Everyday Digital Explained

How Do I Stop Pre-Approved Credit Card Offers and Junk Calls?

Last verified against 11 official sources

Short answer: Go to OptOutPrescreen.com or call 1-888-5-OPT-OUT (1-888-567-8688), the official opt-out run for the credit bureaus Equifax, Experian, Innovis, and TransUnion. You can opt out online for five years, or permanently by mailing a signed form. Then register your home and cell numbers for free at DoNotCall.gov or 1-888-382-1222. The registry stops sales calls from companies that follow the law, but it won't stop scam calls.

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  • OptOutPrescreen says it does not make outbound phone calls. If someone calls offering to opt you out, hang up.
  • Type optoutprescreen.com or donotcall.gov yourself. Don't use opt-out links from emails, texts, or ads, and don't give your Social Security number to any other company for this.
  • The Do Not Call Registry won't stop scam calls. Keep using call blocking and hang up on unexpected callers asking for money or personal information.

Step by step

  1. Go to the official opt-out site. Type optoutprescreen.com into your browser, or call 1-888-5-OPT-OUT (1-888-567-8688). It's the only website Equifax, Experian, Innovis, and TransUnion authorize for opting out of prescreened offers.
  2. Choose five years or permanent. The online opt-out lasts five years. For a permanent opt-out, start online, then print, sign, and mail the Permanent Opt-Out Election form you get there. While the form is on its way, a five-year opt-out is set up for you.
  3. Enter your details. You'll be asked for your name, address, Social Security number, and date of birth. The site says the Social Security number and date of birth aren't required but help it find your credit file, and the FTC says the information can be used only to process your request.
  4. Give it a few weeks. Requests take effect within five days, but the FTC says it may take several weeks before the offers stop. Some companies may already have your name from an earlier list.
  5. Add your phones to the Do Not Call Registry. Go to DoNotCall.gov, or call 1-888-382-1222 (TTY 1-866-290-4236) from the phone you want to register. It's free, works for cell phones, and never expires. It can take up to 31 days for sales calls to stop.
  6. Shred offers that still arrive. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service says to shred or destroy mail with personal data, including pre-approved offers. Pick up your mail promptly, and use USPS Hold Mail when you're away.
  7. Report what still gets through. Report unwanted sales calls at DoNotCall.gov once your number has been registered for 31 days. If you lost money to a scam, report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Report stolen mail to Postal Inspectors at 1-877-876-2455.

Why prescreened offers are a fraud risk

Prescreened, or "pre-approved," offers arrive because credit bureaus sell lists of people whose credit reports meet a company's criteria. The FTC says prescreening doesn't hurt your credit score.

The risk is in what the envelope holds. Each offer has your name and address and says you're likely to qualify for credit. USPIS warns that scammers steal Social Security numbers and other personal information from the mail and the trash, and it lists pre-approved offers among the mail to shred. Fewer offers in your mailbox means less for a thief to take.

What the Do Not Call Registry does and doesn't stop

The FTC says the registry is meant to stop unwanted sales calls from real companies that follow the law. It doesn't block calls, and it won't stop calls from scammers making illegal calls. It can still cut down on legal sales calls, which makes scam calls easier to spot.

Some calls are still allowed after you register: political calls, charities, debt collectors, purely informational calls, and surveys, as long as they don't include a sales pitch. Companies you've recently done business with, and companies you gave written permission, can also call. For scam calls, the FTC suggests call-blocking tools from your phone, your phone company, or a call-blocking app.

Helping a parent or a family member

OptOutPrescreen.com says you can only submit a request for yourself, or for someone you're the legal parent, guardian, executor, or administrator for. If your spouse has died, the site lets you ask the credit bureaus to stop using their credit file for firm offers. For the Do Not Call Registry, call 1-888-382-1222 from the phone you want to register, or sign up at DoNotCall.gov.

OptOutPrescreen says it does not make outbound phone calls. If someone calls offering to opt you or a parent out, hang up.

Common questions

Will opting out of prescreened offers hurt my credit score or my chances of getting credit?

No. OptOutPrescreen.com says opting out doesn't affect your ability to apply for or get credit or insurance. It also doesn't raise your score, because prescreening inquiries aren't used to calculate credit scores. You can opt back in later on the same site or phone line.

Is OptOutPrescreen.com legit, and why does it ask for my Social Security number?

Yes. The FTC points people to optoutprescreen.com and 1-888-5-OPT-OUT, and says the major credit bureaus run them. The site says your Social Security number and date of birth are optional but help it find your file, and the FTC says the information is used only to process your opt-out.

Does the Do Not Call Registry stop robocalls and scam calls?

No. The FTC says the registry won't stop calls from scammers making illegal calls, and it doesn't block calls. It stops sales calls from companies that follow the law. For scam calls, use call-blocking tools from your phone, phone company, or an app.

Does a Do Not Call registration expire?

No. The FTC says your registration will never expire. Your number should show up on the registry the next day, but it can take up to 31 days for sales calls to stop. You can check your registration at DoNotCall.gov or by calling 1-888-382-1222 from that number.

Will opting out stop all my junk mail?

No. The FTC says it stops only prescreened offers based on lists from the major credit bureaus. Offers from other sources, local stores, charities, and companies you already do business with may keep coming, and you'd need to contact those senders directly.

Official sources

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