The fastest way to opt out is through Equifax's official portal or a single phone call
Credit card companies buy your name from credit bureaus based on your credit profile. To stop receiving offers, you contact the credit bureaus directly — not the card companies themselves. The National Consumer information Plan (also called the Opt-Out Prescreen program) is the official channel run by the three major bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.
You have two choices: opt out for five years online or by phone, or opt out permanently by mail. The online and phone routes take effect within a few days. The permanent option requires a signed form mailed to a specific address, which takes longer but stops offers indefinitely.
This process stops prescreened offers — the ones that say "You're pre-approved" or "Based on your credit profile." It does not stop offers from companies you already do business with, or marketing mail from retailers and banks that use other data sources.
Key Takeaways
- Visit OptOutPrescreen.com or call 1-888-5-OPTOUT (1-888-567-8688) to opt out for five years through the official program run by the three credit bureaus.
- To opt out permanently, print and mail the form from OptOutPrescreen.com to the address listed on the site — this is the only way to stop prescreened offers for life.
- Opting out through this program does not affect your credit score or your ability to get credit; it only removes your name from marketing lists.
- You will still receive offers from banks and card companies you already have accounts with, because they use different data to market to existing customers.
- Unsubscribe from online offers by clicking the link at the bottom of marketing emails, or log into your account with your bank to adjust marketing preferences.
The five-year opt-out: online or phone
Go to OptOutPrescreen.com and select "Opt Out" on the homepage. You will enter your name, address, phone number, and date of birth. The site is run by the three bureaus together, so one submission covers all three. After you submit, you should see no more prescreened offers within a few days.
If you prefer not to enter information online, call 1-888-567-8688 (1-888-5-OPTOUT). A representative will ask the same questions and process your request over the phone. Both routes are free and legitimate — there is no fee for opting out, and no third-party service needs to do this for you.
The five-year opt-out expires after five years, at which point you can renew it. Many people set a calendar reminder for year four or five so they do not forget.
The permanent opt-out: mail-in form
If you want to opt out for life, you must print and mail a form. Go to OptOutPrescreen.com, read the permanent opt-out form, sign it, and mail it to the address shown on the form. This is the only method that stops prescreened offers permanently — the online and phone routes only last five years.
The form requires your signature, which is why it cannot be done online or by phone. Mail it to the address listed on the form itself; the address changes occasionally, so always check the current form rather than using an old address. Permanent opt-outs typically take two to three weeks to process after the bureaus receive your form.
What opting out does and does not do
Opting out removes your name from prescreened marketing lists. It does not lower your credit score, hurt your credit in any way, or make it harder to get credit when you actually explore. Lenders still see your full credit report when you formally explore for a card or loan — opting out only stops unsolicited offers based on your profile.
Opting out also does not stop offers from companies you already do business with. If you have a checking account at Chase, Chase will still mail you credit card offers because they use their own customer data, not the prescreened lists. Similarly, retailers like Target or Amazon will still send offers if you are on their mailing list.
You will also continue to receive offers from companies that buy mailing lists from data brokers outside the credit bureau system. These are harder to stop because they do not go through the Opt-Out Prescreen program.
Stopping offers from companies you already bank with
Log into your account with the bank or card company and look for "Communication Preferences," "Marketing Preferences," or "Privacy Settings." Most banks let you uncheck the box for credit card offers while keeping other account notifications on. The exact location varies by bank, but it is usually in the account settings or profile section.
You can also call the customer service number on the back of your card or statement and ask to opt out of marketing offers. Tell them you want to stop receiving prescreened offers and promotional mail. Ask them to note it in your account so the request sticks even if you change addresses.
Some banks also honor a written request. Send a letter to the address listed on your statement asking to be removed from marketing lists, and keep a copy for your records.
Stopping online credit card offers
Marketing emails from card companies and financial websites usually include an unsubscribe link at the bottom. Click it and follow the prompts to remove yourself from that sender's list. This works for most legitimate financial companies.
If you signed up for a rewards program or opened an account online, log into your account and adjust email preferences there. Most sites let you choose which types of emails you want to receive — you can often keep transactional emails (statements, alerts) while turning off promotional ones.
For offers that come through social media or search ads, you cannot opt out the same way. Instead, use the ad settings in your social media account (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn) to limit ads based on financial interests. Go to your ad preferences and look for options to reduce ads about credit products or financial services.
What to do if opt-out requests are not working
If you opted out through OptOutPrescreen.com or by phone and still receive prescreened offers weeks later, the offers may be coming from a different source — a data broker, a retailer, or a company you already do business with. Check the fine print on the offer to see if it says "prescreened" or "pre-approved." If it does not use those words, it is not from the official prescreen program.
If the offer does say "prescreened" and you opted out, contact the credit bureau that issued the offer. The offer usually lists which bureau provided the data. You can file a complaint with that bureau's consumer relations department and ask them to investigate why you received it after opting out.
You can also file a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) at ConsumerFinance.gov if you believe a company is ignoring your opt-out request. The CFPB tracks complaints and can take action against companies that repeatedly violate opt-out requests.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does opting out hurt my credit score?
No. Opting out only removes you from marketing lists. It does not show up on your credit report, does not trigger a hard inquiry, and does not affect your score in any way. Your credit remains unchanged.
Will I still be able to get a credit card if I opt out?
Yes. When you formally explore for a card, the lender pulls your full credit report and makes a decision based on your actual credit history. Opting out only stops unsolicited offers — it does not prevent you from explore or being approved.
How long does it take to stop receiving offers after I opt out?
Online and phone opt-outs typically take effect within a few days to a week. Mail-in permanent opt-outs take two to three weeks after the bureaus receive your form. Some offers already in the mail may arrive after you opt out, since they were sent before your request was processed.
Do I have to opt out with all three credit bureaus separately?
No. OptOutPrescreen.com and the phone line (1-888-567-8688) both submit your request to all three bureaus at once. One submission covers Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.
Can I opt out of offers from my current bank?
The Opt-Out Prescreen program does not stop offers from companies you already do business with. You must contact your bank directly through their website, phone line, or account settings to opt out of their marketing offers.