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FTC Facts
For Consumers

March 2011

Federal Trade Commission
For The Consumer
www.ftc.gov

1-877-ftc-help

Prescreened Offers of Credit and Insurance

M

ail Call: Bills, a letter from your
Aunt Mary, a circular from a local
department store, your monthly bank
statement, and an offer for a new credit
card that says you’ve been “prescreened” or
“prequalified.”

A “prescreened” offer of credit?
What’s that?
Many companies that solicit
new credit card accounts
and insurance policies use
prescreening to identify potential
customers for the products
they offer. Prescreened offers —
sometimes called “preapproved”
offers — are based on
information in your credit report
that indicates you meet criteria
set by the offeror. Usually, prescreened
solicitations come via mail, but you also may
get them in a phone call or in an email.

How does prescreening work?
Prescreening works in one of two ways:
n	 a creditor or insurer establishes criteria,
like a minimum credit score, and asks a

consumer reporting company for a list
of people in the company’s database who
meet the criteria; or
n	 a creditor or insurer provides a list of
potential customers to a consumer
reporting company and asks the
company to identify people on the list
who meet certain criteria.

Can prescreening hurt
my credit report or credit
score?
No. There will be “inquiries”
on your credit report
showing which companies
obtained your information
for prescreening, but those
inquiries will not have
a negative effect on your credit report or
credit score.

Can I reduce the number of unsolicited
credit and insurance offers I get?
If you decide that you don’t want to receive
prescreened offers of credit and insurance,
you have two choices: You can opt out of
receiving them for five years or opt out of
receiving them permanently.
2 FTC Facts For Consumers

TransUnion
To opt out for five years: Call toll-free
Name Removal Option
1-888-5-OPT-OUT (1-888-567-8688) or
P.O. Box 505
visit www.optoutprescreen.com. The phone
Woodlyn, PA 19094
number and website are operated by the
major consumer reporting companies.
Equifax, Inc.
To opt out permanently: You may begin
Options
the permanent Opt-Out process online at
P.O. Box 740123
www.optoutprescreeen.com. To complete
Atlanta, GA 30374-0123
your request, you must return the signed
Innovis Consumer Assistance
Permanent Opt-Out Election form, which
P.O. Box 495
will be provided after you initiate your
Pittsburgh, PA 15230-0495
online request.
When you call or visit the website, you’ll
Why would someone opt out — or not?
be asked to provide certain personal
Some people prefer not to receive these kinds
information, including your home telephone
of offers in the mail, especially if they are
number, name, Social Security number, and
not in the market for a new credit card or
date of birth. The information you provide
insurance policy. They may
is confidential and will be
prefer to opt out to limit
used only to process your
access to their credit report
Prescreened offers are
request to opt out.
information for credit and
based on information
If you don’t have access
insurance solicitations, or
to the Internet, you may
to reduce some mailbox
in your credit report
send a written request to
that indicates you meet “clutter.” However, some
permanently opt out to
companies send offers
each of the major consumer criteria set by the offeror. that are not based on
reporting companies. Make
prescreening, and your
sure your request includes
federal opt-out right will
your home telephone number, name, Social
not stop those kinds of solicitations.
Security number, and date of birth.
As you consider opting out, you should
Experian
know that prescreened offers can provide
Opt Out
many benefits, especially if you are in
P.O. Box 919
the market for a credit card or insurance.
Allen, TX 75013
Prescreened offers can help you learn about
FTC Facts For Consumers 3

what’s available, compare costs, and find
the best product for your needs. Because
you are pre-selected to receive the offer, you
can be turned down only under limited
circumstances. The terms of prescreened
offers also may be more favorable than those
that are available to the general public.
In fact, some credit card or insurance
products may be available only through
prescreened offers.

Does opting out hurt my credit score?

Calling the opt-out line or visiting the
website will stop the prescreened solicitations
that are based on lists from the major
consumer reporting companies. You may
continue to get solicitations for credit
and insurance based on lists from other
sources. For example, opting out won’t end
solicitations from local merchants, religious
and charitable associations, professional and
alumni associations, and companies with
which you already conduct business. To stop
mail from groups like these — as well as
mail addressed to “occupant” or “resident”
— you must contact each
source directly.

Removing your name from prescreened lists
has no effect on your ability
to apply for or obtain credit
or insurance.
Removing your name

If I decide to opt out,
how long will it be
before I stop getting
prescreened offers?
Requests to opt out are
processed within five days,
but it may take up to
60 days before you stop
receiving prescreened offers.

