How Well Does Opt Out Prescreen Work?

Prescreened offers are unsolicited mailings for credit cards or insurance policies that arrive in your mailbox. These offers are based on information credit bureaus have about consumers. There is a method available to stop receiving these specific types of solicitations.

Understanding Prescreened Offers

Individuals often receive prescreened offers because major credit bureaus, such as Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion, provide consumer information to lenders and insurers. This practice is allowed under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). The FCRA permits these companies to access certain consumer report information for “permissible purposes,” which includes making firm offers of credit or insurance.

Lenders and insurers use specific criteria, like credit score ranges or public record information, to identify potential customers. They then request lists of consumers who meet these criteria from the credit bureaus. This allows them to target their marketing efforts to individuals who are more likely to qualify for their products.

The Opt-Out Process

You can stop receiving prescreened offers by visiting the official website, OptOutPrescreen.com, or by calling 1-888-567-8688. When initiating the opt-out, you will generally be presented with two main options for managing these solicitations.

One option is a five-year opt-out, which can be completed online or over the phone. The other option is a permanent opt-out, which initially requires an online or phone request, followed by mailing a signed Permanent Opt-Out Form. This additional step helps verify your identity for a lasting removal from mailing lists.

To complete the request, you will need to provide personal information for identity verification. This information includes your name, current and previous addresses, date of birth, and Social Security number. Providing accurate details ensures that your request is processed correctly across all participating credit bureaus. After submitting your information, the process begins to remove your name from future prescreened offer lists.

What to Expect After Opting Out

After initiating an opt-out request, it takes some time for the prescreened offers to cease completely. Due to existing mailing lists and processing cycles, you may continue to receive offers for a few weeks, or potentially up to two months.

This opt-out service specifically targets prescreened offers for credit and insurance based on credit bureau data. It will not stop all types of unsolicited mail. For example, you may still receive marketing materials from companies with whom you already have an existing business relationship, such as your current bank or insurance provider.

General marketing mail from businesses that do not use credit bureau information for prescreening will also continue to arrive. This service does not block mail from charitable organizations or political campaigns. The opt-out focuses solely on solicitations that fall under the FCRA’s permissible purpose for firm offers of credit and insurance.