|
I think that many of you will be concerned to learn
that Working Assets, which sponsors many environmentally and socially
conscious programs, shares its customers' names and addresses with dozens of
other groups (many of them are non-profits.) I found this out when I
started receiving A LOT of unsolicited mail, and when I called to be
removed from the various mailing lists, I was told that they got my info from
Working Assets. I contacted WA to object to this use of my
information. Just as important, it seems so counter to their environmental
emphasis to be generating such volumes of (largely unwanted) mail - mostly
solicitations. I think it would do a LOT of good for Working Assets to
hear from people who object to this practice - you can reach Working Assets,
call 1 (800) 362-7127, or access their website at www.wald.com.
Here is the email I sent them in mid-December 2000,
but I have not received a reply:
My name and address was distributed by Working
Assets to many other non-profit organizations, and I have received a LOT of
unwanted mail as a result. Even though the groups are all admirable, I
still find it frustrating to have my information sold to them for solicitation
purposes. I joined Working Assets in large part because I'm a committed
environmentalist, and I work with several environmental groups that have been
supported by your company. I always request that my name and address not
be provided to other groups. I find it very upsetting that Working Assets,
which I think is doing great things, is contributing to the environmental
problem caused by unsolicited mail: about 4 billion pounds of paper are
used every year to make direct-mail catalogs and other types of junk mail, and
more than one hundred million trees are felled every year for this
purpose.
I urge you to take the following steps:
1) ask customers IN ADVANCE for permission to
distribute their name and address to other groups - Working Assets should take
an "opt-in" approach before sharing customer information
For existing customers, I'd urge you to stop
distributing contact information. WA can notify customers of this new
envrionmental measure and let people check a box on the monthly bills if they'd
like to "opt-in"
2) Encourage the groups you share customer
information with to use email when contacting prospective members, and offer
your customers a choice to select email rather than direct mail.
Finally, I contacted Working Assets via email
several weeks ago when I got an email urging me to send information about
joining Working Assets to my friends. I have recommended Working Assets to
several people (and I usually urge them to ask that the $10 referral fee be
given to a non-profit instead of being credited to my bill). My question
was never answered - I'm happy to enter in my friends' email addresses if and
ONLY IF they will not be put on any contact lists - I'm happy to refer them to
you but do not want them to receive unsolicited email or paper mail as a
result. If you could reply, I'd appreciate it!
It takes less than 1 minute a day to click on www.therainforestsite.com to
help save rainforests - it's free and has preserved about 5000 acres of
rainforest land since the site began last May!
Elizabeth Berry Environmental consultant 3800 Macomb St., NW Washington, D.C. 20016 Tel. (202) 362-0789 Fax (202) 362-0784 |