The District Chronicles

Issue date: 6/10/07 Section: Business

If you prefer not to receive such offers, call us toll free at 1-888-5-OPT OUT, or send your request to:
Options
Equifax, Inc.
P.O. Box 740123
Atlanta, GA 30374-0123

Please include your complete name, full address, Social Security number and signature. Equifax Information Services will remove your name from "pre-approved credit card orders," and share your request with the other two major credit reporting agencies.

To opt-out from direct marketing sales, which is different from credit card pre-approvals, send your request to:
Direct Marketing Association
P.O. Box 9008
Farmingdale, NY 11735-9008

I called the phone number, and the automated attendant said it was the opt-out line for the Consumer Credit Reporting Industry. Once you go through the prompts (you can select opting out for five years or permanently), it will mail you forms to opt-out of all four credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, Transunion and Innovis, which is not listed in the Web site's privacy policy quoted above). You must return the forms to opt-out permanently. If not, you will be opted-out for only five years. It also said that you can opt-out by going to www.optoutprescreen.com. (I went to this site. You can opt-out online for five years. The permanent opt-out has to be done in writing. You can order the forms through the Web site or the toll free number, but you must complete and return them to have the opt-out take effect.)

I think you may want to call the opt-out number or opt-out online, and write the Direct Marketing Association because this may fall under direct marketing rather than a pre-approval.

I will keep looking into it. Any additional information or clarification will be the subject of a future column. Regards.

Jessica White, also known as "Ms. Mortgage Maven," is a local mortgage lender and is affiliated with a well-known national lender. She specializes in helping first time homebuyers and can use DC HPAP, the DC Bond program and the Maryland CDA programs. Please call or email her with your questions at 202-607-4449 or Jessica@msmortgagemaven.com.

< prev Page 2 of 2

Article Tools