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The Gramm-Leach Bliley Act (GLBA), signed into law in November 1999, prohibits direct mail marketers in finance and insurance from violating your privacy. This act encompasses everything from envelope taglines to identity theft.
The Direct Marketing Association (DMA) hosts a national "do not mail" database. Put your name on the list, and the DMA will ban its members from mailing to you. -
CAN-SPAM (Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited Pornography and Marketing Act) was signed into law December 2003. Its original purpose was to ban email delivery of sexually explicit materials, but it put several additional laws into place as well. An email's "From" line must accurately identify the sender. "Subject" lines must reflect the email's actual content. The emailer is required to offer the recipient a means to opt out of future mailings. The emailer is required to include an accurate physical address. Emailers convicted of violating these "junk mail rules" face stiff fines and possible prison time.
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The Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) was signed into law in 1991 and is enforced by the Federal Communications Commission. This act established the national Do Not Call Registry. It applies to telephone, mobile, fax and VoIP numbers.
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Good things can and do come from direct marketing. Groups like the American Heart Association and the American Cancer Society raise much-needed research dollars using this strategy.
Direct marketing generates $686 billion in annual sales. At a time when our national economy struggles, these sales help keep businesses running and individuals employed.
Most direct mail is printed on recycled paper, and much of that paper is recycled again.
Catalog and online sales decrease driving. The DMA estimates that if each American cut two trips to the mall per year, we would save three billion pounds of carbon dioxide. -
Please report the violators. Only then can the law enforcement agencies get the criminals out of our mailboxes.
Privacy violations may be reported to the FTC at https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/.
Telephone, text messaging and fax violations may be reported to the FCC at https://esupport.fcc.gov/form1088/consumer.do.
Email violations may be reported to the FTC at https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/, to SpamCop at http://www.spamcop.net/, to Spamhaus at http://www.spamhaus.org/ and to the Direct Marketing Association at http://www.the-dma.org/index.php.
To be removed from direct mail or email lists, visit https://www.dmachoice.org/dma/member/regist.action.
To be removed from telemarketing, text messaging or fax lists, visit https://www.donotcall.gov/register/reg.aspx.
