How often do you pick up the mail only to find that most of what
you receive is "junk mail" ? If you are like most of us, you
receive more junk mail than mail that is actually of interest.
Junk mail does not pose a direct threat to our privacy and
security in and of itself. However, the fact that your name,
address, and who knows what other personal information is being
sold, rented, or given to the companies that send out the junk
mail filling your mailbox should be of concern.
The question to ask yourself--and perhaeps the companies with
which you choose to conduct business--is, "What right does a
company have to use my personal information in it's marketing
schemes without my consent?" If a company is going to make a
profit by selling your personal information, it should be at
least have your permission to do so,
A REAL THREAT While i have said that junk mail does not pose a
direct threat to our privacy and security in and of itself,
there is in fact a very real threat from direct marketing (junk
mail) and telemarketers. Many companies are using prison inmates
to conduct telemarketing and screen responses to direct
marketing.
The November 15, 2001 edition of the Abilene Reporter-News
reported that a Texas woman, April Jordan, has filed a lawsuit
against Sandsar Family Entertainment for putting her family at
risk by using felons to conduct telemarketing. Accoridng to the
reports, Jordan's 14-year-old daughter answered the felon's
telemarketing call to the Jordan home, and, as a result, this
felon obtained the girl's name, home address, age, physical
description, and other personal information. The felon then
provided this information to another inmate, who sent a
suggestive letter to this young girl!
The use of inmates to make telemarketing calls and process
marketing information is not a rare or unique occurrence. Major
corporations, such as AT&T and Honda, are reported to have used
inmates for telemarketing and data-entry purposes, and TWA is
reported to have used inmates to make airline reservations.
There is perhaps a place for employing inmates (the old cliché
of inmates making license plates come to mind); however, using
felons to gather personal information about you and your family
is clearly a problem.
Even if you never deal with telemarketers, there is still the
potential of finding your personal information in the hands of
convicted and incarcerated felons, since direct marketing lists
are sold and rented among various businesses.
For people who want to receive marketing offers in the mail and
have their names and addresses sold to other companies, there
should be an "opt-in" option (i.e., "Initial here if we may use
your name and address for marketing purposes.") Unfortunately,
this is not the case, and most companies just assume that once
you conduct business with them your personal information is
theirs to do with as they please.
HOW TO REMOVE YOURSLEF FROM THESE LISTS
While there is no "opt-in" option available, there is an
"opt-out" one available.
Because most reputable businesses that engage in direct
marketing (sending junk mail) are members of the Direct
Marketing Association(DMA), you can notify the DMA Mail
Preference Service and the DMA Telephone Preference Service that
you do not wish to receive direct marketing ads and calls from
telemarketers, and they will add you to a database of names and
addresses to be excluded from mailing and telemarketing lists.
Of course, the DMA can do noting to limit junk mail from
companies that do not subscribe to it, so this is not an
all-inclusive way to get rid of junk mail. However, opting out
with the DMA is a free service; all it takes is a few moments of
your time and a couple of postage stamps.
To have your name removed from member mailing and/or
telemarketing lists, contact the DMA at the following addresses:
Mail Preference Service Direct Marketing Association P.O. Box
9008 Farmingdale, NY 11735
and
Telephone Preference Service Direct Marketing Association P.O.
Box 9008 Farmingdale, NY 11735
|
