Once the holidays are over many people look around and decide they need to clean up their clutter for the new year. Here are two ways to do just that.

If you find you’re receiving unwanted credit card pre-approval offers, there is a way to stop them. The website http://www.OptOutPrescreen.com is the official consumer credit reporting site to accept and process requests from consumers to opt-in or opt-out of firm offers of credit or insurance.

Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), the Consumer Credit Reporting Companies are permitted to include your name on lists used by creditors or insurers to make firm offers of credit or insurance that are not initiated by you. The FCRA also provides you the right to "Opt-Out", which prevents Consumer Credit Reporting Companies from providing your credit file information for Firm Offers.

Through this website, you may request to: Opt-Out from receiving Firm Offers for Five Years, Opt-Out from receiving Firm Offers permanently, or Opt-In and be eligible to receive Firm Offers. If you choose to Opt-Out, you will no longer be included in firm offer lists provided by the four consumer credit reporting companies.  If you are not receiving firm offers because you have previously completed a request to Opt-Out, you can request to Opt-In.

To avoid telemarketer calls, you can register your phone numbers at http://www.DoNotCall.gov. The National Do Not Call Registry gives you an opportunity to limit the telemarketing calls you receive. Once you register your phone number(s), telemarketers covered by the registry have up to 31 days to stop calling you. Using these two sites will help you avoid new calls and incoming mail. Putting away all your new Christmas loot will be up to you.

Tammy Engel has been working for your best interest writing home loans since 1990. Contact her at 661/822-7325 for purchase, refinance, and reverse mortgage.