How to Opt Out of Prescreened Credit Offers

Prescreened credit offers can feel harmless until they start piling up in your mailbox. These offers may include credit card invitations, loan offers, insurance offers, and other “preapproved” or “prequalified” mail tied to information from your credit file.

Opting out will not stop all junk mail, but it can reduce the number of prescreened credit and insurance offers you receive. It can also lower the chances that a stolen offer gets used in an identity theft attempt.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to opt out of prescreened credit offers and when it makes sense to do it.

TL;DR: Quick Decision Guide

• If you get lots of preapproved credit card or insurance offers → opt out at OptOutPrescreen.com.
• If you want a temporary option → opt out for five years online or by phone.
• If you want a permanent option → start online or by phone, then mail the signed form.
• If you are worried about mail theft → opting out can reduce sensitive credit offers in your mailbox.
• If you still want promotional credit offers → you can choose not to opt out or opt back in later.

Step 1: Understand What Prescreened Credit Offers Are

Prescreened credit offers are offers of credit or insurance sent because you met certain criteria based on information in your credit report. That does not mean you are fully approved. It means the company believes you may qualify if you apply and still meet its requirements.

These offers may be labeled:

• Preapproved
• Prequalified
• Prescreened
• Invitation to apply
• Firm offer of credit
• Special credit card offer

The FTC explains that prescreened offers are based on information in your credit report, and federal law allows credit bureaus to include your name on lists used by creditors and insurers unless you opt out.

What to do:
Look at the mail you are receiving. If many offers include credit cards, loans, or insurance based on your credit profile, opting out may help reduce them.

👉 Compare: Identity Protection Tools in the Marketplace →

Step 2: Decide Between a Five-Year or Permanent Opt-Out

You have two main choices.

The FTC says you can opt out for five years by going to OptOutPrescreen.com or calling 1-888-5-OPT-OUT. To opt out permanently, you start the process the same way, but you must sign and return the Permanent Opt-Out Election form.

What to do:
Choose the five-year option if you want a simple online process. Choose the permanent option if you are serious about reducing these offers long term and are willing to mail the form.

Smile Money Tip: If you are cleaning up your financial life, moving, dealing with mail theft, or recovering from identity theft, opting out can be a small but useful layer of protection.

👉 Related: How to Safely Dispose of Financial Documents →

Step 3: Use the Official Opt-Out Website or Phone Number

The official website is OptOutPrescreen.com, which is operated by the major consumer credit reporting companies for processing opt-in and opt-out requests for firm offers of credit or insurance.

You can also call:

1-888-5-OPT-OUT
1-888-567-8688

The FTC confirms this website and phone number are operated by the major credit bureaus for prescreened offer opt-outs.

What to do:
Go directly to the official website by typing the address into your browser, or call the official number. Do not use links from suspicious emails, texts, ads, or pop-ups claiming to help you opt out.

You may need to provide personal information such as your name, address, date of birth, and Social Security number so your request can be matched to your credit file.

👉 Related: How to Check Your Credit Report for Signs of Identity Theft →

Step 4: Mail the Permanent Opt-Out Form if Needed

If you choose the permanent opt-out, the online or phone process is only the first step. You must also print, sign, and mail the Permanent Opt-Out Election form.

The CFPB confirms that permanent opt-out requests require mailing a signed form. It also notes that opting out stops your name from appearing on lists provided by credit bureaus, but card issuers may still contact you if they have done business with you before or get your name from other sources.

What to do:
If you choose permanent opt-out, do not stop after the online request. Print the form, sign it, mail it, and keep a copy or note of when you sent it.

Step 5: Know What Opting Out Does Not Do

Opting out can reduce prescreened credit and insurance offers, but it will not stop every type of mail.

You may still receive:

• Mail from companies you already do business with
• Local advertisements
• Catalogs
• Political mail
• Charity solicitations
• Offers from companies that got your name from other sources
• General marketing mail not based on prescreened credit lists

What to do:
If you want to reduce more junk mail, combine this with other habits: go paperless for financial statements, update account mailing preferences, shred sensitive mail, and use a secure mailbox.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Using a lookalike website instead of the official opt-out site
• Thinking opting out stops all junk mail
• Choosing permanent opt-out but forgetting to mail the signed form
• Leaving old credit offers unshredded
• Assuming prescreened offers mean guaranteed approval
• Forgetting to update your address with financial institutions after moving

What to Do If Credit Offers Were Stolen

If you believe prescreened offers or other sensitive mail were stolen:

• Report mail theft to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
• Shred any remaining credit offers you do not plan to use.
• Check your credit reports for unfamiliar accounts or inquiries.
• Consider placing a fraud alert.
• Freeze your credit with Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion if you are concerned.
• Report identity theft at IdentityTheft.gov if accounts were opened in your name.

Opting out can reduce future offers, but it will not fix fraud that already happened.

Opt Out of Prescreened Credit Offers FAQs

Final Thought

Opting out of prescreened credit offers is a simple way to reduce sensitive mail and lower one source of identity theft risk. It will not stop every offer, but it gives you more control over what shows up in your mailbox.

Small steps like this add up when you are building a stronger identity protection system.

Next Steps:

• 👉 Learn: How to Protect Your Mail From Identity Theft →
• 👉 Read: How to Freeze Your Credit With Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion →
• 👉 Read: How to Place a Fraud Alert on Your Credit Report →
• 👉 Compare: Identity Protection Tools in the Marketplace →