As you note, such marketing inquiries, even though they are technically inquiries into your credit, do not count against your credit rating like inquiries that you have authorized. In fact, the only way they are even visible is when you pull your own report, not when your report is pulled for authorized credit seeking purposes, as it would be on a loan application that you initiate.

But, even though such inquiries won’t hurt your credit, your concern with privacy is understandable, as well as the time put into shredding these documents. (Shredding these, by the way, is a very wise thing to do to help keep these offers out of the hands of potential identity thieves.) Thankfully, there is a relatively simple solution--opting out.

You have the right to request removal, or to “opt out,” from marketing lists for credit cards as well as from insurance company lists. The credit bureaus must honor your request in accordance with recent privacy amendments to the Federal Fair Credit Reporting Act, enforced by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). You can contact the credit bureaus and have them remove your name and address from major credit bureau lists for unsolicited credit and insurance offers for two years. If you wish to be removed for a more substantial length of time, complete and return an "opt-out" form, provided on request from the credit bureau, and you will be off these lists indefinitely. To request the "opt-out" form, you may call: 1-888-5-OPTOUT (1-888-567-8688). This number is good for all three credit bureaus.

For more information, you may wish to read, “Your Credit Report Contains Different Kinds of Inquiries.”