# How Do You Stop Unsolicited Mortgage Calls? Canonical URL: https://valor.mortgage/how-to-opt-out-of-unsolicited-calls/ Page title: How to Stop Unsolicited Mortgage Calls | Valor Mortgage By [Christopher Armantrout](https://valor.mortgage/about-us/), Licensed Mortgage Loan Originator · NMLS [#1210804](https://www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org/EntityDetails.aspx/INDIVIDUAL/1210804) Published May 15, 2026 · Last updated October 26, 2026 Rules accurate as of October 2026 Quick answer To stop unsolicited mortgage calls, opt out of prescreened offers at OptOutPrescreen.com or 1-888-5-OPT-OUT, which lasts five years online or permanently by mail. Then add your number to the National Do Not Call Registry and Tennessee’s Do Not Call/Text list, and tell each caller to put you on their internal do-not-call list. Since March 5, 2026, federal law also bars credit bureaus from selling your mortgage application as a “trigger lead” unless you opted in or the lender already does business with you. Rules on this page were verified in October 2026. Consumer-protection rules can change; check the official sites linked below. At a glance: stopping mortgage calls - **Where calls come from:** trigger leads, prescreened lists and lead-generation forms - **Trigger leads:** restricted by federal law since March 5, 2026 - **Opt out:** OptOutPrescreen, the National Do Not Call Registry, Tennessee’s list - **Callers:** ask each company to add you to its do-not-call list - **Protect yourself:** never give your SSN to a caller you didn’t contact ## Why are you getting so many mortgage calls? Usually one of three things happened: - **A lender pulled your credit for a mortgage.** For years, the credit bureaus sold that inquiry to other lenders as a “trigger lead,” often within hours, so applicants got a flood of calls, texts and emails. Federal law now limits this; see what changed. - **You’re on prescreened lists.** Credit bureaus can sell lists of consumers who meet a lender’s criteria for “firm offers” of credit or insurance, unless you opt out. - **You filled out a rate-quote or lead-generation form.** Many comparison sites share your details with several lenders, and the consent to be called is often in the fine print. Checking your own credit score or report is a soft inquiry; it doesn’t generate a trigger lead or hurt your score. But read the sharing and marketing terms on any site you use to check it, since some ask about your plans and pass that along. I’ll be the first to say how annoying this is. It gives every mortgage broker a bad name, because people assume we’re the ones selling their information. I don’t sell your information; I think it’s unethical. ## What changed with the trigger lead ban? The Homebuyers Privacy Protection Act, signed September 5, 2025, amended the Fair Credit Reporting Act and took effect March 5, 2026. | | Before March 5, 2026 | Since March 5, 2026 | |---|---|---| | Who could buy your mortgage inquiry | Almost any lender or broker | Only a lender you’ve opted in to hear from, or one with an existing relationship with you, such as your current mortgage servicer or a bank or credit union where you have an account | | What they can use it for | Marketing calls, texts and emails | A firm offer of credit or insurance | | Your choice | Opt out of prescreened offers to limit it | Opting out still helps, and you can decline to opt in | Sources: [NAMB, Understanding the trigger leads ban](https://www.namb.org/understanding-the-trigger-leads-ban); [ICBA bill summary](https://www.icba.org/newsroom/news-and-articles/2025/08/07/summary-of-the-icba-backed-trigger-leads-bill); H.R. 2808, Homebuyers Privacy Protection Act. The ban cuts down on trigger-lead calls, but it doesn’t stop calls from lead-generation sites you gave consent to, from companies you already do business with, or from scammers who ignore the law. That’s where the opt-out tools come in. ## How do you opt out of unsolicited mortgage calls and offers? | Tool | What it stops | How long it lasts | How | |---|---|---|---| | [OptOutPrescreen](https://www.optoutprescreen.com/) | Prescreened credit and insurance offers