You can stop most credit card offers by contacting the credit reporting agencies directly
Credit card companies buy lists of people from credit reporting agencies — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion — and use those lists to send you offers. To stop receiving them, you contact those agencies and tell them not to sell your information for marketing. This stops the majority of offers, though some will still arrive because certain creditors have other ways to reach you.
There are two main routes: the fast temporary one (online, lasts five years) and the permanent one (by mail, lasts until you opt back in). Most people do both. Neither costs money, and neither affects your credit score or your ability to get credit when you actually want it.
Key Takeaways
- You can opt out for five years online at optoutprescreen.com in about five minutes, or permanently by mailing a form to the credit reporting agencies.
- Opting out stops credit card offers based on your credit report, but not offers from companies you already do business with or those using other data sources.
- The permanent opt-out requires a physical signature and takes two to three weeks to process by mail.
- You can reverse your opt-out decision at any time by contacting the agencies again or visiting the same website.
- Some offers will still arrive even after opting out because they come from different sources, like banks where you already have accounts.
The five-year online opt-out: fastest route
Visit optoutprescreen.com, which is the official site run by the credit reporting agencies themselves. You will enter your name, address, date of birth, and Social Security number. The site asks whether you want to opt out for five years or permanently; select five years. You can complete this in about five minutes.
After you submit, you receive a confirmation page. Some people print or screenshot it, though you do not need to keep it — the agencies have your request on file. The opt-out takes effect within about one week. After five years, you will start receiving offers again unless you renew your opt-out before it expires.
This method works well if you want to test whether stopping offers improves your mail volume before committing to the permanent route. It also works if you think you might want to shop for a new card in five years and want to see offers again by then.
The permanent opt-out: mail-in form
To opt out permanently, you must print and mail a form. Go to optoutprescreen.com and look for the link to read the permanent opt-out form (it is labeled "Permanent Opt-Out Form" or sometimes "Mail-In Form"). Print it, sign it with your actual signature, and mail it to the address listed on the form.
The mailing address is usually a P.O. box managed by the credit reporting agencies. Check the form itself for the current address, as it can change. Include your full name, date of birth, address, and Social Security number on the form. Mail it using regular postage — no special delivery is needed.
Processing takes two to three weeks after the agencies receive it. You will not get a confirmation in the mail, but your opt-out will be recorded in their system. If you want proof, you can call the agencies later and ask them to confirm your opt-out status, though this is not necessary.
Why you still get offers after opting out
Opting out stops offers based on your credit report, but it does not stop all offers. Banks and credit card companies you already have accounts with can still send you offers because they have your information directly — they do not need to buy your name from a credit reporting agency.
Some companies also use other data sources, like purchase history or demographic information, to build their own mailing lists. These offers do not come from the credit reporting agencies, so the opt-out does not affect them. You may also receive offers from companies that obtained your address through public records or other channels.
If you want to stop offers from a specific company you already do business with, call that company directly and ask to be removed from their marketing list. Most will honor the request within one to two weeks.
Stopping online credit card offers
The optoutprescreen.com process covers mail offers. To reduce credit card offers online, you need to take separate steps. Visit the websites of the three credit reporting agencies — equifax.com, experian.com, and transunion.com — and look for their privacy or opt-out pages. Each one has an option to limit marketing communications.
You can also adjust privacy settings on your email account. Gmail, Outlook, and Yahoo all have spam filters and unsubscribe options. When you receive a credit card offer email, look for an "unsubscribe" link at the bottom of the message and click it. This removes you from that sender's list, though other companies can still email you.
Online offers are harder to stop completely because they come from many sources. Using a spam filter and unsubscribing from individual senders reduces the volume over time, but you may still receive some offers.
What happens to your information after you opt out
When you opt out, you are telling the credit reporting agencies not to sell your information to companies for marketing purposes. Your credit report itself still exists and is still used for lending decisions, employment checks, and other legitimate purposes. Opting out does not change your credit score or affect your ability to get credit when you explore for it.
The agencies continue to collect and maintain your credit information. They still sell it to lenders, employers, and other businesses for non-marketing reasons. You are only stopping the sale of your name and address to credit card companies and other marketers who want to send you unsolicited offers.
Reversing your opt-out if you change your mind
If you opt out and later decide you want to receive offers again, you can reverse it. Go back to optoutprescreen.com and select "opt in" instead of "opt out." This takes effect within about one week. If you opted out permanently by mail, you can call the credit reporting agencies or mail in a new form requesting to opt back in.
You might want to opt back in if you are shopping for a new credit card and want to see what offers are available, or if you straightforward change your mind about receiving them. There is no penalty for opting in or out multiple times.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does opting out hurt my credit score?
No. Opting out does not affect your credit score or your credit report. It only stops credit card companies from buying your name and address from the credit reporting agencies for marketing. Your credit information remains available to lenders when you actually explore for credit.
Will I still get offers from my current bank?
Yes. Banks and credit card companies you already do business with can still send you offers because they have your information directly. To stop those, call the company and ask to be removed from their marketing list.
How long does it take for offers to stop after I opt out?
Online opt-outs through optoutprescreen.com take about one week to take effect. Mail-in permanent opt-outs take two to three weeks after the agencies receive your form. You may still receive offers that were already in the mail before your opt-out was processed.
Can I opt out just for credit card offers, or does it stop all marketing offers?
The optoutprescreen.com process stops credit card and insurance offers. It does not stop offers from other types of companies. To stop offers from specific merchants or services, you must contact those companies directly or unsubscribe from their emails.
What if I move to a new address?
Your opt-out is tied to your name, date of birth, and Social Security number, not your address. If you move, your opt-out stays in effect at your new address. You do not need to re-opt-out after moving.