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Credit agency "trigger leads" - and opting out!

This topic can be found at:
https://sigforum.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/320601935/m/7140003894

January 30, 2023, 03:27 PM
Georgeair
Credit agency "trigger leads" - and opting out!
Based on my day today this could go in What's Your Deal with a more complete rant, but putting here as for the PSA component.

Apparently all 4 credit agencies have programs where they sell potential lenders leads under their "event based trigger" programs. You can read about these here, but in essence if you start working with a lender and they pull a credit report, everyone who subscribes to these programs gets your personal details and an alert that you may be in the market for a mortgage.

Peoples Bank summary

The site they have linked there to opt out of these is apparently legit, shows up on FTC page, etc. Seemed prudent to check since you have to provide SS#, DOB, etc. to opt out.

Now back to my shitty day and why you might want to do this. We started working with a lender Friday on a construction loan for a cabin we plan to build this year. They pulled a credit report of course as soon as we started the process. Today, the first lender call came at 7:45, and I have gotten over 30, yes THIRTY!, calls so far from random miscellaneous numbers all over the country. have only answered two just to see if that is indeed what it is - yep. And they have my name, current address, phone number obviously etc. and all want to know how they can help me.

Hell, I even got a call from our current mortgage company wanting to see if we could set up a time to "review" our loan. I think that means even they get these and want to make sure they don't lose a customer.

What a complete and utter shitshow. I only hope that this ends in a few days and not in weeks and weeks.

Optoutprescreen site to avoid this BS

Link to FTC site for the especially paranoid


You only have integrity once. - imprezaguy02
January 30, 2023, 06:21 PM
IntrepidTraveler
May be applying for a new mortgage soon, timely advice!



Thus the metric system did not really catch on in the States, unless you count the increasing popularity of the nine-millimeter bullet.
- Dave Barry

"Never go through life saying 'I should have'..." - quote from the 9/11 Boatlift Story (thanks, sdy for posting it)
January 31, 2023, 09:14 AM
Rey HRH
I don't even think it's the credit report pull. I was looking for refinancing rates at a website I remember (It could have been quickenloans.com and I started getting phone calls even from my mortgage company.

I think the websites make extra money by selling the info you provide to other companies.

When something get recorded in the government such as an escrow close, you certainly get more calls and letters.


"It did not really matter what we expected from life, but rather what life expected from us. We needed to stop asking about the meaning of life, and instead to think of ourselves as those who were being questioned by life – daily and hourly. Our answer must consist not in talk and meditation, but in right action and in right conduct. Life ultimately means taking the responsibility to find the right answer to its problems and to fulfill the tasks which it constantly sets for each individual." Viktor Frankl, Man's Search for Meaning, 1946.