The Big Think

Are you sick of having pre-approved credit applications mailed to you every day? Do you worry about them getting lifted from your mailbox and being the victim of identity theft? According to financial guru Clark Howard, the most common way thieves can get your personal info is by swiping a pre-approved credit application from your mail and posing as you to get the card. Clark recommended the credit card opt-out site found here as a way to get yourself removed from the pre-approved credit card listings FOREVER.

You see, by law, the four credit agencies (Equifax, Experian, Innovis, and TransUnion) have to maintain a list of people who do not wish to receive pre-approved credit cards in the mail. All you have to do is go to the site here, give them your information, and click “opt-out forever”. Just like that, you’ll never receive another unsolicited credit card again (doesn’t apply to businesses you’ve asked for one from, or ones you currently use).

The credit agencies and credit card businesses do not want this option to become well known because they make their money by selling people’s names and addresses to credit card companies so they can spam you with plastic. If you’re on this list, they can’t profit from you.

Just think of it as a “Do Not Call” list for credit card applications. It’ll reduce the amount of junk in your mailbox, increase your security against identity theft, and stick it to the credit companies: three very good things.

Oh, and if you’re worried that it’s maybe not a legitimate operation, or that it’s just another phishing scam to get your personal info, don’t be. Clark Howard vouches for it himself here (second or third paragraph down).

Use it! It only takes about sixty seconds to do, and you’re free forever.