Unsolicited
Mail Telemarketing and Email -
Where to Go To Just Say No
Credit Bureaus
The credit bureaus offer a toll-free number that enables you to
"opt-out" of having pre-approved credit offers sent to you for two
years. Call 1-888-5-OPTOUT (567-8688) for more information.
In addition, you can notify the three major credit bureaus that you do not want personal information about you shared for promotional purposes-an important step toward eliminating unsolicited mail. Write your own letter or use the sample letter on the back on this Alert to limit the amount of information the credit bureaus will share about you. Send your letter to each of the three major credit bureaus:
| Equifax, Inc. Options PO Box 740123 Atlanta, GA 30374-0123 |
Experian Consumer Opt-Out 701 Experian Parkway Allen, TX 75013 |
Trans Union Marketing List Opt Out PO Box 97328 Jackson, MS 39288-7328 |
Direct Marketers
The Direct Marketing Association offers the Mail and Telephone Preference
Services, which allow you to reduce the amount of direct mail marketing and
telemarketing you receive from many national companies for five years.
When you register with these services, your name will be put on a "delete" file that is updated four times a year-in January, April, July and October-and made available to direct-mail and telephone marketers. Two to three months after your name is entered into the quarterly file, you should notice a decrease in the number of solicitations you receive. However, your registration will not stop mailings or calls from organizations not registered with the DMA's Mail and Telephone Preference Services.
To have your name deleted from many direct mail or telemarketing lists, write your own letter or use the sample letter on the other side of this Alert and mail it to the following addresses:
For direct mail marketing: Direct Marketing Association; Mail Preference Service; PO Box 9008; Farmingdale, NY 11735-9008.
For telemarketing: Direct Marketing Association; Telephone Preference Service; PO Box 9014; Farmingdale, NY 11735-9014.
In addition, the DMA recently launched a new EMail Preference Service to help you reduce unsolicited commercial emails. To "opt-out" of receiving unsolicited commercial email, use the Direct Marketing Association's online form at www.e-mps.org. Your online request will remain effective for one year.
Department of Motor
Vehicles
The Drivers Privacy Protection Act allows states to distribute personal
information only to law enforcement officials, courts, government agencies,
private investigators, insurance underwriters and similar businesses-but not for
direct marketing and other uses.
| Sample Opt-Out Letter (Send to addresses
above.)
Date To whom it may concern: I request to have my name removed from your marketing lists. Here is the information you have asked me to include in my request: FIRST, MIDDLE & LAST NAME (List all
name variations, including Jr., Sr., etc.) CURRENT MAILING ADDRESS PREVIOUS MAILING ADDRESS (Fill in your
previous mailing address if you have moved in the last 6 months.)
Note: not required by Equifax and Experian. SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER Note: not
required by Experian. DATE OF BIRTH Note: not required by
Equifax and Experian. Thank you for your prompt handling of my request. ______________________________ |
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