Compare a credit freeze with a prescreen opt-out
Use prescreen opt-out for unwanted firm offers based on participating credit-bureau lists. A credit freeze addresses a different problem by restricting access to your credit report. A fraud alert prompts identity checks. Those protections deserve their own decision if you are worried about credit being opened in your name.
Sort your goal
- Write down your problem in one line. Is it unwanted offers in the mail, or worry that someone could open credit in your name?
- For unwanted offers, use the official prescreen service and choose five years or permanent. Remember that permanent requires returning a signed election form.
- For worry about new credit in your name, follow the FTC credit freeze and fraud alert page. Use the official identity-theft routes if you suspect fraud.
- If both concerns apply, handle each one through its own official route and record each separately.
Where the two can meet
If you place an extended fraud alert, it also keeps you off bureau marketing lists for five years. An active-duty alert does this for two years. In both cases, this applies unless you ask otherwise. These alerts are for fraud and active-duty situations. They are not a substitute for an ordinary mail preference.
Neither tool stops every advertisement. A company’s own customer-list marketing can continue. For a named bank or insurer, ask that company directly about its mail preferences.
Two-goals worksheet
Example for your own use. Replace the bracketed details and review what you share.
Next decision
Look at the worksheet. Any goal marked not yet started needs its official route chosen next. Also list the senders whose mail falls outside both tools, so you can contact them one by one.
Official sources
Choose the route that matches the mailing
Use the official route described in this guide for this kind of mail. For a separate ordinary advertisement, Junk Mail Magic can help prepare a sender-specific removal request.
Compare removal routes