Compliance Center
The Prescreen Opt-Out Notice
The disclosure the FCRA requires on every prescreened credit offer — what it says, why it appears, and how consumers use it.
The definition
The prescreen opt-out notice is the disclosure the FCRA requires on any solicitation based on prescreened credit information (15 U.S.C. §1681m(d)). It tells the consumer the offer was based on their credit data, that they met the criteria used to select them, and how to stop receiving prescreened offers. CFPB Regulation V (12 CFR 1022.54) sets out the layered “short notice / long notice” format.
What the notice must convey
- A short, prominent notice on the first page of the solicitation, plus a longer notice with the full detail.
- That information from a consumer credit report was used.
- That the consumer met the criteria for the offer and may not qualify if they no longer meet them.
- That the consumer may opt out of prescreened offers, with the toll-free number and address.
How consumers opt out
Consumers opt out through the central system operated by the nationwide credit bureaus — 1-888-5-OPT-OUT (1-888-567-8688) or optoutprescreen.com. Opting out by phone or online lasts five years; a signed mail request makes it permanent. Once a consumer opts out, they are removed from prescreened marketing lists.
Primary sources
Fair Credit Reporting Act, 15 U.S.C. §1681m(d) (prescreen opt-out notice) and §1681b(e) (election to be excluded from prescreened lists); CFPB Regulation V, 12 CFR 1022.54 (content, form, and layered format of the notice); and the official opt-out system at optoutprescreen.com / 1-888-5-OPT-OUT.
This page is educational and is not legal advice. Confirm your program, offer terms, and disclosures with qualified counsel before you mail. Soft Pull Mailers is not a credit bureau.