North Garrison Heights Neighborhood Association

Protect Your Credit & Name

Jan 23, 2000

Protect Your Credit & Name

by Keith Ketring, NE 92ND AVE

Here?’s a follow up to the November ?‘99 ?“Protecting Your Credit & Your Name?” article that will help to further reduce the risk of credit and identity theft.

As part of my employment responsibilities, I develop interfaces with many credit and national data services. Every so often I get updates on ways to reduce or eliminate unwanted credit or direct marketing solicitations. Here is the necessary contact information for removing your name from various credit or direct marketing mail lists. By contacting the following services, you can drastically reduce the amount of unsolicited credit card or other direct marketing offers that are being sent to your home. Within six months of removing our names, unwanted solicitations were virtually removed from our daily mail.

To eliminate your name from unwanted and unsolicited credit solicitations call toll-free 888-567-8688. This telephone number is applicable for Experian, Equifax, Trans-Union, and Novus. Option "1" removes your name for only two years, option "3" removes your name permanently.

To eliminate your name from Experian's Individual Reference Services and Experian Direct Marketing lists call 800-407-1088.

To opt out of direct marketing lists write to the two following locations:

Direct Marketing Associates Mail Preference Service PO Box 9008

Direct Marketing Associates Telephone Preference Service PO Box 9014 Farmingdale NY 11735

You will need to provide only your First, Middle, Last name(s) (including Jr., Sr., III) and address to the Mail Preference associates. You should also include your phone number for the Telephone Preference associates.

Over the period of two to three months, you should see a decline in the number of unsolicited credit cards, and other offers or calls you receive. None of the changes you make will affect your ability to apply for credit and you may still receive credit card solicitations from non-credit bureau sources (i.e., if your bank, a utility company, or the city sells your name, address, and other personal information to a third-party). You will also still receive offers addressed to "Current Resident" or through bulk mailings (junk mail).