Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Saturday Morning News

Pocketbook Protector

Aired October 26, 2002 - 07:55   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: For many people, there is nothing more annoying than to open your mailbox and find it overflowing with those pre-approved credit card applications. But when does something that is a nuisance become your worst nightmare and how can you recover?
Clark Howard, our "Pocketbook Protector," and author of "Get Clark Smart" explains.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CLARK HOWARD, AUTHOR, "GET CLARK SMART": We have a question from Lois who wants to know is there a number to stop the credit card offers that are pouring into your mailbox?

Well, first, that's a good sign about you, Lois, cause it means you have fantastic credit standing that people are sending you one offer after another. That can be dangerous because if somebody intercepts your mail, well, they can pretend they're you and you have a whole big mess to clean up.

So you can stop almost all credit card solicitations -- if you call one phone number, 1-888-5-OPT-OUT. OPT, OUT.

And once you call that number you'll have to punch in your social security number but within weeks 95 percent or so of the credit card solicitations that you receive will no longer show up in your mailbox, because of a Congressional Act that requires the credit bureaus to delete you from solicitations, if that's what you desire.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com






Aired October 26, 2002 - 07:55   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: For many people, there is nothing more annoying than to open your mailbox and find it overflowing with those pre-approved credit card applications. But when does something that is a nuisance become your worst nightmare and how can you recover?
Clark Howard, our "Pocketbook Protector," and author of "Get Clark Smart" explains.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CLARK HOWARD, AUTHOR, "GET CLARK SMART": We have a question from Lois who wants to know is there a number to stop the credit card offers that are pouring into your mailbox?

Well, first, that's a good sign about you, Lois, cause it means you have fantastic credit standing that people are sending you one offer after another. That can be dangerous because if somebody intercepts your mail, well, they can pretend they're you and you have a whole big mess to clean up.

So you can stop almost all credit card solicitations -- if you call one phone number, 1-888-5-OPT-OUT. OPT, OUT.

And once you call that number you'll have to punch in your social security number but within weeks 95 percent or so of the credit card solicitations that you receive will no longer show up in your mailbox, because of a Congressional Act that requires the credit bureaus to delete you from solicitations, if that's what you desire.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com