Notifying all bureaus with one phone call
1-888-5-OPTOUT is an automated service run jointly by the four main credit bureaus. With one phone call you can opt out of pre-screened mailings from all four bureaus.

Call 1-888-5-OPTOUT.
Select option 2 to skip a message about an internet email (described below).
Select option 2 to opt out of mailings permanently. Be careful, because option 1 only opts you out for two years.
Follow the prompts to enter your phone number, name, zip code, address, and social security number.
The service states that your request will be processed within 5 business days, and a "Notice of Election" form will be mailed to you.

Some controversy exists surrounding this number. How can we be sure that it is legitimate? Why is a social security number required?

To further confuse the issue, an email forward spread across the internet starting in July of 2003, spreading some mis-information about this phone number. Nevertheless, the FTC lists the phone number on their website, so I guess we can assume that it is legitimate.


Exercising my right

I chose to opt out using the 1-888-5-OPTOUT phone number. The process was simple, and I was told I would receive a letter confirming my intentions by mail within a week or two.

Did you stop recieving Credit Card offers? Did you experience any indicatations that it was a scam?

Thanks for the input

To stop the damned offers, I just attached a large brick to every return envelope with a "postage paid" code on it, and added my return address. They got the point... 90% of them took me off their lists.

I tried the opt out thing and I'm still getting them. Yeah, I thought about the scam thing too but to late for that. I think I got the link from a leaflet my congressman sent me (maybe he's in on it). Maybe it takes awhile to kick in?

WT, I do the samethink. Just stuff it with crap and let them pay the return postage. Didn't think about putting my return address tho. Figured, when their operating costs got outta hand they would stop that shit.

Another thing I'm concerned with that when you do have a credit card, the issuing bank keeps sending you these "credit checks." I travel a lot, am usually out of the country and have someone checking my mail for me, I admit he does it half-heartedly. Even though I call and tell them to not send them any more they still do, in some cases weekly. Maybe if they had to contend with enough fraud cases from these things falling into the wrong hands these knuckleheads would take the hint.

Don't know any way to stop them sending the "credit checks". But at least one bank of mine got a bit wiser - you have to call from your home phone before the checks are usable. But even with that, if someone steals them and does manage to use them, the store owner is going to try to come after you for cashing a bad check (when in actuality it was THEIR fault for not checking ID adequately).