Should You Opt Out of Credit Offers?
Where Do Pre-Approved Credit Card Offers Come From?
Consumer credit reporting companies, like Experian, Equifax and TransUnion, allow companies to pull lists of individuals meeting specific credit criteria to send pre-approved or pre-screened offers of credit or insurance (referred to as “Firm Offers”).
Benefits of Receiving Firm Offers (Pre-Approved Credit Offers)
According to the official Consumer Credit Reporting Industry website that processes requests from consumers to Opt-In or Opt-Out of firm offers of credit or insurance, there are benefits to allowing firm offers:
- Consumers are provided with product choices
- Consumers learn about and have an opportunity to take advantage of offers that may not be available to the general public
- Firm offers help consumers to “comparison shop”, which may increase a consumer’s buying power.
In fact, there is an entire PDF focusing on the benefits of continuing to allow unsolicited credit offers. Click here to view the PDF.
Put an End to Unsolicited Credit Offers
If you feel the benefits of receiving pre-approved credit or insurance offers do not outweigh the risks – you are not alone. Many people feel that it’s far too easy for identity thieves to steal your mail or your garbage and use a pre-screened credit card offer to obtain credit in your name. Visit optoutpresecreen.com to opt out from receiving firm offers. You can always choose to opt-in again at a later time.
What are Trigger Leads?
Want another reason to opt-out? If you are in the process of buying or refinancing a home, once your credit has been pulled for a mortgage application (as required), the credit agencies actually sell this information to “trigger lead” companies. They sell the fact that you are contemplating a home purchase or refinance. This has nothing to do with the mortgage company you are applying with. Once your information is sold, you can find your phone ringing regularly even if you’re on the “Do Not Call” list. Worse still, the companies that resort to purchasing these trigger leads have been known to misrepresent themselves or engage in bait and switch tactics. Use of trigger leads is not permitted at Inlanta Mortgage.
Trigger leads get re-sold many times over. Some of the less savory characters that purchase trigger leads might contact you under the guise of being your lender and try to extract important personal information. For safety’s sake, NEVER provide your social security number or mother’s maiden name over the phone. Want to do more? Tell your Congressional representatives at (202) 224-3121 to stop the credit agencies from selling your information.
Assure Your Security and Peace of Mind
Fraud and identity theft are not things you want to face at any time. Identify theft can take a long time to resolve. Opting out of pre-approved offers is free and only takes a couple of minutes. That’s far less than the time you could spend shredding unwanted mail, dealing with unwanted calls, or trying to come back from identity theft.
Go to www.optoutprescreen.com to opt out today.
If you believe you may have already been targeted or defrauded, contact the Federal Trade Commission at 1 (877) 382-4357.
Choose a Mortgage Company You Can Trust
Not every mortgage company relies on shady tactics to earn business. Inlanta Mortgage relies on relationships and referrals. The majority of our customers are referred to us from Realtors or past customers. If you or someone you know is considering a home purchase or refinance, visit our mortgage application page to apply right away or use our branch locator to find a loan officer near you.
About Inlanta Mortgage
Headquartered in Brookfield, Wisconsin, Inlanta Mortgage is a growing mortgage banking firm committed to quality mortgage lending, ethical operations and strong customer service.
Our mission is to be the home financing partner that you trust to serve your family, friends and community. Through our family of dedicated mortgage professionals our commitment is to deliver an exceptional experience. Our unwavering dedication to integrity, honesty and ethics is the foundation of all of our relationships.
Inlanta Mortgage offers Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac agency products, as well as a full suite of jumbo and portfolio programs. The company is an agency approved lender for Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, FHA/VA, FHA 203K and USDA. Inlanta Mortgage also offers numerous state bond agency programs. Review Inlanta’s mortgage loan programs.
Inlanta Mortgage was recently named a Top Workplace for a third time in 2015. Inlanta has also received the Platinum Million Dollar USDA Lender Award and has been recognized as a Top Mortgage Employer by National Mortgage Professional and a Top 100 Mortgage Banking Company and 100 Best Mortgage Companies to Work For by Mortgage Executive Magazine.
Inlanta Mortgage, Inc. NMLS #1016