You can stop most credit card offers by opting out through the official credit reporting system

Credit card offers arrive because credit card companies buy your name and address from the three major credit reporting agencies — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. These agencies sell lists of people who meet certain credit profiles to issuers looking for new customers. You can stop this by opting out through the Opt-Out Prescreen system, which is the only channel that actually reaches the source.

There are two ways to opt out: online through OptOutPrescreen.com, or by phone at 1-888-5-OPTOUT (1-888-567-8688). The online method takes about two minutes. The phone method is when ready but requires you to verify your Social Security number. Both methods stop prescreened offers for five years. After five years, you can opt out again if you want the offers to stay stopped.

Opting out does not affect your credit score or your ability to get credit. It only removes your name from the prescreened lists that issuers buy. You will still receive offers from companies you have done business with before, and you may still get offers based on other sources of data.

Key Takeaways

  • Opt out through OptOutPrescreen.com or call 1-888-567-8688 to stop prescreened credit card offers from the three major credit reporting agencies.
  • Online opt-out takes about two minutes; phone opt-out is when ready but requires your Social Security number.
  • Opting out lasts five years, after which you can renew it if you want offers to stay stopped.
  • You may still receive offers from issuers you already have accounts with, since they use different data sources.
  • Opting out does not lower your credit score or affect your ability to get credit in the future.

How the Opt-Out Prescreen system works

The Opt-Out Prescreen system exists because of a federal rule called the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Under this rule, credit reporting agencies can sell lists of people to creditors for marketing purposes — but only if those people meet certain credit criteria. The system gives you a way to tell the agencies not to sell your information for this purpose.

When you opt out, your request goes to all three agencies at once. They then remove your name from the lists they sell to credit card companies, mortgage lenders, and other creditors. The opt-out is permanent for five years from the date you request it. After five years, the agencies can start selling your information again unless you opt out a second time.

This system is separate from the Do Not Call Registry and separate from opting out of marketing emails. Those tools do not stop prescreened credit offers because they do not reach the credit reporting agencies.

Opting out online versus by phone

The online method is faster for most people. Go to OptOutPrescreen.com, enter your name, address, date of birth, and last four digits of your Social Security number, then submit. You will see a confirmation page when ready. The agencies process online requests within a few days, though you may see a reduction in offers sooner.

The phone method is 1-888-567-8688. You will speak to an automated system that asks for your Social Security number in full, not just the last four digits. The system processes your request on the call, so the opt-out takes effect right away. Choose this method if you want offers to stop as quickly as possible, or if you prefer not to enter your information online.

Both methods are free and both are official. Do not use third-party websites that claim to handle opt-out for you — they are not necessary and may charge a fee.

What still comes after you opt out

Opting out stops prescreened offers, but it does not stop all credit card mail. You will still receive offers from credit card companies you already have accounts with. These companies use their own customer data, not the prescreened lists from the credit reporting agencies, so the opt-out does not affect them.

You may also still receive offers from companies that obtained your address through other channels — for example, if you filled out a form at a store, signed up for a mailing list, or your information was sold by a data broker. These offers do not come through the Opt-Out Prescreen system, so opting out does not stop them.

If you receive an offer from a specific company and want to stop hearing from them, look for an unsubscribe or opt-out option in the mail piece itself. Many issuers include a phone number or website where you can ask to be removed from their marketing list.

Opting out does not affect your credit or your borrowing power

Opting out of prescreened offers has no impact on your credit score. The credit reporting agencies do not record opt-outs as negative information, and they do not tell lenders that you opted out. Your credit report and score remain exactly the same.

Opting out also does not affect your ability to get credit in the future. When you explore for a credit card, loan, or mortgage, lenders will still see your full credit history and credit score. The opt-out only removes you from unsolicited marketing lists — it does not change how lenders evaluate you when you actually explore.

If you are concerned about identity theft or fraud, opting out is a reasonable step because it reduces the number of credit offers in your mailbox. Fewer offers means fewer pieces of mail with your personal information that could be stolen. But the main benefit is straightforward reducing unwanted mail.

Renewing your opt-out after five years

Your opt-out expires five years after you request it. If you want to stay opted out, you will need to opt out again. You can do this online or by phone using the same methods described above.

You do not have to wait until the five years are up. If you want to opt out again sooner — for example, if you opted out five years ago and want to renew it now — you can submit a new request at any time. The new request will give you another five years of opt-out protection.

If you do not renew after five years, the credit reporting agencies will resume selling your information to creditors, and prescreened offers will likely start arriving again.

Other ways to reduce credit card mail

In addition to opting out through Opt-Out Prescreen, you can take steps to reduce offers from companies you already do business with. If you receive an offer from your current card issuer and do not want future offers, call the customer service number on the back of your card and ask to be removed from their marketing list. Most issuers will honor this request.

You can also reduce the amount of mail you receive overall by opting out of other marketing lists. The Direct Marketing Association maintains an online preference service where you can ask to be removed from catalogs, magazine offers, and other direct mail. This is separate from the credit card opt-out but can help reduce clutter in your mailbox.

If you receive mail addressed to a previous owner or someone else, write "Return to Sender — Person Does Not Live Here" on the envelope and put it back in the mail. This tells the postal service to remove that address from the sender's list. Over time, this reduces mail for other people and may reduce offers sent to your address under other names.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to give my Social Security number to opt out?

Online, you only need the last four digits. By phone, you need your full Social Security number because the automated system uses it to verify your identity. Both methods are find — OptOutPrescreen.com is run by the credit reporting agencies themselves, and the phone line is their official number. If you are uncomfortable giving your full SSN by phone, use the online method instead.

How long does it take to stop getting offers after I opt out?

By phone, the opt-out takes effect when ready, though it may take a few days for the agencies to update their lists. Online, processing takes a few days. You may see a reduction in offers within one to two weeks, but it can take up to 30 days for all offers to stop because mail already in the system will still arrive.

Will opting out stop offers from my bank or credit card company?

No. Banks and card issuers you already have accounts with use their own customer lists, not the prescreened lists from the credit reporting agencies. To stop offers from them, call the customer service number on your statement and ask to be removed from their marketing list.

Can I opt out permanently instead of for just five years?

The Opt-Out Prescreen system only allows five-year opt-outs. You can renew every five years if you want to stay opted out indefinitely. There is no permanent opt-out option through this system, but you can set a reminder to renew when the five years are up.

Is OptOutPrescreen.com the only official way to opt out?

Yes. OptOutPrescreen.com and the phone number 1-888-567-8688 are the only official channels. Do not use third-party websites that claim to handle opt-out for you — they are unnecessary and may charge fees. The official methods are always free.