Protect Your Credit & Name
Jan 23, 2000
Protect Your Credit & Name
by Keith Ketring, NE 92ND AVE
Here?’s a follow up to the November ?‘99 ?“Protecting Your Credit & Your Name?” article that will help to
further reduce the risk of credit and identity theft.
As part of my employment responsibilities, I develop interfaces with many credit and national data
services. Every so often I get updates on ways to reduce or eliminate unwanted
credit or direct marketing solicitations. Here is the necessary contact information for removing your name from various credit
or direct marketing mail lists. By contacting the following services, you can drastically reduce the amount of unsolicited credit card or other direct
marketing offers that are being sent to your home. Within six months of removing our names, unwanted solicitations were virtually removed from our daily mail.
To eliminate your name from unwanted
and unsolicited credit solicitations call toll-free 888-567-8688. This telephone
number is applicable for Experian, Equifax, Trans-Union, and Novus. Option
"1" removes your name for only two years, option "3" removes
your name permanently.
To eliminate your name from Experian's Individual Reference Services and Experian Direct Marketing lists
call 800-407-1088.
To opt out of direct marketing lists write to the two following locations:
Direct Marketing Associates
Mail Preference Service
PO Box 9008 |
Direct Marketing Associates
Telephone Preference Service
PO Box 9014
Farmingdale NY 11735 |
You will need to provide only your First, Middle, Last name(s) (including Jr., Sr., III) and address to the Mail
Preference associates. You should also include your phone number for the
Telephone Preference associates.
Over the period of two to three months, you should see a decline in the number of unsolicited credit cards, and
other offers or calls you receive. None of the changes you make will affect your ability to apply for credit and you may
still receive credit card solicitations from non-credit bureau sources (i.e., if your bank, a utility company, or the city sells your name, address, and other
personal information to a third-party). You will also still receive offers addressed to "Current Resident" or through bulk mailings (junk mail).