Unsolicited Credit Card/Insurance Offers: Just Say No
Category: Kitchen Sink...
Posted Wednesday, August 17, 2005 at 05:00 PM [GMT-6]

Placing our phone number in the federal government's National "Do Not Call" Registry was one of the smartest moves we ever made. I'm now thinking that my just-completed visit to the Opt-Out Prescreen Website is going to run a close second in terms of annoyance avoidance.

We seem to get a half dozen or more unsolicited mailings each week notifying us that we've been preapproved for credit cards or insurance, neither of which we want. Just recently, I've noticed a paragraph in some of those solicitations giving a phone number to call in order to opt out from receiving future mailings. I finally called the number this afternoon.

It contained, of course, an automated process for removing one's name. However, the most interesting thing was the mention that this could also be accomplished via a website. As soon as the address was offered, I hung up and went to the URL linked above. It's a very easy-to-use site that offers three choices: to opt in (I guess that's for people who miss getting the solicitations after foolishly opting out), to opt out for five years, and to opt out permanently. I elected the latter option.

Some interesting things to note about the process. First, you're given ten minutes to complete the process. I suppose that's to keep people from camping on the site and slowing it down, although I guess it could also be a security feature. Second, while the first page says its important to provide all information, including Social Security Number, the form itself does not require the inclusion of SSN. I suppose that your SSN is helpful in ensuring your identity, but if you're queasy about submitting it via a website -- even one that touts its security -- then just leave it blank. That's what I did. The site also requires you to enter a passcode, provided in the form of those aggravating squiggly graphics that are supposedly non-machine-readable. This is designed to foil computerized abuse of the opt-out process, but it may also foil legitimate clients.

It's important to note that the opt-out process affects only those solicitations which are based on information provided by four credit reporting entities: Equifax, Experian, Innovis and TransUnion. These are biggies, but not all credit card and insurance solicitations are generated using their data. I don't expect it will be quite as effective as the Do Not Call registry...but it's a start.

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