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-Have you ever had a credit card offer at a place that you have lived in for 3 weeks?

-Do you wonder how these companies know where you live but your parents don’t?

-Have you ever thought that finding missing persons could be as easy as attempting to open a credit card in their name?

If any of these thoughts have crossed your mind you are like millions of Americans who are harassed offered a:

“0% for the first 12 months, no money down, Premium Rewards Platinum Plus Super Awesome I-Asked-Your-Mom-and-She-Said-It-Was-Alright credit card. With our “One Credit App a Day” standard we can make sure that your garbage is overflowing with paper that has your information all over it. And remember, I’m not only the president but I’m also a child molester.”

So I’m fed up. I started calling all the credit card companies that were sending me this crap. I call the “Activate Your Card Now” number and politely let them know that I want to be placed on a Do Not Mail list. 50% of the time I get a “we don’t know how to do that in this department” comment but you can always go right over their heads (ask for their supervisor).

I had one such event last Friday. I have called most of these companies on more than one occasion, especially Citi but I thought I would remind them that I didn’t want their crap. The first representative with Citi that I spoke with told me that she would give me the address of the marketing department and that I would need to mail them a letter stating that I would not like to receive solicitations anymore. To which I replied “No, that isn’t going to work for me today. “I didn’t mail anything to you to start receiving your solicitations and I don’t plan on starting a new pen-pal.” She told me that was the best she could do, so I asked for her supervisor. (I remained calm and let her know that I wasn’t frustrated with her- I was frustrated with who she works for.) Todd got on the phone and was very defensive at first, but as I spoke with him about how I have called numerous times before he relaxed. I stated that I “am kind of a tree hugger” and didn’t like the waste, he agreed and then expressed his frustration with the same thing!! When he stated that me mailing a DNC letter was the only way, I politely asked for his manager. He agreed and I sat on HOLD for 15 min.

Now, some of you who like to get pushed around “cause it’s easier than telling someone to stop” are saying to yourselves right now, “he could have written a letter in that time and used the stamps on his desk to send it out.” That defeats the purpose! I’ll let you have your freedom if you are willing to give me $10,000.00. “But it’s easier to give the money!” some will reply. NO! My privacy is mine and I will not comply with requests so that it can be given back to me. I will not be pushed around by bullies, corporate bullies, corporate bullies with bees in their mouths, or lazy passive-agressive whiners.

Back to the tale! So Todd’s manager gets on the phone 15 min after Todd puts me on hold. I reiterate my position “I no mail to you first, I no mail to you now” AND HE SAYS: “Ok, can I get your full name and address.”

Now if everyone did that there would be no two tiers full of “mail us something”. DNC would be an option in the beginning, because companies know that it would be cheeper to do so.

I hope the point was taken. Here’s looking at you Citi.

*Update: I have found a website that will allow you to opt-out of any of the major credit bureaus for 5 years over the web, or indefinitely by mail… arrrg mail.  Thanks consciouses blogger!