Gary Silbar of Highland Park has collected, saved and filed 445 credit card applications his family of four has received between November 2007 and October 2008 - including 20 to his eight-year-old son Max and 15 to 11-year-old Jake.
"I think our credit is pretty good so I think that's one reason. I'm not angry, I'm not mad. You know what? I was just curious," said Silbar.
The three boxes of pre-approved and apply now pitches offers a variety of incentives. They weigh over 23 lbs and keep coming in.
Silbar says he has credit card offers from all the major banks, including chase that sent him 110 during the year. He already banks with Chase.
"I think we're receiving all of these credit card applications might get someone in trouble if they don't take a hard look at what they can afford to spend," said Silbar.
Stephen Clifford , vice-president of Mintel Comperemedia, a company which tracks direct mail and print advertising, says it is not unusual to receive such a high amount of credit card offers.
"He is probably getting a lot of offers because he has a very good credit score. He and his wife together, they both have very good credit," said Clifford.
Silbar and his wife Karen run two separate businesses out of their suburban home. He says he has now stopped saving the offers and has plans to destroy the three boxes his family has collected.
"We are going to have a big shredding party my kids will love. But we're going to have to spread this out over a couple of days, with 445 pieces we have to take some time. I don't want to lose the shreder. " said Silbar.
Chase said if customers wish to opt out of receiving offers they can call the number on the back of the mail solicitations and ask to stop receiving future offers.
Attorney General Lisa Madigan's office says if customers do not want to receive credit card solicitations they can opt out of receiving them for up to five years or permanently by calling 1-888-5-0PT-OUT.
