off the list

I got some disturbing news last Friday regarding a recommendation I made on this very site.

Despite having mailed DMA Mail Preference Service opt-out forms for myself and my wife — along with a check for $2 which was cashed on 07/25/07 — the DMA never added us to the suppression list.

At least according to Dataquick — a leading provider of names for those annoying Real Estate fliers that jam mail boxes every month.

I contacted Dataquick — 800.604.3282 — and was told they vet all names using the DMA list and our name still appears as mailable.

Crap!

So I contacted the DMA — 212.768.7277 — and after negotiating their phone tree (which does not work), finally reached a representative who confirmed we had been added to the Opt-out list as of September 24, 2007.

However, the DMA would not be able to provide a confirmation letter — only those people who signed up AFTER January 1, 2008 receive a notice, along with a snappy on-line ID that can be used to check one’s mailing status.

So I am off the list, but the DMA can’t confirm it, and Dataquick won’t take me off their list UNLESS the DMA confirms it.

The DMA rep said we could sign up again, but our mailing restriction would decrease from 5 years to only 3.

Needless to say, my wife has removed all sharp objects from the house.