When you apply for a personal or business loan, a lender pulls your credit score, credit history and any accompanying information from one of the major credit reporting companies. These companies, TransUnion, Equifax and Experian, inform lending decisions by providing information to lenders to help assess creditworthiness. This data helps a lender decide whether to approve or deny a borrower for new credit.
Why am I receiving marketing calls after my credit is pulled?
After a lender requests your credit report and score, the credit bureaus then collect the borrower’s personal information including name, contact information, and date of the loan or credit application, and sell them as a sales lead to other lenders who use this information to contact you in an attempt to win your business.
This practice known as event-based trigger marketing, is completely legal under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) even though it is often an annoyance to the borrower. The credit agencies state that trigger marketing offers a borrower more choices and ways to compare prices and services.
How can I prevent my information from being sold?
Unfortunately, your lender cannot help you opt out of these calls or prevent the credit agencies from selling your information. However, you have a few options to prevent your information from being sold or opting out of solicitation calls.
- Call 1-888-5-OPTOUT (1-888-567-8688) or visit www.optoutprescreen.com. The telephone number and website are both operated by the major consumer reporting companies. When you call or visit the website, you’ll be asked to provide certain personal information, including your home telephone number, name, Social Security number and date of birth. The information you provide is confidential and will be used only to process your request to opt out. You will be able to opt out of receiving trigger marketing calls for five years or even permanently.
Please note if you have joint credit relationships, like a mortgage or a car loan with a spouse, partner, or other adult, you may continue to receive solicitations until both of you follow the steps to opt-out.
- Visit the National Do Not Call Registry or call 888.382.1222 run by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). While this does not opt you out of the trigger leads process, you should not receive solicitation calls from other lenders. Some companies do not review the Do Not Call Registry which could result in you still being contacted. You can also use this site to file a formal complaint against the companies if you wish.
- Contact the elected Representative in your area. Find your representative here and offer a formal complaint. Enacting laws around trigger marketing calls would happen by passing legislation that changes the practice.
Learn more about Live Oak Bank’s privacy and security standards.
