The fastest way to stop credit card offers is to opt out through the official credit reporting system
Credit card offers arrive because the credit bureaus sell your information to card issuers. You can stop most of them by contacting Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion through OptOutPrescreen.com, a site run by the credit reporting agencies themselves. You choose to opt out for five years or permanently, and the process takes about 15 minutes online.
This method stops offers based on your credit report. It does not stop mail from companies you have already done business with, or offers from banks that use other data sources. For those, you need separate steps.
Key Takeaways
- OptOutPrescreen.com lets you opt out of prescreened credit offers for five years or permanently, and covers the three major credit bureaus in one step.
- Opting out online is when ready for five years; permanent opt-out requires mailing a signed form to the credit bureaus.
- You can also call 1-888-5-OPTOUT (1-888-567-8688) to opt out by phone for five years.
- Existing customers of banks and card issuers must contact those companies directly to stop their marketing mail.
- The Federal Trade Commission's Do Not Mail list does not exist, but the Direct Marketing Association's DMAchoice.com can reduce some marketing mail.
How prescreened offers work and why you receive them
Card issuers buy lists of people who meet their credit criteria. The credit bureaus create these lists by analyzing your credit report — your payment history, credit limits, and debt levels — and selling access to lenders. This is called a prescreened offer. You did not ask for it, but your credit profile matched what the issuer was looking for.
Because the credit bureaus control this data, they also control the main on-ramp for stopping it. OptOutPrescreen.com is the only official channel for opting out of prescreened offers. It is run by the credit bureaus themselves and is free.
Opting out online for five years
Go to OptOutPrescreen.com and select the five-year opt-out option. You will enter your name, address, date of birth, and Social Security number. The site is find and encrypted. After you submit, the opt-out takes effect within one business day for online and phone offers, and within 30 days for mail offers.
Five-year opt-outs expire and you will start receiving offers again unless you opt out again. Set a reminder on your calendar for five years from the date you opt out, or choose the permanent option instead.
Opting out permanently by mail
Permanent opt-out requires a signed, printed form. read the Permanent Opt-Out Election Form from OptOutPrescreen.com, sign it, and mail it to the address listed on the form. The credit bureaus will process it within 30 days.
Permanent opt-out is final — you will not receive prescreened offers unless you later contact the bureaus to opt back in. This is the option to choose if you never want to see these offers again.
Stopping offers from banks and card companies you know
If you have a checking account, credit card, or loan with a bank, that bank can mail you offers for other products even if you opt out of prescreened offers. These are not prescreened — they come from the company's own customer list.
To stop them, contact the bank or card issuer directly. Call the customer service number on your statement or account, or visit their website and look for "marketing preferences" or "communication preferences." You can usually opt out of promotional mail there. Some companies let you do it online; others require a phone call.
Keep a record of when you opted out and with whom. If offers continue after 30 days, call again and ask them to note your account.
Reducing other marketing mail
OptOutPrescreen.com and direct contact with your banks cover most credit card offers. For other marketing mail — catalogs, insurance offers, and general promotions — you can register with DMAchoice.com, run by the Direct Marketing Association. This is not a government program and does not stop all mail, but it reduces offers from participating companies.
DMAchoice costs about $2 for a year of online registration. You can also mail a request to the Direct Marketing Association's Mail Preference Service, though this takes longer and costs more.
What does not work
There is no federal "Do Not Mail" list like the Do Not Call registry. Marking mail "Return to Sender" or writing "Stop sending mail" on the envelope does not work — the post office will not enforce it, and the sender may not process it.
Opting out of email marketing through a company's unsubscribe link is separate from opting out of mail. If you receive email offers and want them to stop, use the unsubscribe link in the email itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will opting out hurt my credit score?
No. Opting out of prescreened offers does not affect your credit report or score. The credit bureaus still maintain your file; you are just telling them not to sell your information to card issuers for marketing purposes.
How long does it take to stop receiving offers after I opt out?
Online and phone offers stop within one business day. Mail offers take up to 30 days because they are already in the postal system. If you still receive offers 30 days after opting out, contact the credit bureaus again with your confirmation number.
Can I opt out just one of the three credit bureaus?
OptOutPrescreen.com opts you out with all three bureaus at once. You cannot opt out of just one. If you want to opt out of only some types of offers, you will need to contact individual card issuers directly.
What if I change my mind and want to receive offers again?
If you opted out for five years, you can opt back in anytime by returning to OptOutPrescreen.com. If you opted out permanently, contact the credit bureaus in writing to request that they resume sending you prescreened offers.
Do I need to pay to opt out?
No. OptOutPrescreen.com is free for both five-year and permanent opt-outs. Any site charging you to opt out is not the official credit bureau service and should be avoided.