5 Common Credit Offer Tactics — and How to Protect Yourself

Illustration in a woodcut style of woman at table smiling with good credit report in one hand and a smart phone in the other for article titled 5 Common Credit Offer Tactics — and How to Protect Yourself
If you’ve ever applied for a mortgage or credit card and then started receiving offers, messages, or even phone calls you didn’t expect, you’re not alone. From prescreened mailers to credit monitoring pitches to messages claiming you’ve been “pre-approved,” today’s credit marketing environment can be noisy, confusing, and hard to navigate. Understanding how these offers work — and how to protect your credit profile — can help you make more confident financial decisions.

At Thompson Kane, we want to help you stay informed, protect your privacy, and understand your options. Below are five common credit-related tactics that often take borrowers by surprise — and what you can do to stay in control.

1. Prescreened Credit Offers

These offers show up in your mailbox or inbox because you were identified by a credit bureau as someone who meets certain lending criteria — whether you requested them or not.

These offers don’t hurt your credit score, but they can add up quickly.

To opt out, visit optoutprescreen.com.

More details: FTC: What to Know About Prescreened Offers

2. Prequalification vs. Preapproval

Prequalification is a soft check — a quick estimate. Preapproval involves reviewing real documentation and gives you stronger buying power.

Don’t assume you’re approved unless a lender has verified your income, credit, and financial documentation.

3. Trigger Leads: Why You Might Be Getting So Many Calls

Applying for a mortgage can result in your credit information being sold by bureaus to other lenders — a practice known as trigger leads. These are legal, but often frustrating.

To reduce these calls and solicitations, visit optoutprescreen.com and register with the National Do Not Call Registry.

4. Credit Monitoring & Identity Theft Protection

These services can alert you to new accounts or unusual activity. They may be helpful in the following situations:

You’ve been part of a data breach
You’re actively applying for credit and want real-time alerts
You’re managing credit for a dependent or elderly family member

In contrast, you might not need one if:

You already receive alerts through your bank or credit card
You’ve frozen your credit at all major bureaus

Three trusted providers are:

5. “You’re Approved!” — But Are You?

Some offers say you’re approved, but that “approval” may depend on meeting additional conditions. Watch for these common qualifiers:

Minimum credit score or income thresholds
No recent late payments or delinquencies
Proof of employment or assets

Need Help Making Sense of Credit Offers?

If you’re feeling unsure about which credit offers are worth your time and which ones to ignore, we can help. A Thompson Kane loan officer can walk you through how these offers affect your mortgage goals and what steps to take to protect your credit profile.