Shred Credit Card Offers - Better than Ripping them up

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No one gets more credit card offers than college students. If you're being bombarded with annoying credit offers, make a point to dispose of them properly. Tearing pre-approved credit card offers into a few pieces before disposing of them isn't enough to protect you from identity thieves.

A consumer reporter for the NBC Today show tested what happens when consumers first rip card offers into a few pieces, then piece them back together, fill them out, and submit them to card issuers. In five out of eight tries, the reporter received a credit card.

Card issuers have rules about accepting mangled submissions, but clearly some slip through. Protect yourself two ways:

• Shred all pre-approved credit card offers before disposing of them.
• Prevent the offers in the first place. You can call 1-888-5OPTOUT (567-8688) or visit optoutprescreen.com to "opt out" of most mailings. You've had that right since 1996, but few people use it. A study by the Federal Reserve in 2004 indicated that only 6% of consumers had signed up to opt out. That was before the law required issuers to make the opt out option more prominent on credit card offers.

Your best option for a credit card at a fair rate likely is from UECU. Check out UECU's no-hassle VISA® Credit Card and consider a credit card that won't rip you off.

© 2007 Credit Union National Association Inc. Information subject to change without notice. For use with members of a single credit union. All other rights reserved.

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