What other opt-out

from prescreened lists has programs should I know
no effect on your ability about?
The federal government’s
to apply for or obtain
National Do Not Call
Registry is a free, easy way
credit or insurance.

What if I opt out and then change my
mind?
You can use the same toll-free telephone
number or website to opt back in.

Will calling 1-888-5-OPTOUT or
visiting www.optoutprescreen.com
stop all unsolicited offers of credit and
insurance?

to reduce the telemarketing
calls you get at home.
To register your phone number or to
get information about the registry, visit
www.donotcall.gov, or call 1-888-382-1222
from the phone number you want to register.
You will get fewer telemarketing calls
within 31 days of registering your number.
Telephone numbers on the registry will only
be removed when they are disconnected and
reassigned, or when you choose to remove a
number from the registry.
4 FTC Facts For Consumers

The Direct Marketing Association’s (DMA)
Mail Preference Service (MPS) lets you opt
out of receiving unsolicited commercial
mail from many national companies for five
years. When you register with this service,
your name will be put on a “delete” file and
made available to direct-mail marketers
and organizations. This will reduce most
of your unsolicited mail. However, your
registration will not stop mailings from
organizations that do not use the DMA’s
Mail Preference Service. To register with
DMA’s Mail Preference Service, go to
www.dmachoice.org, or mail your request
with a $1 processing fee to:
DMAchoice
Direct Marketing Association
P.O. Box 643
Carmel, NY 10512

The FTC works to prevent fraudulent,
deceptive and unfair business practices in the
marketplace and to provide information to
help consumers spot, stop and avoid them.
To file a complaint or get free information
on consumer issues, visit ftc.gov or call tollfree, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357);
TTY: 1-866-653-4261. Watch a video, How
to File a Complaint, at ftc.gov/video to learn
more. The FTC enters consumer complaints
into the Consumer Sentinel Network, a
secure online database and investigative tool
used by hundreds of civil and criminal law
enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad.

The DMA also has an Email Preference
Service (eMPS) to help you reduce
unsolicited commercial emails. To opt out of
receiving unsolicited commercial email from
DMA members, visit www.dmachoice.org.
Registration is free and good for six years.

Federal Trade Commission
Bureau of Consumer Protection
Division of Consumer and Business Education
	
	

For The Consumer	 Federal Trade Commission
www.ftc.gov	1-877-ftc-help

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Prescreened Offers of Credit and Insurance