drawn from the credit bureaus | Five years online; permanently by mail | OptOutPrescreen.com or 1-888-5-OPT-OUT (1-888-567-8688) | | [National Do Not Call Registry](https://www.donotcall.gov/) | Most telemarketing calls | Doesn’t expire | DoNotCall.gov or 1-888-382-1222 from the phone you’re registering | | [Tennessee Do Not Call/Text](https://www.tn.gov/tpuc/tennessee-do-not-call-program.html) | Telephone solicitation calls and texts to Tennessee residential and cell numbers | Per the Commission’s rules; the register is updated monthly | Sign up through the Tennessee Public Utility Commission’s Do Not Call/Text page | | The company’s own list | Further calls from that company | Ongoing | Tell the caller, “Put me on your do-not-call list”; reply STOP to texts | Do-not-call registries don’t block every call: companies you’ve recently done business with or given written permission to can still call, and it can take up to a month for registered numbers to drop off call lists. ## How do you use OptOutPrescreen? 1. **Go to the official site**, [OptOutPrescreen.com](https://www.optoutprescreen.com/), run by the consumer credit reporting companies, or call 1-888-5-OPT-OUT. 2. **Choose your option:** the electronic opt-out for five years, or the permanent opt-out, which requires signing and mailing a form. 3. **Enter your details:** name, address and, usually, your Social Security number, which the bureaus use to match your file. Enter it only on the official site. 4. **Save the confirmation.** If you chose the permanent option, mail the form and keep a copy. 5. **Give it time.** Offers already in progress may keep arriving for several weeks. You can opt back in through the same site at any time. Opting out doesn’t affect your credit score or your ability to get a loan. ## How can you tell a legitimate lender from a scam call? - **Don’t give your Social Security number, bank details or a payment** to anyone who called you out of the blue. - **Look up the caller’s license.** Every mortgage loan originator has an NMLS number you can check on [NMLS Consumer Access](https://www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org/). - **Be wary of pressure**, “your loan is in trouble” claims, or anyone who says they work with your lender but won’t give a callback number you can verify independently. - **Report scams** at [ReportFraud.ftc.gov](https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/). ## Unsolicited mortgage calls FAQ ### Does checking my own credit cause mortgage calls? Checking your own credit is a soft inquiry, so it doesn’t create a trigger lead or lower your score. Calls usually start after a lender pulls your credit for an application, after a rate-quote form shares your details, or from prescreened lists. Read the marketing terms on any credit-checking site you use. ### Will opting out of prescreened offers hurt my credit? No. Opting out only stops the credit bureaus from including you in prescreened lists. It doesn’t change your credit report or score, and you can still apply for any loan or card yourself. ### Why am I still getting calls after the trigger lead ban? The law limits credit bureaus from selling mortgage inquiries, but it doesn’t cover rate-quote sites you gave permission to, companies you already do business with, or scammers. Use OptOutPrescreen and the do-not-call lists, and tell each caller to stop contacting you. ### Should I avoid applying with more than one lender? No. Comparing Loan Estimates from a few lenders is smart. Mortgage credit inquiries within a short window, usually about 45 days, generally count as one for scoring. Choose who you apply with rather than letting whoever calls first choose you. ## Where these rules come from | Rule | Source | As of | |---|---|---| | Trigger lead restrictions, effective March 5, 2026 | Homebuyers Privacy Protection Act (H.R. 2808); [NAMB summary](https://www.namb.org/understanding-the-trigger-leads-ban); [ICBA summary](https://www.icba.org/newsroom/news-and-articles/2025/08/07/summary-of-the-icba-backed-trigger-leads-bill) | Signed Sept 5, 2025 | | Prescreened offer opt-out | [OptOutPrescreen.com](https://www.optoutprescreen.com/) | Retrieved