Keeping Your Personal Information PrivateIn our current economy we generate a huge amount of information and data. Usually that information is used by honest businesses, however through illegal methods thieves sometimes gain access to that data and use it for their own personal gain. Despite the benefits of the information age, many consumers want to limit the amount of personal information they share. Fortunately they can! Many organizations are offering ways for consumers to limit how much personal information is given and how it is used. For example, many feature an “opt-out” choice that limits the information shared with other businesses or used for promotional purposes. By “opting-out” you can potentially decrease the number of calls from unsolicited telemarketers, promotional mail, and spam emails that you receive. Stopping Pre-Screened Credit OffersIf you receive prescreened credit card offers in the mail and don’t wish to respond it is important to shred these. Even if you tear them up identity thieves can retrieve this information and use it. To opt-out of receiving pre-screened credit card offers, call: 1-888-5-OPTOUT. Marketing ListsIn addition, you can notify the three major credit bureaus that you don not want personal information about you shared for promotional purposes. To ask the three major credit bureaus not to share your personal information write to : Equifax, Inc Experian TransUnion Stopping TelemarketingIt may be impossible to stop telemarketing altogether, however the federal government has created the National Do Not Call Registry. This is a free and easy way to reduce the number of telemarketing calls you receive at home. To get on the “no call list” or to learn more visit www.donotcall.gov. Within three months of registering you will notice fewer telemarketing calls. Your number will remain in the registry for five years or until it is disconnected or you take it off the registry. You can renew after the five year period. Direct Mail MarketingLike with telemarketing it may be impossible to stop all forms of direct mail marketing. Luckily The Direct Marketing Association’s (DMA) Mail Preference Service allows you to “opt-out” of receiving direct mail marketing from several companies nationwide for five years. This will only stop mailings from companies that are registered with the DMA’s Mail Preference Service. You can register at http://www.thedma.org/government/donotcalllists.shtml. The DMA also has an Email Preference Service to help reduce the number of unsolicited commercial emails. To “opt-out” use the DMA’s online form at http://www.ims-dm.com/cgi/offemaillist.php. Finance and Money Resources
The Total Money Makeover: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness
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