I love getting mail. There's something so exciting about opening my mailbox and seeing that someone loves me enough to go to the post office and send me something!
Oh wait, all I ever get is junk, credit card offers and bills.
Seriously, since about 2010 I've received 2-3 credit card offers a week, usually telling me that they "Know I've been trying to build my credit. Here's how!"
During last week's thrilling identity theft adventure, I checked my credit report and discovered that Capitol One has requested my info about 30 times over the past few years, all to send me credit card offers that get ripped up and tossed in the trash.
Side note - am I the only one who, after shredding up sensitive information, disposes of it underneath old, gross food so no one can glue it back together and open a credit card in my name?
On the surface, these things are harmless. I throw them away like clockwork, because if I really wanted a credit card...I'd ride on down to the credit union and open one up myself. Getting so much useless mail its just annoying.
I did some research and you can opt out fairly easily. Simply call 1-888-5-OPTOUT.
When you call you'll be presented with some directives that lead you through the path of removing your name from those lists. I must note, though, that you will need to provide you social security number in order to be fully taken off of the list. If it skeeves you out to give sensitive info over the phone, then you can always write them directly.
1-888-5-OPTOUT is referenced on the official Federal Trade Comission website, and is verified as legitimate. Since I did it about a week ago, I've received no credit card offers. pretty nifty, huh?
Is your mailbox breaking from unsolicited credit card offers? Have you taken any steps to decrease them?
I wanna know!
DeAndre
