Opting Out clarification

[Lucid08]

In late 2007 I began building my credit file. Through information from another credit website I learned about the "opt out" ability that a consumer has to prevent the selling of their personal information for marketing purposes.

I "opted out" 2 months prior to beginning my establishment of a credit file, as I wanted to control who I applied with, and not be inundated with so called "preapproved offers" from the card sharks of the industry.

Well, over the past few months I have been recieving "preapproved offers" from CC companies such as "Sterling", "Providian" and a few previously unheard of "store cards".

I realize that there are more than just EQ, EX and TU in the CRA world, but how does a consumer prevent his personal credit information from being sold or shopped to these people?

I was under the impression that the "opt out" mechanism applied across the board to all CRA's, and not just the big three. It just worries me that my information is still floating around and being sold or offered after having already opted out.

[Anonymous]

If I'm not mistaken, unless you opt-out by phone, opting out only lasts for 2 years. That's what a quickie Google search said, at least.

Could be wrong, though. Hopefully someone else will chime in that knows more.

Honestly, though, you might want to actually call the CRAs and opt out with them again -- when you call, you can have the opt out made permanent.

[Anonymous]

The only effective way to do it is through this website. www.optoutprescreen.com

Anything you do via phone or with the CRA directly is for 2 years.

If you do it online only through this site, you will have 5 years across ALL of them.

It takes like 15 minutes to fill out and submit and when you are done you can take an extra few minutes to print it out, sign it and mail it to them at the address given so it becomes permanent, like I did and I don't get anything from anyone. Good luck.

Message Edited by Guardian on 02-11-2009 04:36 PM

[MidnightVoice]

I believe opting out is for new credit - I think that people you have a relationship with can still send you preapps.  I get quite a few - airlines, universities.

[Anonymous]

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@MidnightVoice wrote:
I believe opting out is for new credit - I think that people you have a relationship with can still send you preapps.  I get quite a few - airlines, universities.

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Yes, of course you are right. I figured that was a given and understood. With existing companies, you need to send them a written request to be excluded from internal and thirdparty marketing and they are required to comply.

[Lucid08]

I was provided with a 1-800 number from the website I mentioned in my OP, and when I called, it asked me if I wanted the "opt out" to last 5 years, or permanently. I chose the 5 year option, so unless it has changed, I dont see why I am getting these offers. Plus, I have never done bussiness with Sterling, Providian, or the store cards from which I am recieveing these offers.

How does one find out exactly who a particular company has 3rd party ties with, or affiliations for marketing purposes?

[Anonymous]

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@Lucid08 wrote:

I was provided with a 1-800 number from the website I mentioned in my OP, and when I called, it asked me if I wanted the "opt out" to last 5 years, or permanently. I chose the 5 year option, so unless it has changed, I don't see why I am getting these offers. Plus, I have never done business with Sterling, Providian, or the store cards from which I am receiving these offers.

How does one find out exactly who a particular company has 3rd party ties with, or affiliations for marketing purposes?

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Well there is a misconception by the public, largely due to the vagueness of the law and the reluctance of the companies to comply, that when you ask to be removed from something it applies to everything. It does not. There are so many categorization and levels of opt-in and opt-out and what defines pre-screen and from whom and what and so on that you really need to make it abundantly clear and BROAD to cover your bases and even then, you will miss a few.

First remedy now, just do the formal and official opt-out I provided to you and mail it in to permanently get off these lists which protect you in more ways than you realize. It is not just those authorized to get the information to solicit you but also thousands of people who buy the lists from those entities that normally wouldn't have access to your information. I know scary isn't it. Once you let your information out to "authorized" people as CRAs like to categorize it, there is no guarantee or protection attached to how they use that information or who they give it to. Sad, scary but in black and white, washed over with the little words "we disclose as where permitted by law" which is the biggest lie since eating fat will make you lose weight.

Second, depending on your state there might be statute that will give you broader protection and rights. In CA, my state, they have the Shine the Light Law which requires all business to disclose who they sold your information to, where they got it to begin with and they must disclose this in writing after you ask them within 30 days. That is the most advanced and truly consumer oriented law on the books right now. If you notice most websites or business have two privacy policies, general and for CA residents, this is why. Your best course to know the full extent of what is available to you is your state's consumer protection agency, find out their contact information and get in touch with someone and ask them what is on the books regarding your concerns.

Hope this helps and if there is something specific I can help you with, reach me through PM so I don't violate any board rules giving you certain information but for the most part I can provide it to you openly so it might help others as well. I have been doing this actively for nearly 3 years now and my junk volume is virtually NONEXISTENT and it took work and persistence and yes even going after the shameless violators to get them to realize I am not playing around and I am serious. Eventually EVERYONE complied and now every transaction I enter into online or in person or through mail has an up front privacy memo attached and I tell them outright if they don't comply then tear up my order I won't do business with them and if they do they are bound and if they violate it, its in writing and they are legally and civilly on the hook.

[Lucid08]

Just to clarify something from my last post:

The telephone call I referenced was automated and -did- ask me the option of whether I wanted to opt out for 5 years, or permanently. I chose the 5 year option, which would put me well into 2012 for that opt out. I did this for numerous reasons, but the main reason I chose the 5 year option is because in 5 years I knew my credit would be in very good shape and I wanted to be able to start getting offers based on my credit file at that time.

If a permanent opt out is better, as you indicated in your last response, then I will highly consider your advice, as it seems you are indicating that a permanent opt out offers me protections that I was previously unaware of.

[Anonymous]

Although certainly your choice and you can choose to have them solicit you in the future, it is probably not the wisest way to try and get credit, especially if you are working to make it better. You don't want every tom **bleep** and harry sending you credit offers left and right, exposing your chances to identity theft or even the temptation to apply for too much and totally destroy your score as a result. The most effective way would be for YOU to selectively and informed seek out credit when you are ready and know what you need and what you want and go get it. But if the blind crap shoot of having them come to you is what works for you, then that's fine too, you can do 5 years and then pray the ones who reach out to you are not the bottom feeders that will hurt your credit.

In the meantime, To submit your Opt–In or Opt–Out request by telephone, please call toll free: 1–888–567–8688 and if that's the number you called, then you have the right one and that's fine but if not then I don't know what number you called and it might not have been the national CRA optout but some internal or third party company optout system. To Opt-Out of Direct Marketing Association (DMA) Lists, you need to do it through their website directly, this optout will NOT cover you with them and lists they maintain. The Direct Marketing Association (DMA) tracks consumers who prefer not to receive mail or telephone solicitations. The DMA can provide information about opting out of lists produced by companies that subscribe to its Mail and Telephone Preference Services. You may contact the DMA at the following web address: https://www.dmachoice.org.

Hope that helps clear it up a bit or at least provide you somewhere to do and what to do. Good luck.

Message Edited by Guardian on 02-12-2009 12:45 PM

[musikklvr]

Is this the same opt-out information to use to stop creditors from popping up on your credit reports when they see you are clearing up your credit? I got this one creditor that was on my report more than 7 years ago. I didn't know what it was then and I still do not but all of a sudden I just got a letter from them wanting to settle for $35 bux. I don't even know what for. I never had ANY kind of account with these people.

Now that I'm clearing my credit and trying to get a home, they are popping up. I have one week before I try to get pre-approved and this stuff is worrying me. 

How do I opt-out to keep other very old stuff from popping up?

Thanks.