There are three major credit bureaus in the U.S.: Experian, Equifax and Trans Union..  Their business is to collect financial information on you and give you a credit score which helps companies like mortgage companies decide if they want to lend you $400,000 so you can buy that cool downtown loft.  However, the bad news is that they folks also rent their information to junk mailers.  A credit card company, for example, might go to these folks and say “I want the addresses of all of the people in your database who have incomes of > $60,000 and a credit score of higher than 650 so I can repeatidly send them credit card offers in the mail.”

While this does not make Mr. Thrifty happy, there appears to be a pretty easy way off of their list.  Fearing punitive legislation, the three credit bureaus have banded together an set up a one phone call place so you can be removed from these lists.  Call 888-5OPTOUT and it will have an automated system walk you through the process (Note: you will have to enter in your Social Security number and phone number so the system can find you).