How to avoid unwanted sales calls when applying for a mortgage If you are planning to buy a home, you may be excited to get preapproved for a mortgage. However, you may not be aware that your credit information can be sold to other lenders, credit card providers, and insurance companies, who will bombard you with unsolicited offers. This is called a trigger lead, and it is a legal but annoying practice by the credit bureaus.

Fortunately, you can opt out of trigger leads and protect your personal data from being shared with third parties. Cesar Gastiaburu, a mortgage expert at Barrett Financial Group, explains how you can do this in a few simple steps.

“First, you need to visit optoutprescreen.com, the official website of the Consumer Credit Reporting Industry. This is a secure and free service that allows you to opt out of receiving pre-screened offers for five years or permanently. You will need to provide your name, address, date of birth, and Social Security number,” Cesar says.

“Second, you need to call 1-888-5-OPT-OUT (1-888-567-8688) and follow the instructions to opt out of trigger leads by phone. This is an automated service that will confirm your request and process it within 48 hours,” he adds.

“Third, you need to check your credit reports from the three major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. You can get one free copy of each report every 12 months from annualcreditreport.com. You should review your reports for any errors or unauthorized inquiries and dispute them if necessary,” he advises.

By opting out of trigger leads, you can avoid unwanted sales calls and save yourself time and hassle. You can also improve your chances of getting the best mortgage deal, as multiple inquiries can lower your credit score and affect your interest rate.

Cesar recommends opting out of trigger leads before applying for a mortgage, as it can take up to 30 days for the opt-out request to take effect. He also suggests working with a reputable and experienced mortgage lender who can guide you through the process and offer you personalized solutions.

If you want to learn more about the current mortgage market and how to get the best deal for your home purchase, you can follow Cesar on his social media channels or contact him directly at Barrett Financial Group via email Cesar@BarrettFinancial.com. He is always happy to answer your questions and help you achieve your homeownership goals.