If you’re applying for any type of loan, whether it is a mortgage, home equity line of credit, credit card, or auto loan, you might encounter unsolicited credit offers, also known as trigger leads.

What are Trigger Leads?

After you submit a loan application, a credit check is conducted.  This is necessary for assessing your financial eligibility for the loan, and it can trigger what is known as a “trigger lead”.  Credit Bureaus collect relevant information and sell the borrower information to data brokers and other lenders without the member or the Credit Union’s knowledge or approval.

Within hours of running a credit check, members may be bombarded with calls, texts, or emails.  It is important to understand that these solicitors have NO affiliation with our Credit Union, and your personal information is not being sold or shared by us.  Please note that your Credit Union supports legislation and has contacted our legislature representatives to stop this practice.

How can I stop these calls and opt out of Trigger Leads?

• Call 1-888-5-OPTOUT (1-888-567-8688) or sign up at optoutprescreen.com. You can choose to opt out for five years or permanently.  This free service is the ONLY website authorized by the nationwide credit bureaus.  Optout Prescreen will not reach out to consumers, so any phone call or email from anyone claiming to be from OptOut Prescreen is fraudulent.
• Go to https://www.donotcall.gov/register.html to register for the National Do Not Call Registry. There is no cost, and this can help protect you from unwanted phone calls of all kinds.
• DMA Choice is another website where you can sign up to opt out of trigger leads and avoid unsolicited postal mail or email from marketers by signing up at https://www.dmachoice.org/.  THERE IS A FEE FOR THIS SERVICE.

Keep in mind it may take time for your opt-out request to be processed.  In some cases, it may take up to 30 days to go into effect.

Your privacy and trust are our highest priority!  We will never sell your information.  We encourage you to take these precautions even if you are not currently considering a loan.  MECE Credit Union will never call you and ask for your personal information.