BBB Advice on How to End Unwanted Junk Mail

It seems every time I check my mailbox it is full of mail; unfortunately most of it unwanted. Junk mail is a nuisance for many of us who receive daily postcards, flyers, specially-marked envelopes and pre-approved credit card offers. Junk mail also presents an opportunity for ID thieves to steal important personal information. However, as the Better Business Bureau explains, there are several steps consumers can take to reduce the amount of unwanted mail and the possibility of identity theft.

To “opt-out” of receiving pre-approved credit card offers for at least five years, and perhaps permanently, consumers can call 1-888-5-OPTOUT (567-8688) or visit: www.optoutprescreen.com. This service is offered by the three major credit-reporting bureaus, Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Consumers will be asked for personal information, including their name, address, birth date and Social Security Number.  This information is only used to process requests and will remain confidential. This procedure will need to be followed for each adult family member.

A consumer’s mailbox can often be overrun with catalogues – even if they’ve never shopped with the company before. This is likely because the consumer has, at some point, made a catalogue or online purchase with a company that handed over their contact information to Abacus, an alliance of catalogue and publishing companies.  To stop individual catalogues, consumers can contact the specific company in question. To stop mass mailings, consumers can e-mail, optout@abacus-us.com, or write to Abacus, Inc., P.O. Box 1478, Broomfield, Colorado 80038.

What do you do when solicitations are sent to children? If a child under age 13 is being mailed advertisements or credit card offers, it could be a sign that identity theft has occurred. Parents should contact the three major credit reporting bureaus, Equifax: 1-800-525-6285, Experian: 1-888-397-3742, and TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289 and inform them of the situation.

For more BBB advice on ID theft prevention – including trustworthy advice on staying safe on the Internet, visit www.acadiana. bbb.org or call us at 337-9981-3497.