Our Community in Fairfax County, Virginia

Blocking Telemarketers

1-888-5OPTOUT

By Dave Conway, September 2006

Looking for an easy way to notify credit reporting agencies, direct marketers, and list compilers to remove your name from prescreened credit and insurance offer lists, direct marketing lists, and individual reference service lists? Consumers may opt out of prescreened credit and insurance offer lists by calling 1-888-5OPTOUT (1-888-567-8688). Call the same number if you want to start receiving these offers.

By Dave Conway, April 2002

If you want to reduce the number of unsolicited national telemarketing calls you receive at home, you may register with the Direct Marketing Association's telephone preference service, or TPS. The TPS file of phone numbers is available to companies for the sole purpose of removing your home telephone number from their calling lists.

To register with TPS for a five-year period, mail a signed letter asking to register with TPS with your name, address, and one or two phone numbers to:

After several months you should receive significantly fewer telemarketing calls. Local businesses and organizations usually do not use this program. You may continue to receive calls from companies with which you already do business. Not all companies run the TPS file against their calling lists, so you may continue to receive some companies' calls. If you are sure you do not want to do business with the company now or in the near future, ask to be placed on the company's do-not-call file.

For more information, visit the Association's Website.