Are you tired of having to shred dozens of pre-approved credit card applications every month?

Are you worried about one being stolen out of your mail box and a fraudulent account being opened in your name?

Here's how you can stop most, if not virtually all, of those mailings.

With our billfolds already bulging with credit cards, we shouldn't have to worry about this.

But banks and stores mailed an astounding 6.06 billion solicitations last year -- a record number -- and they just keep coming.

Begin by calling the Consumer Credit Reporting Industry "Opt-in and Opt-out" number at: 888-567-8688. You will be asked for your name and address and a form will be mailed to you. Fill it out, send it back and the mailings will stop.

Or you can click here to register. Your name will be removed for five years.

If you want your name permanently removed you'll have to select "permanent opt-out" on the opt-out website.

That also requires you to print out a confirmation, sign it and mail it in. A five-year ban will be instituted until the signed form is received. At that time, your request will be made permanent.

If at any time you wish to begin receiving solicitations again, you can rescind your decision at www.optinprescreen.com.

It will take about 60 days for the solicitations to stop. This service, however, only applies to mail that is based on data provided by the major credit reporting companies (TransUnion, Equifax, Experian and Innovis) -- primarily credit card and insurance solicitations.

You will, however, continue to get mail from other companies, charitable groups and organizations.

To limit this type of mail, you can notify: Direct Marketing Association, Mail Preference Service, P.O. Box 643, Carmel, NY 10512. This is similar to the "Do not call" list that was initiated to try to harness telemarketers.

You can also register to halt direct mail solicitations by clicking here to reach the Direct Marketing Assocation Web site.

The ban will be in effect for one year but will stop mailings from any association member.

The mail from local businesses, schools and so forth, will just keep coming.

By Carolyn Siegel

Interest.com Associate Editor

Have a question about your finances? Ask us at editors@interest.com