18 August 2005
How To Cut Down On The Volume Of Junk Mail, E-Mail
Junk Snail MailTo get your name off national mailing lists (understand that it won't stop all unsolicited mail):
The Direct Marketing Association is the "oldest and largest national trade association serving the direct and interactive marketing field." Visit these sections of their Web site for information about reducing unsolicited snail mail:DMA Consumer Assistance: How And Where To Find HelpGetting off mailing lists/Mail Preference Service
ADVO, Inc. is the nation's "largest targeted home-delivered print advertising provider." They describe themselves as being the "force and the name behind some of the most recognizable and successful direct-mail marketing and advertising campaigns in the country." For information on removing yourself from their lists, visit advo.com.
More tips can be found on the Web site www.junkbusters.com.
Another step might cut down on unsolicited credit card offers."Changes to the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act took effect Sept. 30, 1997. Under one provision of the new law, consumers can call toll-free numbers to remove themselves from lists used by credit-card companies and some direct marketers to solicit them by mail. Consumers need call only one of the three major national credit bureaus to get off all such lists."The special "opt-out" numbers are:Equifax -- (888) 567-8688Experian -- (800) 353-0809Trans Union -- (888) 5OPTOUT or 888-567-8688If you answer the questions, you can opt out of mailing lists of the major credit reporting agencies for two years.
Junk E-MailWhat about all that unsolicited e-mail? Some of the spam borders on X-rated.Tips for reducing the amount of unsolicited e-mail:
Don't display your e-mail address in public. Spammers use automated tools to collect valid addresses from Web pages, chat rooms and online directories. Consider using a second e-mail address for public correspondence.
Consider using software to filter e-mails. Some are free, and some work better than others. Most can be customized to allow personal e-mails from family members, for example, but block many advertisements. The most prominent antivirus vendors are increasingly building spam-filter utilities into their security products.
Check a Web site's privacy policy before you submit your e-mail address to see whether it permits the company to share your address with online marketing companies; if it does see whether it's possible to "opt out" from such an arrangement.
For years, experts have discouraged Internet users from replying to unwanted e-mails with requests to be removed from future mailings because that verifies that spam was sent to a valid address. Under the new law, however, marketers are required to honor such do-not-send requests after the first unsolicited advertisement.
Here are other tips:
To try to reduce spam, you can register for free online with the Direct Marketing Association's E-Mail Preference Service.
The government wants your spam. Forward unwanted or deceptive e-mails to uce@ftc.gov, where federal regulators are creating a huge spam database to go after the most egregious marketers.The Federal Trade Commission also offers tips for people who are trying to eliminate junk e-mail and deceptive e-mail:FTC E-Mail Tips
The Direct Marketing Association is the "oldest and largest national trade association serving the direct and interactive marketing field." Visit these sections of their Web site for information about reducing unsolicited snail mail:DMA Consumer Assistance: How And Where To Find HelpGetting off mailing lists/Mail Preference Service
ADVO, Inc. is the nation's "largest targeted home-delivered print advertising provider." They describe themselves as being the "force and the name behind some of the most recognizable and successful direct-mail marketing and advertising campaigns in the country." For information on removing yourself from their lists, visit advo.com.
More tips can be found on the Web site www.junkbusters.com.
Another step might cut down on unsolicited credit card offers."Changes to the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act took effect Sept. 30, 1997. Under one provision of the new law, consumers can call toll-free numbers to remove themselves from lists used by credit-card companies and some direct marketers to solicit them by mail. Consumers need call only one of the three major national credit bureaus to get off all such lists."The special "opt-out" numbers are:Equifax -- (888) 567-8688Experian -- (800) 353-0809Trans Union -- (888) 5OPTOUT or 888-567-8688If you answer the questions, you can opt out of mailing lists of the major credit reporting agencies for two years.
Junk E-MailWhat about all that unsolicited e-mail? Some of the spam borders on X-rated.Tips for reducing the amount of unsolicited e-mail:
Don't display your e-mail address in public. Spammers use automated tools to collect valid addresses from Web pages, chat rooms and online directories. Consider using a second e-mail address for public correspondence.
Consider using software to filter e-mails. Some are free, and some work better than others. Most can be customized to allow personal e-mails from family members, for example, but block many advertisements. The most prominent antivirus vendors are increasingly building spam-filter utilities into their security products.
Check a Web site's privacy policy before you submit your e-mail address to see whether it permits the company to share your address with online marketing companies; if it does see whether it's possible to "opt out" from such an arrangement.
For years, experts have discouraged Internet users from replying to unwanted e-mails with requests to be removed from future mailings because that verifies that spam was sent to a valid address. Under the new law, however, marketers are required to honor such do-not-send requests after the first unsolicited advertisement.
Here are other tips:
To try to reduce spam, you can register for free online with the Direct Marketing Association's E-Mail Preference Service.
The government wants your spam. Forward unwanted or deceptive e-mails to uce@ftc.gov, where federal regulators are creating a huge spam database to go after the most egregious marketers.The Federal Trade Commission also offers tips for people who are trying to eliminate junk e-mail and deceptive e-mail:FTC E-Mail Tips
# posted by vdodon @ 04:37 
