If you’ve recently applied for a mortgage—or are planning to—you may be in for an unexpected surprise: a flood of unsolicited calls, texts, and emails from lenders you’ve never contacted.
It’s not a coincidence—it’s called a trigger lead. And while it’s completely legal, many homebuyers find it frustrating and intrusive. So, what exactly are trigger leads, and how can you protect yourself from them? Let’s break it down.
What Is a Trigger Lead?
When you apply for a mortgage, your lender pulls your credit report from one of the four major consumer credit reporting agencies: Equifax, Experian, TransUnion, or Innovis. This allows them to assess your financial history and determine your eligibility for a loan.
What many borrowers don’t realize, however, is that these credit bureaus collect your data—name, contact information, and loan inquiry details—and sell it to lenders looking for new customers. That means as soon as your mortgage credit report is pulled, other lenders are notified and can start reaching out to offer you competing loan products.
Why Do Trigger Leads Exist?
The idea behind trigger leads is that they create more competition among lenders, which, in theory, should give consumers more choices and potentially better deals. However, many homebuyers find the experience overwhelming—especially when they suddenly receive a barrage of calls from unfamiliar lenders right after applying for a mortgage.
And it’s not just mortgage applications. Trigger leads can happen any time you apply for credit, whether it’s a car loan, credit card, or even a retail store card like Kohl’s, Best Buy, or Target.
How Can You Protect Yourself?
While there’s no way to completely prevent credit bureaus from selling your information after your mortgage application is submitted, there is a way to stop it before it happens. The key is to opt out before applying for a mortgage or any other type of credit.
Here’s how:
- Visit OptOutPrescreen.com or call 1-888-5-OPT-OUT (1-888-567-8688) to remove yourself from pre-screened credit offers. This free service is operated by the four major credit bureaus.
- Choose to opt out for 5 years or permanently—it’s up to you.
- Do this at least two weeks before applying for a mortgage or other credit to ensure your information isn’t included in trigger lead lists.
- Important Note: If you’ve already applied for a mortgage, opting out won’t prevent the trigger leads for that particular transaction. However, it will stop them from happening in the future.
The Bottom Line
Trigger leads may be legal, but they often cause unnecessary stress for homebuyers who are already navigating a complex process. Taking a few minutes to opt out ahead of time can help protect your privacy and prevent unwanted lender solicitations.
If you have any questions about the homebuying process, mortgage pre-approvals, or how to prepare for your purchase, our team is here to help! Reach out today to get started.