Are you getting sick and tired of all the credit card offers that magically appear in your mailbox? Well, you aren’t the only one. Part of the reason why you are receiving so many of late is because the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) was changed about 10 years ago to allow major credit bureaus to sell your credit information to credit card companies.

Luckily for U.S. citizens, this Act also states that people have the right to remove themselves from these credit card offer lists. This article will detail some of the ways you can avoid getting those credit card offers.

Credit Card Offers: Opt Out By Mail
The longest and most time consuming of the options, but it also does seem to be the most effective. You can mail a letter to each of the (listed below) credit bureaus, requesting that your name not be included on their credit card offers list(s). Make sure to give them your name, phone number, full address, and Social Security Number to each and every place. Also, if you’ve moved recently, you’ll want to provide updated information for the past two years.

Equifax (http://www.equifax.com/)
Equifax Options
PO BOX 790123
Atlanta, GA 30374-0123

TransUnion (http://www.transunion.com/)
TransUnion LLC’s Name Removal Option
PO Box 97328
Jackson, MS 39288-7328

Experian (http://www.experian.com/)
Consumer “OPT-OUT”
901 West Bond
Lincoln, NE 68521

Innovis (http://www.innovis.com/)

Innovis is the new guy on the block when it comes to receiving credit card offers. They started business in 2001, providing credit agencies with marketing information on potential, new clients. One of their features is called FailSafe, which is a list of people who may pose a credit risk, and therefore should be removed from the credit card offers list. Another is called New Movers, which is exactly as it sounds: a monthly list of people who have just moved.

Credit Card Offers: Opt Out By Mail
There is an easier way, although there is a bit of controversy surrounding this company. 1-888-5-OPTOUT is a number run jointly by all four of the credit bureaus listed above. By calling it, you can ask to no longer receive any credit card offers in the mail.

First of all, call the number. Then, select option 2 to stop all credit card offers being sent to your home. Finally, follow the prompts to provide all of the same contact information as before (phone, name, full address and Social Security Number).

Supposedly, just five days after you have made this simple call, you will be mailed a “Notice of Election” form. However, there is a bit of controversy regarding this option. It seems that a large scale bogus email was sent out in July of 2004, stating that this same legislation allows for ANYONE to access your credit information.

The FTC, however, has stated publicly that this is just not true. They say that the legislation in question only gives financial institutions a deadline to let you know about their privacy policies, and some way of opting out of the sharing of private information. In reality, consumers can opt-out of any of these types of information gathering processes by contacting the number listed above; July 1 is not a deadline. And finally, not ANYONE can gain access to your credit information; it has to be for a certain list of reasons, such as an application for credit, insurance, employment or rental.

For more more information about credit card offers please visit http://www.moneytipsdaily.com/Money-Tips/Credit-Card-Delinquencies-Hit-An-All-Time-High,-Indicating-the-Need-to-Better-Manage-Personal-Debt.html

What do a shoe retailer, an online discount broker, and a popular clothing retailer all have in common? All three - DSW Shoe Warehouse, Ameritrade, and Polo Ralph Lauren - sustained breaches to their customers’ accounts. Unfortunately, these three are not alone when it comes to security breaches. CitiFinancial, Bank of America, LexisNexis and other companies have also experienced similar events.

Over 46 million Americans have had personal records containing credit card numbers, bank account information, and social security numbers lost or stolen during the first six months of 2005.

Having even just one piece of personal information is sometimes all that an identity thief needs in order to wreak havoc to your credit profile. Many people falsely believe that an ID thief uses only the stolen credit cards to go on their shopping sprees. The truth is ID thieves use your stolen information to open new accounts for credit, cars, loans, mobile phones and more. Most victims won’t know there’s a problem until they’ve been turned down for credit or begin receiving calls from creditors and collection agencies about the unpaid bills.

So, what can you do to guard your identity from criminals? Along with vigorously protecting your social security number, using a shredder to destroy credit card offers, and monitoring your credit report regularly, you may also be able to use a new line of defense against ID thieves - placing a “freeze” on your credit files.

Placing a freeze on your credit files with the three major credit reporting agencies - Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax - shuts out potential lenders from accessing your credit files in order to make you an offer for credit. When applying for new credit accounts or loans, you would use a special password or PIN to “thaw” your credit files, a process that takes a few days. The credit bureaus charge around $10 for each freeze or thaw as allowed by law.

A credit freeze protects your data since the lender can’t check your profile in order to approve any new credit. Unfortunately, credit freezes are currently available only to consumers in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Louisiana, Maine, Nevada, Texas, Vermont, and Washington.

Congress is examining laws to make credit freezes available nationwide, however they are facing some strong opposition. And guess where it’s coming from? The credit bureaus and data clearinghouses! They make money every time they sell your information to banks, mortgage brokers, car dealerships and other retailers.

The time to act is NOW. If you live in a state that doesn’t offer you, the consumer, the right to freeze your credit files, contact your state legislators to let them know that YOU WANT TO CONTROL who can access your personal and financial data. Names and contact information for your Senators and Representatives can be found at www.senate.gov and www.house.gov. Write or e-mail them and tell them you want control of your personal data. After all, it’s your identity and your finances at stake!

© 2005, http://www.yourfreecreditreportnow.com

Author: James H. Dimmitt

James is editor of “TO YOUR CREDIT”, a free weekly newsletter with tips to help you manage your personal finances. Subscribe today and receive his e-book “IDENTITY THEFT- How To Avoid Becoming the Next Victim!” and other free bonuses by visiting http://www.yourfreecreditreportnow.com