That’s largely how credit card solicitations end up in consumers’ mailboxes. Card issuers pay credit bureaus for the contact information of individuals who meet specific criteria, like a certain minimum credit score. Similarly, mortgage lenders pay bureaus for a list of consumers within a specific credit score bracket and mortgage balance so that they can contact them with refinancing offers. Nessa Feddis, senior vice president with the American Bankers Association, says the process helps lenders find customers who are likely to be interested in and qualified for the loans they’re offering.