Oct 26, 2026 | | National Do Not Call Registry | [DoNotCall.gov](https://www.donotcall.gov/) | Retrieved Oct 26, 2026 | | Tennessee Do Not Call/Text program | [Tennessee Public Utility Commission](https://www.tn.gov/tpuc/tennessee-do-not-call-program.html); Tenn. Code Ann. § 65-4-401 et seq. | Retrieved Oct 26, 2026 | | Reporting scams | [ReportFraud.ftc.gov](https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/) | Retrieved Oct 26, 2026 | ## Related guides - [How pre-approval works](https://valor.mortgage/how-to-buy-your-first-home/#pre-approval), on your own terms. - [Is a mortgage broker worth the cost?](https://valor.mortgage/is-a-mortgage-broker-worth-the-cost/) - [How do you choose the right mortgage?](https://valor.mortgage/how-to-choose-the-right-mortgage/) - [About Christopher Armantrout](https://valor.mortgage/about-us/), the licensed originator who wrote this page. ## Ready to talk on your own terms? Talk to Valor Mortgage. When you’re ready, reach out and I’ll walk you through pre-approval with no cold calls and no pressure. I don’t sell your information. [Call me at (615) 671-9178](tel:+16156719178). That’s the fastest way to get a straight answer on what you’d qualify for and what your options would look like, on your own terms. If it’s after hours, [grab a time on my calendar](https://valor.mortgage/book-your-appointment/). Pick a slot that works and I’ll call you then. If your life is too chaotic for a phone call right now — I understand — [start an application](https://valor.mortgage/purchase/) and I’ll review it and reach out with a plan. About the author [Christopher Armantrout](https://valor.mortgage/about-us/) Owner & Senior Loan Officer, Valor Mortgage NMLS #1210804 Christopher is a licensed Mortgage Loan Originator in the State of Tennessee and has been originating home loans since 2015. He founded Valor Mortgage in Springfield in 2019 and works with veterans, first-time buyers, self-employed borrowers, and families across Robertson County and Middle Tennessee. [More about Christopher](https://valor.mortgage/about-us/) [Verify this license on NMLS](https://www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org/EntityDetails.aspx/INDIVIDUAL/1210804) **Valor Mortgage, LLC** · Christopher Armantrout, Mortgage Loan Originator, NMLS #1210804 · Valor Mortgage, LLC is powered by Encore Lending Group, LLC, NMLS #1249911 · Licensed in Tennessee · Equal Housing Opportunity 724 S Main St, Springfield, TN 37172 · (615) 671-9178 · christopher@valor.mortgage · [NMLS Consumer Access](https://www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org/EntityDetails.aspx/INDIVIDUAL/1210804) The dollar figures on this page are illustrative examples for general information only and are not an offer, a rate quote, or a commitment to lend. Actual interest rates and APRs vary based on loan program, borrower qualifications, property, market conditions and other factors. Program fees, limits and terms are set by the agencies named above and change without notice; all loans are subject to credit approval, income verification and property appraisal. Not all applicants will qualify. --- ## Contact Valor Mortgage - Christopher Armantrout, Senior Loan Officer, NMLS #1210804 - Phone: [(615) 671-9178](tel:+16156719178) - Email: [christopher@valor.mortgage](mailto:christopher@valor.mortgage) - Office: 724 S Main St, Springfield, TN 37172 - [Book an appointment](https://valor.mortgage/book-your-appointment/) · [Apply online](https://valor.mortgage/home-application/) · [Contact page](https://valor.mortgage/contact-us/) Valor Mortgage, LLC is powered by Encore Lending Group, LLC, NMLS #1249911 ([NMLS Consumer Access](https://www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org/EntityDetails.aspx/COMPANY/1249911)). Christopher Armantrout, Loan Officer, NMLS #1210804. Licensed in Tennessee. Equal Housing Opportunity. All loan programs, rates, terms, and conditions are subject to change without notice. Loan approval is based on borrower qualification, credit review, income verification, and property eligibility. Not all applicants will qualify. Not a commitment to lend.