Our names and numbers are often sold on solicitation lists. Credit reporting agencies sell lists to credit card marketers and others. Upon request, credit reporting agencies will remove your name from the lists they provide. An oral request will remove your name for two years, or you can follow the prompts for a written form to request permanent removal . Ask the Direct Marketing Association to remove your name from lists it manages.
Reputable businesses honor such requests.
Be sure to include all variations of your name as they appear in mailings. It probably will take a few months before you notice a significant decrease in solicitations, but it should help. But the preference services still may help you reduce unwanted calls and mail. This information may well be sold many times over, driving up the number of mail and telephone solicitations you receive. For information, or to file a complaint about a fraudulent solicitation, contact the Consumer Protection Division, Hoover Bldg., Des Moines, IA 50319.