You can stop most credit card offers by contacting the credit reporting agencies directly
Credit card offers arrive because credit reporting agencies sell your information to card issuers. You do not have to accept this. The fastest way to stop is to call the National Consumer Assistance Plan (also called the Opt-Out Prescreen), which handles all prescreened offers in the United States. One phone call or online request stops most offers for five years; a permanent request stops them indefinitely.
The number is 1-888-567-8688. You can also visit optoutprescreen.com and submit your request online. Both routes take the same information: your name, address, date of birth, and Social Security number. The phone call takes about five minutes. Online requests process within a few days.
This stops prescreened offers — the ones that say "You have been preselected" or "Based on your credit profile." It does not stop offers from card issuers you already do business with, offers based on your browsing history, or offers from companies that bought your information through other channels.
Key Takeaways
- Call 1-888-567-8688 or visit optoutprescreen.com to stop prescreened credit card offers for five years or permanently.
- Opting out of prescreened offers stops mail from Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion selling your information to card issuers, but not offers from issuers you already use.
- You can also contact individual card issuers directly by phone or mail to remove yourself from their marketing lists.
- Online offers tied to your browsing or email require separate opt-outs through the issuer's website or by unsubscribing from marketing emails.
How prescreened offers work and why you receive them
When you receive a credit card offer in the mail that says you have been preselected, a credit reporting agency sold your name and credit profile to that card issuer. The three major agencies — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion — do this routinely. They pull your credit file, apply the issuer's criteria (usually a credit score range or payment history threshold), and pass along names of people who match.
This is legal under the Fair Credit Reporting Act. The law also gives you the right to opt out. When you call the Opt-Out Prescreen line or use the website, you are telling all three agencies to stop selling your information for prescreened offers. The agencies then notify card issuers that you have requested removal.
Prescreened offers are different from other marketing mail. If you receive an offer that does not say "preselected" or "prescreened," it likely came from a different source — a list broker, a data aggregator, or an issuer's own customer database — and the Opt-Out Prescreen will not stop it.
Stopping offers from card issuers you already do business with
If you have a credit card with Chase, American Express, Capital One, or another issuer, they will continue to send you offers even after you opt out of prescreened mail. These are not prescreened offers; they are marketing to existing customers or people in their own databases.
To stop these, contact the issuer directly. Most card companies have a customer service number on the back of your card. Ask to be removed from marketing mail and marketing calls. Some issuers also let you opt out through your online account. Log in, look for account settings or communication preferences, and uncheck marketing mail or promotional offers.
Write down the date and name of the person you spoke with. If offers continue after 30 days, call again and reference your previous request. Some issuers take longer to process removal requests than others.
Stopping online credit card offers and marketing emails
Credit card offers that arrive in your email or appear when you visit websites work differently than mail offers. These are usually tied to your email address, browsing history, or cookies rather than your credit file.
For email offers, look for an unsubscribe link at the bottom of the message. Click it and follow the prompts. This removes you from that issuer's marketing email list. If you receive offers from multiple issuers, you will need to unsubscribe from each one separately.
For online ads that follow you across websites, the issuer is using a data broker or ad network. You can limit this by adjusting your browser privacy settings or using a tool like the Digital Advertising Alliance's opt-out portal at optout.aboutads.info. This does not stop all targeted ads, but it reduces the number of companies that can track your browsing for marketing purposes.
Opting out of mail from data brokers and list sellers
Some credit card offers come from companies that buy and sell mailing lists — data brokers like Experian Marketing Services, Acxiom, or Epsilon. These are different from the three credit reporting agencies and are not covered by the Opt-Out Prescreen.
To stop mail from data brokers, you can register with the Direct Marketing Association's Mail Preference Service at dmachoice.thedma.org. This service sends your name to thousands of direct mail companies and asks them to remove you from their lists. It is not instant; removal can take 60 to 90 days, and some companies ignore the request.
You can also write directly to the data broker. Look for an address or privacy policy on the envelope or in the offer itself. Send a letter asking to be removed from their mailing list. Include your name, address, and a copy of the offer. Keep a copy for your records.
What to do if offers continue after you opt out
If you have called the Opt-Out Prescreen line and still receive prescreened offers after 30 days, the offers may not be prescreened. Check the language on the envelope or letter. If it does not say "preselected" or "prescreened," it came from a different source and the Opt-Out Prescreen does not cover it.
If the offer does say prescreened and you still receive it, call 1-888-567-8688 again and file a complaint. Ask the representative to verify that your request was processed. Sometimes requests are not recorded correctly, especially if there is a spelling variation in your name or address.
You can also file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov. The FTC does not stop individual offers, but complaints help them track patterns of companies that ignore opt-out requests.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does opting out hurt my credit score?
No. Opting out of prescreened offers does not affect your credit score. It only stops credit reporting agencies from selling your information to card issuers for marketing. Your credit file and score remain unchanged.
How long does it take to stop receiving offers after I opt out?
Prescreened mail offers usually stop within 30 days of your opt-out request. Some issuers take longer. If you still receive prescreened offers after 60 days, call 1-888-567-8688 again to verify your request was processed.
Can I opt out permanently or just for five years?
You can choose either. When you call or visit optoutprescreen.com, you can request removal for five years or permanently. Permanent removal lasts until you ask to be added back. Five-year removal expires and you will start receiving prescreened offers again unless you renew your request.
Will opting out stop all credit card offers?
No. Opting out of prescreened offers stops mail from the three credit reporting agencies, but not offers from issuers you already use, data brokers, or companies that bought your information through other channels. You will need to contact those issuers separately or use other opt-out services.
What information do I need to opt out?
You will need your name, current address, date of birth, and Social Security number. Have these ready before you call 1-888-567-8688 or visit optoutprescreen.com. The request takes about five minutes by phone.