  • 1. FTC Facts For Consumers March 2011 Federal Trade Commission For The Consumer www.ftc.gov 1-877-ftc-help Prescreened Offers of Credit and Insurance M ail Call: Bills, a letter from your Aunt Mary, a circular from a local department store, your monthly bank statement, and an offer for a new credit card that says you’ve been “prescreened” or “prequalified.” A “prescreened” offer of credit? What’s that? Many companies that solicit new credit card accounts and insurance policies use prescreening to identify potential customers for the products they offer. Prescreened offers — sometimes called “preapproved” offers — are based on information in your credit report that indicates you meet criteria set by the offeror. Usually, prescreened solicitations come via mail, but you also may get them in a phone call or in an email. How does prescreening work? Prescreening works in one of two ways: n a creditor or insurer establishes criteria, like a minimum credit score, and asks a consumer reporting company for a list of people in the company’s database who meet the criteria; or n a creditor or insurer provides a list of potential customers to a consumer reporting company and asks the company to identify people on the list who meet certain criteria. Can prescreening hurt my credit report or credit score? No. There will be “inquiries” on your credit report showing which companies obtained your information for prescreening, but those inquiries will not have a negative effect on your credit report or credit score. Can I reduce the number of unsolicited credit and insurance offers I get? If you decide that you don’t want to receive prescreened offers of credit and insurance, you have two choices: You can opt out of receiving them for five years or opt out of receiving them permanently.
  • 2. 2 FTC Facts For Consumers TransUnion To opt out for five years: Call toll-free Name Removal Option 1-888-5-OPT-OUT (1-888-567-8688) or P.O. Box 505 visit www.optoutprescreen.com. The phone Woodlyn, PA 19094 number and website are operated by the major consumer reporting companies. Equifax, Inc. To opt out permanently: You may begin Options the permanent Opt-Out process online at P.O. Box 740123 www.optoutprescreeen.com. To complete Atlanta, GA 30374-0123 your request, you must return the signed Innovis Consumer Assistance Permanent Opt-Out Election form, which P.O. Box 495 will be provided after you initiate your Pittsburgh, PA 15230-0495 online request. When you call or visit the website, you’ll Why would someone opt out — or not? be asked to provide certain personal Some people prefer not to receive these kinds information, including your home telephone of offers in the mail, especially if they are number, name, Social Security number, and not in the market for a new credit card or date of birth. The information you provide insurance policy. They may is confidential and will be prefer to opt out to limit used only to process your access to their credit report Prescreened offers are request to opt out. information for credit and based on information If you don’t have access insurance solicitations, or to the Internet, you may to reduce some mailbox in your credit report send a written request to that indicates you meet “clutter.” However, some permanently opt out to companies send offers each of the major consumer criteria set by the offeror. that are not based on reporting companies. Make prescreening, and your sure your request includes federal opt-out right will your home telephone number, name, Social not stop those kinds of solicitations. Security number, and date of birth. As you consider opting out, you should Experian know that prescreened offers can provide Opt Out many benefits, especially if you are in P.O. Box 919 the market for a credit card or insurance. Allen, TX 75013 Prescreened offers can help you learn about
  • 3. FTC Facts For Consumers 3 what’s available, compare costs, and find the best product for your needs. Because you are pre-selected to receive the offer, you can be turned down only under limited circumstances. The terms of prescreened offers also may be more favorable than those that are available to the general public. In fact, some credit card or insurance products may be available only through prescreened offers. Does opting out hurt my credit score? Calling the opt-out line or visiting the website will stop the prescreened solicitations that are based on lists from the major consumer reporting companies. You may continue to get solicitations for credit and insurance based on lists from other sources. For example, opting out won’t end solicitations from local merchants, religious and charitable associations, professional and alumni associations, and companies with which you already conduct business. To stop mail from groups like these — as well as mail addressed to “occupant” or “resident” — you must contact each source directly. Removing your name from prescreened lists has no effect on your ability to apply for or obtain credit or insurance. Removing your name If I decide to opt out, how long will it be before I stop getting prescreened offers? Requests to opt out are processed within five days, but it may take up to 60 days before you stop receiving prescreened offers. What other opt-out from prescreened lists has programs should I know no effect on your ability about? The federal government’s to apply for or obtain National Do Not Call Registry is a free, easy way credit or insurance. What if I opt out and then change my mind? You can use the same toll-free telephone number or website to opt back in. Will calling 1-888-5-OPTOUT or visiting www.optoutprescreen.com stop all unsolicited offers of credit and insurance? to reduce the telemarketing calls you get at home. To register your phone number or to get information about the registry, visit www.donotcall.gov, or call 1-888-382-1222 from the phone number you want to register. You will get fewer telemarketing calls within 31 days of registering your number. Telephone numbers on the registry will only be removed when they are disconnected and reassigned, or when you choose to remove a number from the registry.
  • 4. 4 FTC Facts For Consumers The Direct Marketing Association’s (DMA) Mail Preference Service (MPS) lets you opt out of receiving unsolicited commercial mail from many national companies for five years. When you register with this service, your name will be put on a “delete” file and made available to direct-mail marketers and organizations. This will reduce most of your unsolicited mail. However, your registration will not stop mailings from organizations that do not use the DMA’s Mail Preference Service. To register with DMA’s Mail Preference Service, go to www.dmachoice.org, or mail your request with a $1 processing fee to: DMAchoice Direct Marketing Association P.O. Box 643 Carmel, NY 10512 The FTC works to prevent fraudulent, deceptive and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop and avoid them. To file a complaint or get free information on consumer issues, visit ftc.gov or call tollfree, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261. Watch a video, How to File a Complaint, at ftc.gov/video to learn more. The FTC enters consumer complaints into the Consumer Sentinel Network, a secure online database and investigative tool used by hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad. The DMA also has an Email Preference Service (eMPS) to help you reduce unsolicited commercial emails. To opt out of receiving unsolicited commercial email from DMA members, visit www.dmachoice.org. Registration is free and good for six years. Federal Trade Commission Bureau of Consumer Protection Division of Consumer and Business Education For The Consumer Federal Trade Commission www.ftc.gov 1-877-ftc-help