Get Off my Back- How to say NO to telemarketers, computer spam and junk mail

Federal regulations on telemarketing...

• cannot call you if you are on the Federal Trade Commission "do not call" registry
• maintain their own "do not call" lists
• restrict them to calling between 8 am and 9 pm
• required them to tell you who they are and what they are selling
• prohibit them from misrepresenting any information
• restrict the use of automatic dialing systems or prerecorded messages

 California law requires that unsolicited email advertisements include instructions no how to opt out (unsubscribe)

What you can do

1. Register with the Federal Trade Commission's national "do not call" list. You can register online at www.donotcall.gov or call 1-888-382-1222. For hearing impaired, call 1-866-290-4236

2. Tell companies that call to add you to their "do not call" list. Federal regulations prohibit then from calling once you have asked them not to.

3. Delete your name from direct mail and email lists by contacting the Direct Marketing Association.
Direct Marketing Association
Mail Preference Service
P.O. Box 282 
Carmel, NY 10512
www.dmachoice.org

Direct Marketing Association 
E-mail Preference Service
www.e-mps.org

4. Get your name off of pre-approved credit offer mailing lists by calling 1-888-5-optout. This one call will be shared with all three credit bureaus.

5. Tell the three major credit bureaus that you do not want your personal information shared for promotional purposes.

Equifax Options- www.EQUIFAX.com

Experian Target Marketing- www.EXPERIAN.com

TransUnion: Marketing Opt Out- www.TRANSUNION.com

6. Avoid unwanted spam by protecting your email address. The FTC suggests the following:
-use two email accounts- one for public posting and one for personal messages.

-use a spearates screen name for online chatting, a name not associated with your email address.

-use a unque email address, containing both letters and numbers.

7. Report illegal telemarketing to the California Attorney General and the Federal Communications Commission by using the on-line complaint form at www.DONOTCALL.gov

8.Report illegal spam to state and federal authorities by forwarding it to the Federal trade Commission at spam@uce.gov

9. Report illegal fax advertisements to the California Attorney General by calling 1-800-852-5225.

10. If you report illegal telemarketing, fax advertising or spam to the sate or federal government give as much information as possible. Make a record of the call or email you receive. Take notes at the time of the call.