How to Protect Your Credit Information With a Prescreen Opt-Out

The major credit reporting companies--Equifax, Experian, Innovis and TransUnion--collect mountains of information on an individual's credit history, including credit card payments, bank loans and mortgages. The Fair Credit Reporting Act allows these companies to provide your credit information to lenders and insurers that "prescreen" your credit information and send you "preapproved" mortgage and insurance solicitations. The law also permits you to opt out of this practice to protect your privacy. You can prevent the credit reporting companies from releasing your prescreening information and halt the flood of solicitations you're receiving.

• 1

  Decide on what type of opt-out you want. You can opt out for five years or you can opt out permanently. The permanent opt-out involves mailing in a form, while the five-year opt-out is simpler and can be handled online or over the phone.

• 2

  Visit OptOutPrescreen.com to apply online to opt out of prescreening. Select either the five-year or permanent option and provide your identification information: name, address, phone number, Social Security number and date of birth. If you select the permanent opt-out, print out and sign the form, and mail it to the address provided. You can complete the five-year opt-out entirely online.

• 3

  Call 888-5-OPT-OUT (1-888-567-8688) to handle the process over the phone. If you select the permanent option, you will receive a form in the mail to sign and return.