To stop receiving credit promotions &045; credit cards, debt consolidation loans or other ways to borrow money &045; contact the three credit reporting agencies and request that they not sell information about you to companies that offer pre-approved credit.

Euifax, Inc.

Options

PO Box 740123

Atlanta, GA 30374-0123

www.equifax.com

Experian

Consumer Opt-Out

701 Experian Parkway

Allen, TX 75013

www.experian.com

TransUnion

Marketing List Opt Out

PO Box 97328

Jackson, MS 39288-7328

www.transunion.com

You can make just one call to 1-888-567-8688 (1-888-5 OPT OUT) and get removed from all three companies’ lists.

How do I eliminate junk e-mail?

– Use an &8220;alias&8221; or different online identity from your real email address.

– Get a good filter package from your online server and use it to scan your e-mail so you only receive messages from users you’ve specified.

– Don’t open e-mails, especially those with attachments, from someone you don’t know. Just delete them.

– Don’t give a website any personal information until you have checked the site’s privacy policy. If the policy provides a procedure for &8220;opting out,&8221; you may prevent your personal information from being shared with others or used for promotional purposes.

How do I stop those faxes?

You may be tired of using your fax paper to print the promotional ads from companies you have never heard of, offering vacation packages, debt consolidation loans or work from home schemes.

The Telephone Consumer Protection Act restricts &8220;junk faxes&8221; or unwanted marketing promotions coming to your home. Businesses sending faxes must identify themselves and provide a number to call to get off the fax distribution list. They are supposed to send faxes only to people who have said &045; in writing — they want the fax. If you keep getting faxes, even after telling the company to stop faxing to you, complain to the FCC.

Dr. Marvin Copes can be reached at mailto:mlcopes@charter.net