If getting too much junk mail is an ongoing problem for you, there’s a great option for getting rid of much of it once and for all.
OptOutPrescreen.com is a joint venture from the big credit reporting companies that lets consumers request an opt-out or opt-in for offers from credit and insurance companies.
We here at Team Clark have heard from untold numbers of people who have successfully used OptOutPrescreen to drastically reduce the amount of unwanted offers they get in their mailbox.
In this article, we’re going to detail the steps on how to use OptOutPrescreen.com.
If you’d rather, you can call OptOutPrescreen at 1-888-5-OPT-OUT (1-888-567-8688) to opt out that way.
Here’s how to opt out of junk mail from credit card and insurance companies
Consumer laws give the big credit reporting agencies (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion and Innovis) the right to share our information with companies who solicit us to sign up for all kinds of things.
Thankfully, those same laws allow us to opt out of receiving those offers.
To get started, let’s go over the three options you can choose from on OptOutPreScreen. You can:
- Opt-out from receiving offers for five years
- Opt-out from receiving offers permanently
- Opt-in again and be eligible to receive offers (for consumers who have previously opted out)
Once you begin the process, you have 15 minutes to complete it or the page will time out and everything you’ve entered will be lost. So, don’t stop until you’re finished!
Let’s walk through how to complete the opt-out process on OptOutPrescreen.com.
1. Go to OptOutPrescreen.com or simply click the button below:
Once you hit that blue button, you’ll arrive at a page that asks for personal information, including:
- Your name
- Your Social Security number (Optional)
- Your date of birth (Optional)
- Your address
Important: According to the site, it’s not mandatory to include your Social Security number and date of birth. If you choose to omit those, you’ll be told “We will attempt to process your request without this information.”
2. Select either a 5-year or permanent opt-out
Next you’ll need to select an option: opt-out for five years or opt-out permanently:
3. Confirm your opt-out choice
Once you make a choice, you’ll be asked to confirm it. I chose the five-year option. Here’s what I saw next:
Once I filled out the form (excluding the Social Security number, date of birth, and even my phone number), I got a confirmation page. I typed in the CAPTCHA code for security and clicked the blue confirmation number at the bottom of the page. That was it!
If you choose to permanently opt-out…
The process to permanently opt-out on OptOutPrescreen.com is exactly the same as above, but you can only begin the process online. To complete it, you must return what’s called a signed Permanent Opt-Out Election Form.
How do you get the Permanent Opt-Out Election Form?
The Permanent Opt-Out Election Form is generated after you initiate the opt-out process above. On the confirmation page if you scroll to the bottom you’ll see a Permanent Opt-Out Election Form like this:
To confirm your request in writing, print the Permanent Opt-Out Election Form, sign and date it and send it to the following address:
Opt-Out Department
P.O. Box 530200
Atlanta, Ga. 30353
Re: Permanent Opt-Out Election Form
How the permanent opt-out process is completed
The site will complete the five-year opt out request on your behalf within five business days. It goes permanent when they the Permanent Opt-Out Election Form is received and processed.
What happens next
Once you complete those easy steps, credit and insurance offers should stop arriving in the mail in a matter of days.
Be forewarned, though: You may still receive solicitations from religious organizations and charities. You’ll have to reach out to those groups individually.
