Privacy - What You Don't Know

With all the means of communication and processing of information, enormous amounts of data are accumulated and transferred everyday.   Financial businesses generate a fair share of information everyday.    This information is often very sensitive because most consumers wish to keep their information personal and confidential.   You can limit the amount of information being exchanged about you, by contacting the following organizations.

Credit Bureaus

Credit companies often solicit business by sending you pre-approved credit offers.   Accepting these offers increases the number of companies privy to your personal information.   To cut-down o­n the temptation to apply for every type of credit offered, thus limiting the amount of personal information being exchanged about you, you can “opt-out” of these offers.   You can call credit bureaus' toll-free number and “opt-out” of pre-approved credit offers being sent to you for two years.   Or, you may call 1-888-5-OPTOUT (567-8688) for more information.    You will need to provide some personal information, but it will o­nly be used for the purposes of “opting-out” of these credit offers.

How to Limit Access to Your Personal Information

In addition, you can notify the three major credit bureaus that you do not want personal information about you shared for promotional purposes. Send your letter to the three major credit bureaus:

Equifax, Inc.
Options
PO Box 740123
Atlanta, GA 30374-0123

Experian
Consumer Opt-Out
701 Experian Parkway
Allen, TX 75013

TransUnion
Marketing List Opt Out
PO Box 97328
Jackson, MS 39288-7328

Telemarketing
The Federal Government has created the National Do Not Call Registry—the free, easy way to reduce the telemarketing calls you get at home. To register, or to get information, visit www.donotcall.gov , or call 1-888-382-1222 from the phone you want to register. You will receive fewer telemarketing calls within three months of registering your number. It will stay in the registry for five years or until it is disconnected or you take it off the registry. After five years, you will be able to renew your registration.

Mail
The Direct Marketing Association's (DMA) Mail Preference Service lets you opt out of receiving direct mail marketing from many national companies for five years. When you register with this service, your name will be put o­n a “delete” file and made available to direct-mail marketers. However, your registration will not stop mailings from organizations that are not registered with the DMA's Mail Preference Service. To register with DMA, send your letter to:

Direct Marketing Association
Mail Preference Service
PO Box 643
Carmel, NY 10512

Or register o­nline at www.the-dma.org/consumers/offmailinglist.html .

Email
The DMA also has an E-Mail Preference Service to help you reduce unsolicited commercial emails. To “opt-out” of receiving unsolicited commercial email, use DMA's o­nline form at www.dmaconsumers.org/offemaillist.html . Your o­nline request will be effective for o­ne year.

For More Information
To learn more about privacy issues and how they affect your life and the decisions you may make in the marketplace, visit www.ftc.gov/privacy .