Why this matters
When I pull your credit report for a loan, the three major credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion — are allowed to sell your information as a "trigger lead." That tells other lenders you're shopping for a loan.
The result: your phone rings. A lot. People in this position often get 50 or more calls from companies you've never heard of, all trying to win your business. It's legal, it's aggravating, and it's avoidable.
The good news is you can opt out for free, in about a minute, at the official government-authorized website. There's nothing to buy and no catch.
How to opt out, step by step
- Do this first, right away. Opt out before I pull your credit, not after. Once it's done, I'll wait a few days before checking your credit so the opt-out has time to take effect.
- Click the button below. It takes you to OptOutPrescreen.com — the official site run by the credit bureaus themselves.
- Choose "Opt-Out for Five Years." You can do this entirely online. (If you'd ever like to make it permanent, the site also offers a form you print and mail.)
- Fill in your details and submit. That's it. You're done.
Opt out now — it's free
Takes about one minute. No payment, no account, no obligation.
Go to the official opt-out siteThe official site is optoutprescreen.com, operated by Equifax, Experian, Innovis, and TransUnion. Look for that exact address in your browser bar before entering any information.
A couple of honest notes
The online opt-out lasts five years. The permanent version requires mailing a paper form, which the same site provides if you want it.
This stops the credit bureaus from selling your file for unsolicited offers. It won't stop calls from companies you already do business with, and it's separate from the national Do Not Call registry (also worth doing, at donotcall.gov).
Cybercrime, phishing, and online scams are rising. C2 Financial will never email or send you wire instructions.
In every case, you must call and speak with your escrow officer to verify wire instructions before sending any wire transfer. If something arrives by email asking you to wire money, treat it as suspicious and call to confirm.
Most lenders pull your credit and let the calls happen. I'd rather you never get them — protecting you should start before the paperwork does. That's why I send this first.
Renee Konstantine
Certified Reverse Mortgage Professional (CRMP) · Associate Broker
Renee: NMLS #1360025 · CA DRE #01343046
C2 Financial Corporation · NMLS #135622
Licensed in California & Washington