Californians can block credit card solicitations (edit)

[cally]

About a year or two ago, I wrote to my bank and I think various credit agencies and requested that I not get any more solicitations for financial services. I also requested that my kids also not get any solicitations. It worked. I never get a call for services or a credit card solicitation in the mail. I used to the get 3 to 5 a week.

Here's the number to call for Californians (only California law):

If you want to avoid the allure of all those offers, removing yourself from the mailing lists is a short, toll-free phone call away. Most of the offers you receive are generated from data found on your credit reports. By calling the credit reporting industry's pre-screening opt-out number (1-800-353-0809), you can block your information from being supplied to credit card companies who use this method to solicit your business. When you call, you will be linked to an automated system - simply follow the prompts and your name will be removed from the lists for two years.

Because not all companies use this system when marketing to potential cardholders, you will likely continue to receive some "junk" mail. But it will lighten the load, and you won't have to resist all those enticing (or annoying) letters nearly as often.

http://www.balancepro.net/cueducation/optingout.html


On edit: I found the answer. I should have researched first.

[kentuck]

1. And why do they offer 100,000 in credit to someone only making

25,000 per year? That sounds insane. Would you loan 500 dollars to a homeless person?

[AllegroRondo]

2. Read the fine print

they often state that is the max credit you COULD get IF you qualify. Most people dont qualify for the max, and get some lesser credit limit at much higher rates.

[cally]

3. The one's I most hated were the "check" for $5,000

I always worried that someone would steal it and use it. It also annoyed me that I had to take my time cutting up a credit card I never wanted and to shred the papers. It is much better not getting this junk.