You can stop most credit card offers by contacting the credit reporting agencies directly
Credit card offers arrive because the card companies buy lists of names from the three major credit reporting agencies — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. These agencies sell prescreened lists to lenders based on your credit profile. To stop receiving offers, you contact the agencies themselves, not the card companies. The fastest method is the Opt-Out Prescreen system, which handles mail offers. For online and phone offers, you need to contact each card company individually or use the National Do Not Call Registry.
The process takes minutes for mail offers and is free. Online offers are harder to stop completely because they come from many sources, but you can reduce them significantly by adjusting your privacy settings and contacting the agencies directly.
Key Takeaways
- Mail offers stop fastest through OptOutPrescreen.com or by calling 1-888-5-OPTOUT, which removes your name from prescreened lists for five years or permanently.
- The three credit reporting agencies — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion — sell your information to card companies, so opting out with them stops the source.
- Online offers require contacting individual card companies and adjusting privacy settings on your accounts, since they come from multiple sources.
- Removing yourself from marketing lists does not affect your credit score or your ability to get credit when you actually apply.
Stop mail offers through the official Opt-Out Prescreen system
The Opt-Out Prescreen is run by the credit reporting agencies themselves and is the official channel for stopping prescreened mail offers. You have two options: opt out for five years or opt out permanently. Both are free.
Visit OptOutPrescreen.com and follow the steps to enter your information. The site asks for your name, address, date of birth, and Social Security number. You then choose whether to opt out for five years (the default) or permanently. Permanent opt-out requires you to print, sign, and mail a form, but five-year opt-out happens instantly online. Most people choose the five-year option first and can renew it later if they want to stay off the lists.
If you prefer not to use the website, call 1-888-5-OPTOUT (1-888-567-8688) and follow the automated prompts. The phone line handles both five-year and permanent opt-outs. You should see a drop in mail offers within 30 days, though some may continue for up to 60 days because offers already in the mail will still arrive.
Contact card companies directly to stop online and phone offers
Online credit card offers come from the card companies' own websites and marketing partners, not from the prescreened lists. To stop these, you need to contact the card companies directly. Start with the ones sending you the most offers.
Visit the card company's website and look for a "Contact Us" or "Customer Service" link. Call the number on the back of any card you hold from them, or search "[Card Name] customer service" to find the right phone number. Tell them you want to opt out of marketing offers. They will ask for your name, address, and sometimes your Social Security number to find your record. Some companies let you opt out online through your account settings under "Preferences" or "Marketing Communications."
Register with the National Do Not Call Registry at DoNotCall.gov or by calling 1-888-382-1222 to stop telemarketing calls, including credit card offers by phone. This takes effect within 31 days. The registry does not stop mail or email offers, only phone calls.
Adjust privacy settings on your credit accounts and online profiles
Card companies also buy targeting data from data brokers and social media platforms. Reducing what information is available about you online makes you a less attractive target for marketing lists.
Log into your accounts with Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion (you can create free accounts at each agency's website) and look for privacy or marketing preference settings. Some agencies let you limit how your information is used for marketing. On social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram, go to Settings and adjust your ad preferences to limit behavioral targeting. On Google, visit myaccount.google.com, click "Data & Privacy," and turn off personalized ads.
These steps do not stop all offers, but they reduce the data available to brokers who sell lists to card companies. Combined with opting out through Opt-Out Prescreen, they significantly cut down the volume of offers you receive.
What happens to your credit when you opt out of offers
Opting out of prescreened offers does not affect your credit score. The credit reporting agencies still maintain your full credit file — they simply remove your name from the lists they sell to lenders for marketing. Your credit remains exactly as it was.
When you actually apply for a credit card in the future, the card company will still be able to pull your full credit report and make a lending decision. Opting out only stops unsolicited offers; it does not prevent you from getting credit when you seek it. You can also opt back in at any time by visiting OptOutPrescreen.com again or calling the number above.
Why you still receive some offers after opting out
Even after opting out, you may still receive some credit card offers. This happens for several reasons. First, offers already in the mail when you opt out will still arrive — the postal system takes time. Second, some smaller lenders and credit unions do not participate in the Opt-Out Prescreen system and buy lists from other sources. Third, if you have an existing relationship with a card company (you hold one of their cards), they can send you offers without going through the prescreened list system.
If you continue receiving offers from a specific company after opting out, contact that company directly and ask to be removed from their marketing list. Keep records of when you requested removal in case you need to follow up. If a company continues sending offers after you have requested removal, you can file a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) at ConsumerFinance.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does opting out of prescreened offers affect my credit score?
No. Opting out removes your name from marketing lists only. Your credit file and score remain unchanged. When you apply for credit in the future, lenders will still see your full credit history and can make lending decisions normally.
How long does it take to stop receiving offers after I opt out?
Mail offers typically drop within 30 to 60 days. Online and phone offers take longer because they come from multiple sources — expect two to three months to see a significant reduction. Some offers may continue indefinitely from companies that do not participate in the opt-out system.
Can I opt out permanently or just for a few years?
You can choose either. Opting out for five years online is instant. Permanent opt-out requires printing and mailing a signed form to the agencies. If you opt out for five years, you can renew the opt-out before it expires or switch to permanent opt-out later.
What if I change my mind and want to receive offers again?
Visit OptOutPrescreen.com, call 1-888-5-OPTOUT, or contact the credit reporting agencies directly to opt back in. You can also request that individual card companies add you back to their marketing lists. There is no penalty for opting back in.
Do I have to give my Social Security number to opt out?
The Opt-Out Prescreen system asks for your Social Security number to match your record in the credit reporting agencies' databases. You can provide it online securely at OptOutPrescreen.com, or you can mail a permanent opt-out form without providing your SSN — the form instructions explain this option.