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Opt Out!

What could be simpler? Here are the primary contact numbers, addresses, and web links to get yourself removed from direct marketing mailing lists, telemarketer phone lists, and credit information sharing lists. All registrations are free. For best results, start from tech top and work your way down. You will definitely see a difference in the amount of junk mail and telephone solicitations you receive.
Notes:
1. It can take up to three months to get all of these lists scrubbed clean.
2. It won't prevent everything from reaching you, but it will cut it down significantly.

Opt Out Directory

National Do Not Call List
Website:www.donotcall.gov
Phone:1-888-382-1222
What to do:Register your home and work telephone numbers.
What this does:By law, telemarketers cannot call you for five years.

Credit Information List - Stop Junk Mail
Phone:888-567-8688
What to do:Call this number and follow the prompts.
What this does:It allows you to prohibit the four major credit reporting agencies (Experian, Equifax, Innovis, and TransUnion) from using your credit information for offers of credit you did not initiate, (such as pre-approved credit card offers) and other mass marketing (like unsolicited catalogs).

You will have the opportunity to opt-out for a five-year period or permanently. If you select a permanent ban, you will be sent a form to complete, sign and return.

Alternatively, you can initiate the 5-year ban via the internet at: https://www.optoutprescreen.com. To make the ban permanent, print, sign and mail as directed.

Direct Marketing Association List - Stop Junk Mail
Address:Mail Preference Service
Direct Marketing Association
PO Box 643
Carmel, NY 10512-0643
Website:https://www.dmachoice.org/
What to do:Write to them and ask them to remove your name and address from their member lists. Include your name, address and signature. Or login to their website and opt-out online.
What this does:It puts you on a do-not-mail list that is provided to association members and other interested marketers for the purpose of eliminating the names of those who wish to receive less unsolicited mail.

Direct Marketing Association List - Stop Telemarketing Calls
Address:Telephone Preference Service
Direct Marketing Association
PO Box 1559
Carmel, NY 10512-1559
What to do:Write to them and ask them to remove your home phone number from their member lists. Include your name, address, complete 10-digit phone number, and signature.
What this does:It puts you on a do-not-call list that is provided to association members for the purpose of eliminating the phone numbers of those who wish to receive fewer unsolicited calls.

Direct Marketing Association List - Stop Email Spam
Website:https://www.dmachoice.org/
What to do:Enter your e-mail addresses in the space provided on this page.
What this does:It puts you on a do-not-email list that is provided to association members for the purpose of eliminating the e-mail addresses of those who wish to receive fewer unsolicited e-mails.

Opt Out of NAI Member Ad Networks
Website:https://www.networkadvertising.org/consumer/opt_out.asp
What to do:Read the instructions. To "Opt Out" of targeted advertising tracking cookies, mark each checkbox, press submit, and read the results.
What this does:It will automatically replace the specified cookies and verify your opt out status.

Eliminate Unwanted Catalogs
Website:www.catalogchoice.org
What to do:Sign up for a free account. Select the catalogs you wish to eliminate. Be sure to check out the FAQ for more details.
What this does:It will allow to opt-out of specific catalog mailing lists.











Questions and Answers

Question 1:It's been over three months and I am still getting junk mail.
Answer 1:You've significantly reduced your junk mail, but it will be difficult to eliminate it completely. Contact your banks, credit cards, and publications to which you subscribe and tell them you wish to opt-out of all marketing offers and mailings. And let them know you do not want your information shared with anyone for any reason. This won't keep you from receiving unsolicited mail, but it will reduce it even further.
Question 2:I am getting sexually explicit junk mail. What can I do to stop it?
Answer 2:Contact your local Post Office and ask for Form 1500. Once processed, any mail you continue to receive after 30 days is subject to civil and criminal sanctions.
Question 3:I keep receiving unsolicited phone calls. What else can I do?
Answer 3:Political organizations, charities, and telephone surveyors are exempted, as are calls from companies with which you have an existing business relationship, companies you called within the past 3 months to inquire about a product or service, or those to whom you've provided an express agreement in writing to receive their calls.

When you receive a call from someone you no longer wish to receive calls from, ask to speak with a supervisor and request they put you on their do-not-call list.
Question 4:How do I keep from receiving unsolicited faxes?
Answer 4:It is a violation of Federal Law to send an unsolicited FAX to anyone. You can report companies who violate this law to the Federal Communications Commission. You can also contact the company or person who is sending you the fax and ask them to comply with your request.
Question 5:I get a ton of e-mail spam. How do I stop it?
Answer 5:You can't. But there are some steps you can take to help lighten the load.
  1. Get and use a good spam filter. There are many but first try activating the Junk Mail filter on your email program and setting the filer to "High". If the filter catches mail you want to keep, simply whitelist those senders.
  2. Never use your primary/important e-mail addresses when completing surveys, subscription forms, and contests.
  3. When completing surveys, subscription forms, contests, and registration forms, keep a sharp eye out for checked and unchecked boxes with language allowing them to send you "offers" via e-mail.
  4. Consider using a long e-mail address with numbers and letters which do not form normal words or phrases. myname@server.com is very easy for a computer to "guess", as opposed to something like t15c40@server.com
  5. Never post your email address online, to a bulletin board, newsgroup, web page, or chat room.

Information is from sources believed to be reliable but cannot be guaranteed. The information presented is intended to assist site visitors in quickly finding information and links to help eliminate unsolicited mail, phone calls, and e-mail.

Since we do not have complete control over the "Ads by Google" appearing on this page, we do not directly endorse their sites or products. Please notify us if you find any of the advertisers to be misleading.

Protecting Your Privacy
Information to assist you in protecting your identity and personal data.

My Identity Has Been Stolen!
Actions you should take immediately if your identity has been stolen.

Credit Report Directory
Quickly locate all the contact information and links you need for getting in touch with Experian, Equifax, TransUnion, and Innovis, and how to get a free credit report.

How To Find and Collect Your Unclaimed Property
Information on how, and where, to search for free and how to claim any lost money. It's worth searching just to find out if any money is owed to you.

Information was current as of September 1, 2006.

Feel free to contact me to correct any information in this article or to alert me to additional information one should consider.

© 2004 Topher
Updated 2019

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