Homebuyers who have recently had their credit pulled may be bombarded with unsolicited phone calls from companies trying to sell them services related to their home buying journey. These calls can be frustrating and time-consuming, and can often leave homebuyers feeling overwhelmed and unsure of what to do.

1. What Are Trigger Leads?

When you apply for a mortgage, the lender will pull your credit report to assess your creditworthiness. Your credit report contains a lot of personal information, including your name, address, and credit score. The credit bureaus can sell this information to third-party companies as "trigger leads."

2. How Do Trigger Leads Work?

When a lender pulls your credit report, it creates an opportunity for companies to reach out to you with offers for products and services related to your home buying journey. These companies purchase your personal information as a "trigger lead" and use it to market to you. This can result in a flood of unsolicited phone calls and emails.

3. How to Stop Trigger Lead Phone Calls

If you're tired of receiving unwanted solicitation calls, there are steps you can take to stop them:

1. Opt out of trigger leads: You can opt out of having your personal information sold as a trigger lead by contacting the credit reporting agencies and requesting that they remove you from their marketing lists. Go to www.optoutprescreen.com/ to optout. There is an option of a 5 year or a permanent optout. We recommend the permanent optout.
2. Use call-blocking services: Many phone service providers offer call-blocking services that allow you to block unwanted calls.
3. Register with the National Do Not Call Registry: You can add your phone number to the National Do Not Call Registry, which will prevent telemarketers from calling you.
4. Screen your calls: If you don't recognize the phone number calling you, let it go to voicemail. If it's an important call, the person will likely leave a message.

4. Why Do Companies Use Trigger Leads?

Companies use trigger leads as a way to reach potential customers who are in the market for specific products or services. For example, if you've recently applied for a mortgage, you may be in the market for home insurance, furniture, or other products related to homeownership. Companies can use trigger leads to target you with offers for these products and services.

5. How to Protect Your Personal Information

While you can't completely prevent companies from accessing your personal information, there are steps you can take to protect it:

1. Monitor your credit report: Check your credit report regularly to ensure that all the information on it is accurate.
2. Use a password manager: A password manager can help you create and store strong passwords for all your

 

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