What happens to the personal information you provide to companies, marketers and government agencies? They may use your information just to process your order. They may use it to create a profile about you and then let you know about products, services or promotions. Or they may share your information with others. More organizations are offering consumers choices about how their personal information is used. For example, many let you "opt out" of having your information shared with others or used for promotional purposes.
You can learn more about the choices you have to protect your personal information from credit bureaus, state Departments of Motor Vehicles and direct marketers.
Credit Bureaus
Pre-Screened Credit Offers
If you receive pre-screened credit card offers in the mail (namely, those based upon your credit data), but don't tear them up after you decide you don't want to accept the offer, identity thieves may retrieve the offers for their own use without your knowledge.
To opt out of receiving pre-screened credit card offers, call: 1-888-5-OPTOUT (1-888-567- 8688). The three major credit bureaus use the same toll-free number to let consumers choose not to receive pre-screened credit offers.
Marketing Lists
Of the three major credit bureaus, only Experian offers consumers the opportunity to have their names removed from lists that are used for marketing and promotional purposes. To have your name removed from Experian's marketing lists, call 1-800-407-1088.
Departments of Motor Vehicles
Take a look at your driver's license. All the personal information on it - and more - is on file with your state Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). A state DMV may distribute your personal information for law enforcement, driver safety or insurance underwriting purposes, but you may have the right to choose not to have the DMV distribute your personal information for other purposes, including for direct marketing.
Not every DMV distributes personal information for direct marketing or other purposes. You may be able to opt out if your state DMV distributes personal information for these purposes. Contact your state DMV for more information.
Direct Marketers
The Direct Marketing Association's (DMA) Mail, E-mail and Telephone Preference Services allow consumers to opt out of direct mail marketing, e-mail marketing and/or telemarketing solicitations from many national companies. Because your name will not be on their lists, it also means that these companies can't rent or sell your name to other companies.
To remove your name from many national direct mail lists, write:
DMA Mail Preference Service
P.O. Box 9008
Farmingdale, NY 11735-9008
To remove your e-mail address from many national direct e-mail lists, visit http://www.e-mps.org/.
To avoid unwanted phone calls from many national marketers, send your name, address, and telephone number to:
DMA Telephone Preference Service
P.O. Box 9014
Farmingdale, NY 11735-9014
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