opt out

[arethinn]

This month's health newsletter at De Anza included a somewhat lengthy piece (for the size of the newsletter) on identity theft. (Why? I guess because a lot of people read it. I suppose it is a kind of health...) When talking about the wisdom of shredding unwanted credit card offers rather than throwing them out the normal way, this was mentioned:

"Remove your name from the marketing lists of the three credit reporting bureaus -- Equifax, Experian (formerly
TRW) and Trans Union. Call 888-5OPTOUT. This will limit the number of pre-approved offers of credit that you
receive."

I know I could sure use less junk mail of that kind. Three credit cards is plenty, thanks. :P

Comments

[silentbob037.livejournal.com]

One credit card is plenty for me...

[arethinn]

One of them is a carryover of the first credit card I got from being in an honour society at my community college. Another I got during university because I thought building more good credit would be a good thing. The third I just got because I wanted to have a Visa as well as Mastercards (there are a very, very few places which will accept only one or the other, and not both).

Point is, I had specific reasons for all of them. I don't actually need/use the purchasing power, although it does make me feel a bit more secure should I get into, say, a situation needing medical care which my insurance (being the Kaiser HMO) wouldn't cover. I always pay off the entire balances every month, which only amounts to a few hundred dollars tops. *shrug*

[silentbob037.livejournal.com]

You're probably doing better than I am. I have a balance on my one card that I'm trying to pay off but it's all on just the one card. I know a couple people with 5-6 cards and pretty sizable balances on all of them. I'd hate to have to carry around all of that debt.

[arethinn]

Just to satisfy my curiosity, how did you find me? I'm going to guess it was mst3k, since we don't seem to have any mutual friends or other comms.

[silentbob037.livejournal.com]

Yes it was through there. I read your responses in the threads and then checked out your own journal. You sounded really interesting and, after checking out your user info to see how many similar interests we have, I decided to add you to my Friends list.

[arethinn]

That's cool, I was just wonderin' :)