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Unsolicited Email and
Mail
Each morning when you awake to check your
e-mail, you likely have bulk mail slowing you down from
progressing through your day. Your mailbox maybe packed full
of unsolicited e-mail or junk mail.
The mailbox may have these catching mails,
"pre-approved credit card," or something related. Don't be
fooled. Most of these are scammers ready to take your money.
Just tell them to buzz off by tossing the mail in your spam
box or in the garbage.
Telemarketers:
These
people just get right on your nerves. They often call anytime
during the day and night hours. When you sit down for a meal,
your phone may ring with some telemarketer at the other end,
trying to force you to buy some product. Just hang up and
report them if they continue to call.
E-mail:
When your e-mail
box is stocked full of junk or unsolicited mails, it sometimes
causes you stress. There is hope! Learning to tell them to
buzz off, or saying no, as well as knowing what recourses you
can take will help you battle the seemingly unbeatable game of
unsolicited mails or phone calls.
Links to your hope: Credit Bureau -
You can
call Toll-free to the credit bureaus (1-888-5-OPTOUT}
567-8688) to "opt-out" of these hassling calls or mails. This
hotline will ban any solicitors sending you "pre-approved
credit" card offers up to 2-years. You can also visit to opt
out at www.optoutprescreen.com
The procedures:
You will
have to answer some basic questions when calling or opting out
online. You will need to provide your SS#, name, phone number,
etc. No worries, your information are confidentially handled.
The bureaus will only use your information to opt you out of
the "pre-screened" mails or phone calls.
Contact Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion also
to opt out. Tell the companies that you do not wish to have
your personal information shared for the purpose of
promotions. Write a letter to inform these bureaus how much
information if any you want shared. Mail to:
"Equifax,
Inc.
PO Box 740123
Atlanta, GA 30374-0123"
"Experian
Consumer Opt-Out
701 Experian
Parkway
Allen, TX 75013"
"TransUnion
Name Removal
Option
P.O. Box 505
Woodlyn, PA 19094"
Do Not Call
Registry:
Here is what you do with telemarketers: Direct
Marketer Solutions:
Register at www.donotcall.gov or call Toll-free at
1-888-382-1222. This service is an Act set by the Federal
Government to protect you. {DO NOT CALL REGISTRY} This
registry gives you easy, free access to tell telemarketers to
buzz off. Your number will remain in the government registry
up to "five-years." If you remove your name from the registry
or disconnect your phone, you lose this protection. If you get
a new phone number however, you can re-register. If after five
years your phone is still in service, call the registry again
to renew your service.
DMA - Mail
DMA is a
Direct Market Association. This service is set up as a "mail
preference service" that permits you to "opt-out" from
receiving mail from marketing companies. Like Call registry,
you can opt out for up to five years. This service protects
you from international marketers sending unsolicited direct
mail.
Once you sign up, the service will place your name
in the "Delete File." This is available to any soliciting
marketers. If any org is not registered with this org, you
will likely continue receiving mail from them. In other words,
the company must be registered with DMA. Write a letter to DMA
at:
Direct Marketing Association
Mail Preference
Service
PO Box 643
Carmel, NY 10512"
You can also
register at DMA website:
www.the-dma.org/consumers/offmailinglist.html.
Motor Vehicles - Department
This department DPPA (Drivers Privacy
Protection Act) does not give any information to "Direct
markets" or any other third party, except investigators,
government agencies, underwriters at insurance agencies,
related businesses, courts, law officials, etc.
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