For instructions on how to have your name removed from lists screened by the credit bureaus for prescreened credit card offers call 888-5OPT-OUT (888-567-8688) toll free.

Up to $250,000 per depositor is federally insured. As of January 1, 2010, that amount drops to $100,000. Multiple accounts at a single bank are aggregated for insurance purposes. For more information about insurance of bank deposits, contact the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation at (800) 934-3342.

Assuming you've already contacted the institution and haven't resolved the problem, you probably want to contact the government agency that regulates it. In Michigan, the Office of Financial and Insurance Services regulates a variety of financial institutions including many banks, savings and loans, credit unions and mortgage companies, but not banks with the word "national" (or the letters "N.A.") in their names, or savings and loans whose names contain the word "federal" (or the letters "FSA" or "FSB"), or credit unions whose names contain the phrase "federal credit union" (or the letters "F.C.U.").

Complaints about these institutions should be directed as follows:

Contact the Michigan Office of Financial and Insurance Regulation at (877) 999-6442 with questions about the following types of institutions: state-chartered banks or savings banks, state-chartered credit unions, small loan companies, mortgage brokers, mortgage lenders, mortgage servicers, second mortgage companies, BIDCOs, automobile installment sellers and sales finance companies, issuers of travelers checks or money orders, insurance agents, or securities brokers.

Effective September 30, 1997 a law went into effect that requires credit bureaus to set up toll-free phone numbers for consumers to call to opt out of credit prescreening for two years. You have to send written notification if you want your credit file permanently closed to prescreening. If you want to reduce the unsolicited credit card and other offers you receive, you can call (888) 5OPT-OUT (888-567-8688) toll free. This number covers the following credit reporting agencies: Equifax, Experian, Innovus, and TransUnion.

In the past, you could complete a List Sales Opt-Out form to prevent your personal information from being released for survey, marketing and solicitation purposes. However, effective June 1, 2000 state law prohibits the sale of lists for these reasons. As a result, you no longer need to complete the opt-out form.

The answers provided are not meant to be a substitute for legal advice.