Those paper-wasting mail offers of pre-approved credit cards and the like aren't just an annoying waste of time. You're likely aware that they're also an ID theft risk, targets for crooks who can lift them from your mailbox or trash to steal your personal information.
It turns out there's a seemingly little-known Web site, OptOutPrescreen.com, where you can opt-out of receiving these offers. I found it after I got fed up with the umpteenth piece of junk mail from United, which seems to think that I absolutely need a credit card tied to my frequent flyer account.
The site is run by the credit report companies. If you provide your name, address, social security number and date of birth, you can instruct the companies to keep your info off the lists the reporting companies sell to other companies who want to send you these "firm offers." The site says your SSN and birthdate aren't required, but "will help to ensure that we can successfully process your request."
I wasn't entirely sure about the site, so I checked with Tom Fragala of MyTruston.com, which offers free and paid credit monitoring and ID theft recovery services. Turns out he has recommended it himself, and wrote that it's the only legit site for this purpose.
One thing to note is that using the site will only opt you out for five years. To make it permanent, you'll need to fill out forms and send them in via the mail. On the off chance you decide you really did want all that crap in the mail, you can also opt back in using the site.
If you're leery of using a Web site for this kind of thing, you can also call 1-888-5-OPTOUT.
Erik,
There is an exclusion in the pre-screened credit offers ruling for companies that have an established business relationship with you. So they can send their own customers direct mail marketing offers. This means United isn't compelled by law to comply with the pre-screen opt out. However, most companies do allow opt-outs directly with them, which you can hopefully do in this case. You might find it on United's web site.
In fact, I was burned by this recently--and I became an ID theft victim again. My bank, Wells Fargo, sent me "promo" checks on my home equity line which I did not request. Someone stole the checks (which have valid acct numbers) and I had two fraudulent drafts against my account. I am still working to clear this up 3 weeks later. I even got one check sent to a debt collector and my credit report was dinged.
Tom
Truston
www.mytruston.com