How Do I Take My Name Off of a Credit Card List?
Taking your name off credit card marketing lists is beneficial in many ways. Protect yourself from identity theft by limiting the pieces of mail that contain personal information, including your current address, full name and credit card account numbers. Save trees and reduce waste by limiting the amount of mail you receive. In addition to removing your name from mailing lists, you can also remove your name from telephone solicitation lists to prevent calls from credit card companies, insurance companies and others.
Credit Bureaus
To stop credit bureaus (Equifax, TransUnion, Experian) from selling your name and address to consumer marketing groups, banks, credit card and insurance companies call (888) 5OPTOUT to have your name removed from all three credit bureau marketing lists. When calling, you will be asked personal information, such as your name and current address to verify your identity. After making the call, your name will be removed for up to five years. To permanently remove your name from these lists, you can fill out a Notice of Election to Opt Out form and send it to the address provided.
Mailing Lists
Consumer mailing lists are used by corporations, creditors, banks and other retail companies to sell financial products including credit cards. The Direct Mailing Association is one of the largest consumer mailing list distributors. To add your name to the DMA opt-out list, you can visit its website or write a letter requesting to be added to the opt-out list. Your name will stay on the opt-out list for up to five years. It can take up to three months before you will notice a decline in credit card and other offers, however.
Telephone Solicitation Lists
To have your name permanently removed from telephone solicitation lists, visit the National Do Not Call Registry website (donotcall.gov) or call (888) 382-1222. The registry is managed by the Federal Trade Commission and works with numerous telephone solicitation companies to protect your privacy. It may take up to 31 days for your name to be added to this registry. If telephone solicitors continue to contact you after 31 days, you can file a complaint on the National Do Not Call Registry website.
Online Resources
There are a variety of online resources you can contact as well if you are still receiving credit card offers, promotional materials or phone calls. Junkbusters, Consumer Research Institute, Outpost Network and Ecofuture are just a few organizations that can provide you with additional resources and advice. Some of these resources charge a fee to contact direct mail marketing companies, while others provide addresses and phone numbers that you can call to request your name be removed from these lists.
