Many credit and insurance companies use credit reporting data to identify potential customers who appear eligible for new accounts. These prescreened offers, sometimes called firm offers, are based on credit report information supplied by nationwide credit reporting companies. When you use opt out prescreen, you tell those companies to stop using your credit file for marketing lists, which immediately reduces credit offers arriving at your mailbox. Credit.org explains the basics in its guide on how to opt out of credit card offers.
Credit bureaus such as Equifax and Experian maintain files used by credit card companies, insurers, and any other kind of credit company. Lists supplied to marketers are created during a prescreening process that does not affect your account or credit score. While this system helps issuers reach consumers who qualify, it also leads to unsolicited offers of credit that many consumers would rather avoid.
The most direct way to stop prescreened offers is to submit an opt out request through the official OptOutPrescreen site, which is used by the credit bureaus for this purpose. You can request online or by phone, and the service is free. You may choose a five years option or decide to permanently opt. A permanent opt out election requires you to print, sign, and submit an opt out election form by postal mail, including your full name, address, date of birth, and social security number.
If you prefer not to opt out via the internet, visit the website above to get the current address to send your written request, or call them directly at 1-888-567-8688.
After you complete your request, the credit bureaus have five business days to process it. Marketing mail already in transit may still arrive, but future prescreened offers should taper off. The Federal Trade Commission also notes that reducing mail is a process, and some companies need time to fully update their lists, which is covered in its guide on how to stop junk mail.
The Direct Marketing Association offers a Mail Preference Service that reduces promotional mail from participating businesses. Registering through the DMA website can help reduce catalogs, insurance mailings, and other types of commercial offers sent to the general public. This option targets business mailing lists rather than credit reporting data, so it works best alongside a prescreen opt out.
Preapproved offers and prescreened offers are tied to credit reporting, while unsolicited offers often come from other sources such as retailers or local businesses. Opting out permanently stops offers for credit connected to your credit file, but it does not eliminate every piece of advertising mail. If you want to go further, Eco-Cycle shares practical steps for reducing junk mail in its guide to steps for reducing junk mail.
Stopping credit card offers also lowers identity theft risk. Thieves can steal mail and use preapproved materials to open accounts in someone else’s name. Reducing exposure is one reason many consumers opt out, particularly after a breach or fraud incident. If you are worried about identity theft, start with Credit.org’s identity theft resources to understand the immediate steps that can protect your credit or insurance accounts.
Prescreen opt outs do not stop phone offers. To reduce unwanted calls, consumers can register their phone number with the national Do Not Call Registry, and Credit.org walks through the process in its article on using the Do Not Call Registry to reduce unwanted calls. Addressing phone and mail together provides broader control over marketing contact.
Opting out is a strong first step, but your address can still appear on lists built from purchases, subscriptions, warranty cards, or other sources. If you are also seeing a rise in scam and spam messages, visit our page on on how to stop getting spam and scam emails can help you reduce the digital side of the problem without adding more complexity.
For consumers working to reduce debt, repeated offers for credit cards can be a distraction. Opting out helps remove temptation and supports better financial decisions, particularly for people focused on repayment rather than opening new accounts.
Some consumers value prescreened offers because they can include competitive terms. If you are actively shopping for a new credit card or insurance policy, you may decide to delay opting out until after you secure the product you want.
If unwanted credit card offers have already led to accounts you did not intend to open, or if managing balances has become difficult, nonprofit counseling can help. You can schedule a counseling service appointment to review options, understand how creditors typically handle hardship, and decide what fits your financial situation.
