What should I do about the unsolicited offers I receive in the mail?

Put a stop to unsolicited offers

If you have decent credit then you are probably inundated with low interest credit card offers in the mail on a regular basis. Did you know that you can opt out of receiving these types of offers?

Some of the offers may look pretty tempting, such as the offers promising low interest rates for the life of the account or attractive rewards with every purchase. You should practice restraint when these offers roll in. Unless you are in the market for a new credit card, it may be best to just toss these offers into your shredder without even opening them.

Most credit card offers look enticing when there is nothing else to compare them to. For example, an annual fee may seem reasonable when you look at the marketing material you are sent, but if you take the time to compare this offer to other offers then you may be able to find a comparable credit card without an annual fee.

If you want to stop receiving these offers in the mail, you can opt out by calling 1-888-OPT-OUT or by visiting OptOutPreScreen.com and requesting that your name be removed from the list of those receiving pre-approved credit card offers. It will take a couple of months, but you will notice the volume of this type of mail gradually declining until you no longer receive pre-screened credit offers.

Also, the Direct Marketing Association (DMA) maintains a Mail Preference Service (MPS) that lets you opt out of receiving direct mail marketing from many national companies for a period of five years. You can visit the DMA’s How to Get Off a Mailing List for more detail.

For even more information about pre-screened offers of credit – and how to stop receiving them – visit the Federal Trade Commission page devoted to this topic.