One free credit report per year, from all three credit bureaus. This will start working by June 2005 in Texas. My ex-husband's credit report once got combined with the credit report of a man in western Massachusetts who had jumped some leases. My friend Lisa routinely gets credit report dings from the behavior of her aunt Linda. You need to check these things, folks.
In case I decide to start answering my landline:
- Direct Marketing Association Telemarketing Opt-Out Form
- National Do Not Call Registry
- Texas No Call Registry
And before I get a post office box for my real mail and boycott my apartment mailbox, I'm going to work on this - thanks to the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse for reminding me of some of the steps:
- Direct Marketing Association Junk Mail Opt-Out Form
- Opt-out number for credit-bureau-generated mailing lists, including credit card offers: (888) 5OPTOUT (888-567-8688).
And a final note, condensed from the Privacy folks:
Advertising flyers that are delivered to mailboxes each week are addressed to 'resident' and usually contain ads for local businesses like pizza parlors and auto repair services. If you do not want to receive these flyers, you can contact the company that is responsible for delivering them and request to be taken off the distribution list.
Look for the postcard that accompanies the flyers. If you cannot find a postcard, then look for a mailing label attached directly to the flyer. You will see the name of the distribution company near your mailing address. Contact the company in writing or by telephone and request that your address be taken off the distribution list. When making a written request, send a copy of your mailing label along with the letter.
It may take 4 to 8 weeks before you notice that you are no longer receiving the packets of advertising flyers. You may have to notify the distribution company more than once to make sure that your address has been removed from the mailing list. Once your name has been removed from the company's mailing list, you are also likely to have to remind your postal carrier not to deliver the advertising flyers.
