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1. Register for the Direct Marketing Association’s (DMA) Mail Preference Service (MPS). Your name and home address are placed on a “do-not-mail” file. DMA members are required to run their list of prospective customers against this file and remove all individuals from their lists who registered. To register for MPS online or by mail, go to: Download MPS Forms. There is a $1 fee to register (payable by credit card or check) which verifies your registration and protects the DMA’s system against fraud. The DMA is the largest trade association of businesses who advertise their products and services directly to consumers via telephone, mail, magazine, radio, television or internet.

2. To stop mailings from a particular company, the fastest way to effect this is to contact the company directly and ask to be removed from their mailing list. An easy way to find a business mailing address is to do a simple Business Search. It usually takes between 30 – 90 days for mailings from a company to phase out, as mailings are usually planned in advance.

3. To reduce the number of pre-screened credit card and insurance offers you receive, contact 1-888-5OPT-OUT (1-888-567-8688). This is the opt-out number operated by the three major credit reporting agencies (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion). You can also opt-out of these offers online at: Official Credit Reporting Companies Website. This is a free service offered by the major credit bureaus:

Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), the Consumer Credit Reporting Companies are permitted to include your name on lists used by creditors or insurers to make firm offers of credit or insurance that are not initiated by you (”Firm Offers”). The FCRA also provides you the right to “Opt-Out,” which prevents Consumer Credit Reporting Companies from providing your credit file information for Firm Offers.

***Picture Thanks to Lucid Nightmare***