the Opt-Out Prescreen service only covers solicitations based on lists from the major credit bureaus. Other types of mail, such as those from local businesses, charities, or organizations with which you already have a relationship, are not covered and require direct contact with those entities to stop. For persistent issues with telemarketing calls, especially if you are on the Do Not Call Registry, you can file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) or the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).