The consumer credit reporting companies (Equifax, Experian, Innovis, and TransUnion) offer a toll-free number that enables you to “opt-out” of having pre-approved credit offers sent to you for five years. Call 1-888-5-OPTOUT (567-8688) or visit www.optoutprescreen.com for more information. When you call, you’ll be asked for personal information, including your name, address, telephone number, and your SSN. The information you provide is confidential and will be used only to process your request to opt-out of receiving pre-screened offers of credit.

Receiving a lot of unwanted junk-mail (paper and electronic) and pre-approved credit offers can be another way of making you more vulnerable to identity theft. If you want to halt the unnecessary mail, send “opt-out” letters to businesses you have a relationship with (such as your financial institutions, mortgage company, telephone company, charities, credit card companies, etc.) restricting them from selling, renting, distributing, or exchanging your personal information.

The Direct Marketing Association’s (DMA) Mail Preference and Email Preference Services lets you opt-out of receiving unsolicited commercial mail from many national companies. The DMA sorts mail preferences based on four subjects: credit offers, catalogs, magazine offers, and other mail. For each of these categories, you can choose whether or not you want to receive mail from companies one at a time, or if you prefer, you can choose to stop receiving mail for all companies you haven’t purchased from or donated to within an entire category. Any choices you make will be effective for three years from the date you make them. Keep in mind that your registration will not stop mailings from organizations that do not use the DMA’s Mail Preference Service. To register with DMA’s Mail Preference Service visit www.dmachoice.org.

It is strongly recommended that you see your credit reports before you apply for any kinds of loan.