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Home > Consumer Focus Archive > Reducing Unsolicited Mailings, Telemarketing Calls, and Junk E-mail
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Reducing Unsolicited Mailings, Telemarketing Calls, and Junk E-mail
 Not so long ago, complaints of telemarketing calls during dinner or mailboxes full of unwanted catalogs and credit card offers were a favorite topic of late night talk show comedians. These days advances in technology and the growing sophistication of crooks make us justifiably concerned about we can better protect our privacy.
Posted: May 1, 2008 |
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Unwanted Mail
 Getting too many catalogs and commercial solicitations from companies you’ve never done business with? The Direct Marketing Association operates a free online Mail Preference Service (MPS) that serves as the official mail preference service for catalog and direct marketing companies and is supported by the U.S. Postal Service. Your registration won’t stop mailings or calls from organizations not registered with the service, but it should help you to get the mail you want and less of the mail you don’t. Sometimes mailings are prepared several months ahead, so it could take up to 90 days for your registrations to become fully effective.
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 Credit Card Offers
Preapproved offers — sometimes called prescreened offers are based on information in your credit report that indicates you meet criteria set by the credit offeror. Opting out of these offers could help reduce your risk of identity theft by helping keep these unwanted mailings from falling into the wrong hands. If you don’t want to receive prescreened credit offers, there are two ways to submit your request to opt out for five years or permanently:
1. Call toll-free 1-888-5-OPTOUT (1-888-567-8688); or
2. Go online for more information and to register.
The toll-free telephone number and website are operated by the major consumer reporting companies. When you call or visit the website, you’ll be asked to provide certain personal information, including your home telephone number, name, Social Security number, and date of birth. The information you provide is confidential and will be used only to process your request to opt out.
Remember that if you have joint credit relationships, like a mortgage or a car loan with a spouse, partner, or other adult, you may continue to receive some prescreened solicitations until both of you exercise your opt-out right.
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Telemarketing Calls
 The Telemarketing Sales Rule (TSR) establishes standards of conduct for telemarketing calls, requires certain disclosures, and prohibits misrepresentations. For example, the TSR limits calling times to the hours between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. Telemarketers must promptly tell you the identity of the seller or charitable organization and that the call is a sales call or a charitable solicitation. Telemarketers must disclose all material information about the goods or services they are offering and the terms of the sale. They are prohibited from lying about any terms of their offer.
The Federal government operates a National Do Not Call Registry to make it easier for you to stop getting unwanted telemarketing calls. You can register online or call toll-free 1-888-382-1222 from the telephone number you wish to register, whether it is your land line or cell phone. Registration is free. Placing your number on the registry should stop most, but not all, telemarketing calls. Despite the claims made in e-mails circulating on the Internet, consumers should not be concerned that their cell phone numbers will be released to telemarketers in the near future. Cell phone numbers are not being released, and you will not be getting telemarketing calls on your cell phone.
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Unsolicited E-Mail
 Unsolicited commercial e-mail, usually called spam, is considered an annoyance by many consumers. Unfortunately, many consumers fall prey to the bogus offers frequently touted in these e-mails.
Mail list compilers often create lists by capturing the e-mail addresses of those who post to specific newsgroups or by capturing addresses from web pages. Unfortunately, it can be impossible to get yourself deleted from such a list. There are several steps you can take to help reduce the amount of unsolicited e-mail you receive. Start by keeping your e-mail address as private as possible. The DMA offers an E-Mail Preference Service to help you reduce unsolicited commercial e-mails. Although registration with the service will help reduce the number of emails you receive, it will not stop all commercial emails. In addition, you should take advantage of whatever spam filters your internet service provider offers. Never reply to a spam e-mail.
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Cell Phone Spam
 The growing popularity of text messaging and technology enhancements to cell phones make them more vulnerable to spam problems, too. Although generally prohibited by the CAN-SPAM Act, users report cell-phone spam report it to be a growing problem. Take steps now to help protect yourself.
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Other
Resources
This is just a brief overview. For more information,
check out these resources:
Read these publications online or order them from FCIC:
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mentioned, this does not mean or imply that it is unsatisfactory.
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