Save trees: (How to) Stop Junk Mail

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by Roberta Murphy

Here’s a little tip that might save a few trees and the good nature of more than a few San Diego home owners.

I don’t know about you, but there is nothing more annoying than to have solicitors intruding into your life by telephone. Millions rejoiced when Do Not Call lists were instituted and we all reclaimed precious time in our lives by signing up.

Now if we could just find a way to stop those pesky surveys.

Not quite so intrusive is all the junk mail that clogs our mailboxes, trash cans and landfills. I would be delighted to never receive another offer to refinance my home, buy more insurance, open a Capitol One credit card, or borrow money of any sort.

I am also more than a little annoyed that credit bureaus are allowed to sell our information, FICO scores and other data to these soliciting firms. Were you aware of this practice?

Want to opt out?

Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), you have the right to opt out from these offers and prevent the credit reporting companies from selling or providing your credit and contact information to these solicitors.

To do so, just go to OptOutPreScreen and complete a simple form.

By doing so, Equifax, Experian, Innovis and TransUnion will be unable to share your information for at least five years. If you wish to permanently do so, instructions are provided for doing so by snail mail.