Everyone knows about the National Do Not Call Registry, but do you know about all the others? You can also register on lists to prevent certain promotional offers sent to you, credit card pre-approval offers, and certain email junk offers.
Telemarketing Calls
The most popular registry is the National Do No Call Registry. This registry allows a person to register any amount of phone numbers to put into a database given telemarketing companies. It is free and easy to register. The phone numbers will stay in the registry for 5 years,unless the number is disconnected, or you decide to take the number off of the list. After five years you are able to re-register.
Within the first three months after registering the number, you will receive fewer telemarketing calls. Be aware that not all calls will stop, only calls from telemarketing companies. Non-profit organizations can still call and ask for donations. To register, or to get information, visit www.donotcall.gov, or call 1-888-382-1222 from the phone you want to register.
Credit Card Pre-approvals
Another useful registry available is to opt-out of pre-approved credit card offers you receive in the mail. You can register to be opted-out for 5 years, permanently, or choose to opt-in to receive offers. Be aware that you will be asked personal information such as name, address, phone number, and social security number. This info is kept confidential and only used for opting out of the offers.
If you register online your social security number will be encrypted for your protection. For more info or to register for this service you can either call 1-888-5-OPTOUT (567-8688) or visit www.optoutprescreen.com. You can also contact three major credit bureaus directly and inform them you do not what your info shared with other companies for promotional purposes. These bureaus are:
Equifax, Inc.
Options
PO Box 740123
Atlanta, GA 30374-0123
Experian
Consumer Opt-Out
701 Experian Parkway
Allen, TX 75013
TransUnion
Name Removal Option
P.O. Box 505
Woodlyn, PA 19094
Other Unwanted Mail Offers
You can also register to opt-out of receiving direct mail marketing from many national companies. Once registered, this service is also good for 5 years until you need to re-register. This registry is called The Direct Marketing Association’s (DMA) Mail Preference Service. With this, your name will be put on a “delete” file and be made available to direct-mail marketers who are registered with the DMA’s Mail Preference Service.
Unfortunately, not all direct-mail marketers are registered with this service. But if anything, registering with this service will at least reduce the amount you receive. You can register with DMA online at www.the-dma.org/consumers/offmailinglist.html, or send your letter of request to:
Direct Marketing Association
Mail Preference Service
PO Box 643
Carmel, NY 10512
Unwanted Emails
The DMA also offers an option to opt-out of receiving unsolicited commercial emails. To register for this, use DMA’s online form at www.dmaconsumers.org/offemaillist.html. Your email address will be registered for 1 year before you need to re-register.
To find out more about this information straight from the government website, visit http://www.ftc.gov.
