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submitted 5 months ago by Track_Shovel@slrpnk.net to c/196@lemmy.blahaj.zone

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[-] sudo@programming.dev 29 points 5 months ago

Sounds easier to opt out of those mailers entirely. There's a website sponsored by the FTC to do it. But you can only opt out of 5 years online. To do it permanently you must print out and mail in the form.

https://www.optoutprescreen.com/

AFAIK it works but it reeks of bullshit. First its a .com but its what the FTC recommends. It seems like the feds forced the credit companies to make the website and their really upset that your missing all these credit opportunities. Maybe they lower your credit score if you actually fill it out.

[-] Godnroc@lemmy.world 5 points 5 months ago

I did it years ago. I never noticed any retaliation, but the lack of garage in my mailbox is noticeable. I swear some of those credit cards would send daily letters!

Sure, vendors who already have my information still send me things, but I just call them and get them to remove me from the list. Now the only thing that remains is the political junk mail you can do nothing about.

[-] zagaberoo@beehaw.org 3 points 5 months ago

I did this over a decade ago and it's still working. If I remember correctly I had to call to make it a permanent opt-out but it was totally worth it. My credit score was totally unaffected.

Essentially the same scenario with free credit reports and AnnualCreditReport.com. Just look up the instructions through ftc.gov whenever you're unsure about something. I still follow the link to the credit report site from ftc.gov these days even though I remember the actual .com as well, just for good measure.