Sometimes you will receive an offer through the mail that is “pre-approved.” This means that credit card companies, furniture companies, electronic companies, etc. have checked your level of credit to see if you meet certain qualifications for an offer they would like you to sign up for.

This does NOT mean that if you actually apply for the offer, they will extend you a line of credit. What it does mean is that they are gathering information, such as income, debts, social security number, etc. so they can pull your credit score to see if you are a good credit risk. Even though they say you are pre-approved, the final approval comes after they have pulled your credit and have actually seen your credit scores and credit file.

It is important to protect these pre-approval credit card offers offers from unscrupulous people who would steal your identity and try to apply for the card in your name. An identity thief will apply but change the address or, even more daring, they will keep the address, but check your mail every day, until the offer arrives. They will then steal it and use it in your name.

One way of protecting yourself from these offers coming in the mail is to “Opt-Out” of the “junk mail” programs of the credit bureaus. It is an easy thing to call the phone number and electronically “Opt-Out” for 5 years. Or you can write them and “Opt-Out” permanently.

Here is the information:

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