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Don't Ask, Don't TelemarketThe Annoyance:I get more calls from telemarketers or their auto-dialer machines than from people I know. I'm sick to death of it. How do I make it stop? The Fix:Here's something that actually seems to work: sign up for the Federal Trade Commission's Do Not Call List. Since it launched in June 2003, more than 85 million Americans have signed up. You can add your name and number to the rolls by visiting www.donotcall.gov or calling (888) 382-1222. You'll have to wait three months before your request officially takes effect. Telemarketers that violate the Do Not Call rules can be fined up to $11,000 per incident (to file a complaint, visit https://www.donotcall.gov/Complain/ComplainCheck.aspx). As of June 2004, the FTC had received more than 550,000 complaints about companies violating the list, though it had taken action against only one telemarketing firm thus far. Do Not Call Does Not WorkThe Annoyance:OK, I signed up for the Do Not Call list (DNC). Yet I still get calls at my place of work from charitable organizations and other businesses. What gives? The Fix:Unfortunately, the Feds also built in a number of exceptions to the DNC. For example, the list only covers home numbers, not businesses. Political or charitable organizations and people taking surveys are also exempt. You can try adding your business number to see if telemarketers will remove it anyway (seemed to work for me). You can also use the Direct Marketing Association's mail preference service, which is used by some charities as well as businesses, to take your name off calling lists (see http://www.dmaconsumers.org/cgi/offtelephonedave). Otherwise you'll have to ask each organization that calls you to put your name and number on its internal do-not-call list, which they're legally required to honor.
Block that ScamThe Annoyance:I've signed the DNC and opted out from various businesses that call me. Yet I'm still harangued by callers touting bogus investments, rare coins and stamps, offshore lotteries, and emu farms. How do I get these sleaze merchants out of my life? The Fix:The bad news is that once you're on somebody's sucker list, it's hard to get off. Your name and number will get sold from one scammer to the next (and if you actually invest in any of these flimflams, you'll get even more calls). You can report these con artists to your local police and the FBI's Consumer Sentinel site (http://www.consumer.gov/sentinel/), but first you'll have to keep the scammers on the phone long enough to capture information (like a street address or call back number) that the Feds can use to nail them. The Junkbusters site offers a script (http://www.junkbusters.com/script.html) you can use the next time a scammer calls. Or you can download the free Enigma Anti-Telemarketing software (http://www.kahl.net/reduce/telemarketing.html#Enigma), which contains a similar script alongside relevant laws, and lets you keep a record of your conversations with these folks (see Figure 2-5). annoyances 2-5. Want to see a telemarketer wrapped in an Enigma? This very simple PC and Mac program gives you an easy way to track and report unwanted telemarketing calls.![]()
Just the Fax, Ma'amThe Annoyance:Every morning at 6 a.m., my fax machine spews out another ad for cheap health insurance, stupid stock tips, or low-rent cruise vacations. Isn't there a law against this? What can I do to stop it? The Fix:Yes, there's a law all right. The Telephone Consumer Protection Act of 1991 specifically prohibits the involuntary use of your fax machine as an advertising medium (see Figure 2-6). But that hasn't stopped companies like Fax.com from spewing out tens of millions of unwanted ads or from being sued for trillions (yes, trillions) of dollars in damages under the Act. What you can do about junk faxes depends on how much time you want to devote to the topic. The simplest method? Most junk faxes come with a toll-free opt out number you can call to unsubscribe. In my experience, about half the time the number doesn't work. But I have seen a reduction in junk faxes since I called (your mileage may vary). If you're in a fighting mood, you can demand money (from $500 to $1,500 per fax) from the fax broadcasters and/or the companies that use them. The Junkfax.org site details a dozen different ways to fight back, from sending demand letters to suing in small claims court, along with ways to figure out just who's sending you all this crap and lists of attorneys who specialize in such cases. Just be sure to hang onto the faxes; you'll need them when you have your day in court. annoyances 2-6. Is your fax machine spewing out junk ads like these? You might be able to sue the pants off the folks who send it (though collecting on the suit is another matter).![]() Junking Junk MailThe Annoyance:My mailbox is groaning under the weight of catalogs, mailers, brochures, and "You may have already won!" offers. I want to get letters from only people I know. The Fix:You're not alone. According to the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, the average American receives around 30 pounds of junk mail per year about four trees' worth. You'll never totally eliminate junk mail, but you can reduce the level of deforestation slightly. First, use the Direct Marketing Association's Mail Preference Service to get your name off national mailing lists. If you're willing to pony up $5 for the privilege, you can sign up online (http://www.dmaconsumers.org/cgi/offmailinglist). You can also send your request via snail mail to: Naturally, there are some caveats. You'll wait at least three months before you'll see any effect; many direct marketers don't adhere to the DMA's mail preferences, so they'll continue to send you junk; and this request only covers mail sent to a home, not a business. But that's just the beginning. The Privacy Rights Clearinghouse site has excellent, highly detailed instructions on how to get off other mailing lists (see http://www.privacyrights.org/fs/fs4-junk.htm).
Flag Mag NagsThe Annoyance:I get a lot of catalogs and other junk I don't want, and I'm convinced that the magazines I subscribe to are selling my name to these merchants. How do I get them to stop? How do I know who they're selling it to? Is there a one-stop place to opt out? The Fix:When it comes to generating unwanted marketing dreck, magazines are some of the biggest culprits (and I know, because I've worked for a bunch of them). They rent their subscriber lists to advertisers, catalog merchants, and anyone willing to pony up a few pennies per name. The classic trick for tracking who's renting your name is to sign up for subscriptions using a slightly different name for each publication so if you signed up for The New Yorker, you might use Bob NYer Smith. Then track how much junk mail comes addressed to Bob NYer. To simply stop them from renting your name, check the magazine masthead you'll usually find an address or phone number you can use to opt out. Pick Your MailThe Annoyance:I don't want to stop all mail advertisements. I'm in the market for a retirement home, so I want to receive any offers related to retirement communities and resorts. How do I attract the mail I want without getting buried by stuff I detest? The Fix:Laser-like precision in this realm isn't likely. Still, you may be able to winnow a bit by using Junkbuster's handy Declarations Form (http://www.junkbusters.com/jdu.html). This form lets you state exactly what kinds of solicitations you will or won't accept, and from what kinds of companies (charities, magazines, financial services, etc). You can then send the declaration to direct mailers, post it on your web site, or ask Junkbusters to send the form to you. Marketers may ignore your request, but at least you've tried. |
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