How to Stop Creditors From Looking at Your Credit Report Monthly

"OptOutPrescreen.com, the website's "Abous Us" page explains, "is a centralized service to accept and process requests from consumers to 'Opt-In' or 'Opt-Out' of firm offers of credit or insurance. OptOutPrescreen.com is a joint venture among Equifax Information Services, LLC, Experian Information Solutions, Inc., Innovis Data Solutions, Inc., and TransUnion, LLC (collectively the 'Consumer Credit Reporting Companies')."

The process of opting out is straightforward and consists of only a few simple steps executable from your personal computer.

Instructions

1. Visit optoutprescreen.com. Choose to Opt-out for five years or permanently from solicitations to apply for a credit card or purchase insurance. You may provide the required personal information online to be taken off the lists for five years. To remove your name permanently, you must print a form, complete it and mail it in.

2. Depending on your state of residence, you may also put a security freeze on your credit report, blocking anyone from viewing it. You may "unfreeze" it when you want, and this also blocks it from identity theft. Visit financialprivacynow.org for more information.

3. Go to ftc.gov for more information on what you can do to protect your credit.

Tips & Warnings

• Remember, this doesn't mean you won't be able to get new credit cards or loans, but you will be able to better control who can look at your credit report and the frequency.

• Be aware of who you give your Social Security Number to, even if it is a legitimate company.

• Always read fine print on documents you sign with this information on it.

References

• OptOutPrescreen.com: About Us.
• ConsumersUnion: FinancialPrivacyNow
• Federal Trade Commission