Courage Network

       
Helpful information to help you OPT-OUT to protect your privacy of sites that post public information about you even for a fee. Many are out there & includes the Credit Bureaus as well that give them this information or this information to others. You can stop this but you have to write to them.

Additional helpful information in regards to your Social Security # as well. Who has the right to it & who doesn't. Many do not know you do not have to give it out when it is asked for.
____________________________________________________

Some opt-outs are permanent, but sometimes your opt-out is valid for a limited amount of time (for example, when you add your name to the Direct Marketing Associations' op-out lists for telemarketing and direct mail it lasts for five years).

Consumers may request an Opt-Out Form by either leaving a message on our Consumer Advocate Hotline at 501-342-2722 (toll free 1-877-774-2094) or sending an e-mail to us at optout@acxiom.com.

When you receive the form back, then you may fill in the required information and mail it back to Acxiom.

~~~~~

Consumer Services Experian 949 West Bond Street Lincoln, NE 68521 (date) I request my information removed from the Lexis-Nexis P-Find Product, as well as other organziations that receive my information. Here is the information you requested: Name: . Name Variations: _______ Address:

~~~~~

Fill out the form on this page: http://www.lexisnexis.com/terms/privacy/data/remove.asp to remove information about yourself from the Lexis-Nexis People Locator (P-Trak) system. (The link will open in a new browser window. After submitting the form, close that window to return to Operation Opt-Out.)

~~~~~

US SEARCH.COM INC 600 Corporate Pointe, Suite 220 Culver City, CA 90230 (Date)  To Whom It May Concern: I would like to have my information removed from your Public Record Profile Product. Here is the information you requested: Name: . Name Variations: ______

Address: ___, Date of Birth: ___ SS #: ___ Signature __________

~~~~~

Telephone Preference Service Direct Marketing Association P.O. Box 1559 Carmel, NY 10512 (date) Please register my name with the Telephone Preference Service. Name: . Address: , Phone: -- Thank you for your help, ________ Signature of . ______

~~~~~

How to Sign Up Online for the National "Do Not Call" List.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has just launched a new system making it possible for individuals to stop unsolicited commercial telephone calls. The FTC is creating a nation-wide "Do-Not-Call" registry. Sign up on the list, and the telemarketers cannot call you at home. Registration is now available online at http://www.donotcall.gov. You can also call 1-888-382-1222 from the telephone you wish to register.

~~~~~

Mail Preference Service Direct Marketing Association P. O. Box 643 Carmel, NY 10512 (DATE)  Please register my name with the Mail Preference Service. Name: . Address: , Thank you for your help, ___________ Signature of .

~~~~~

Trans Union LLC - Removal Option P.O. Box 505 Woodlyn, PA 19094 (date)

To whom it may concern: I request to have my name removed from your marketing lists. Here is the information you have asked me to include in my request: FIRST, MIDDLE & LAST NAME: . CURRENT MAILING ADDRESS: , PREVIOUS MAILING ADDRESS (if you have moved in the last six months) _________ __________ _________ SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER: __________ DATE OF BIRTH: ___________________ Thank you for your prompt handling of my request, ____________________________ Signature of .

~~~~~

Experian Consumer Opt Out 701 Experian Parkway Allen, TX 75013 (date)

To whom it may concern: I request to have my name removed from your marketing lists. Here is the information you have asked me to include in my request: FIRST, MIDDLE & LAST NAME: . CURRENT MAILING ADDRESS: , Thank you for your prompt handling of my request, ____________________________ Signature of .

~~~~~

Equifax Options PO Box 740123 Atlanta, GA 30374-0123 (date)

To whom it may concern: I request to have my name removed from your marketing lists. Here is the information you have asked me to include in my request: FIRST, MIDDLE & LAST NAME: . CURRENT MAILING ADDRESS: , SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER: ________ DATE OF BIRTH: _____ Thank you for your prompt handling of my request, ___________ Signature of .

-------------

Good work! You have just regained a little bit more control over your personal information! Thanks for taking the time to help support privacy online and in the real world. Or can optain & print the actual documents via the site & fill out to mail: OPT-OUT SITE

What else can You do?
You can further take control of your personal information by:
* writing or calling the magazines that you subscribe to and ask them not to release your mailing information when they make their subscription lists available.
* getting an unlisted, unpublished, home telephone number. Once your telephone number and address are published in the telephone book, it is considered public information and anyone can use it. You may need to pay your telephone company for this privilege, plus friends and family will not be able to look up your phone number if they need it.
* writing to all companies that you do business with regularly, such as your bank, telephone company, other utilities, video rental store, grocery store, etc..., and ask that they do not distribute your personal information. If it is at all possible, threaten to take your business elsewhere. If you do take your business elsewhere, let the company know why you've left them.
* adding a link to your web site that will refer your site's visitors to Operation Opt-Out.

Recently, members of Congress from both parties, led by Senator Shelby (R-AL) and Representative Markey (D-MA), spearheaded a campaign to introduce a law that would require banks and financial institutions to ask your permission before they could use your information for any other purpose than what it was originally collected for ("opt-in"). Unfortunately, this effort failed, but other attempts will probably soon follow. If this concerns you, call your member of Congress and let them know that you care about privacy. Today the general practice in the business community is to use your information unless you object. This is why your info is out there giving even your bank & others the right to use your information as they please. So besides writing to Congress to help their efforts to protect your privacy, make sure that anything & everything you do "YOU" first outright mention you want your info secured/private & "NO" they can not use it for their choosing. Many companies tell you (phone, utilities, etc.) say all information is confidential.

NOTE: NO IT IS NOT, UNLESS YOU REQUEST ABSOLUTE PRIVACY ASK FOR YOUR OPT-OUT RIGHTS!

How many of you know you do not have to give out your social security for everything
- You have every reason to guard your Social Security number and give it out only when absolutely necessary. You do not have to give it out to your doctors office, insurance company, utilities, school, or even when applying for certain things. Your social security was set for Federal use only. Not for everyone else to use or ask for but they do. You have a right to decline giving out your social security number especially because you are a victim of Violence. Some places such as gov. offices will require proof of why you refuse to give your social out.

Yes, not giving your social can slow down process of many things but there are other ways for companies, programs that seem to think they have a right to this information of identifying you & don't let them trick you into giving it out. What information they have for you then goes to your credit reports, their records & social where this information is not necessary for them to have. Thus making it easier for those companies, US People Search & others to obtain your information all because you gave out your social to anyone or everyone that requested it when it was not important, nor necessary.

Know that any time you see a place for social # don't just fill it out. Ask why they need it? For what purpose, explain your situation, show them documentation if you have it restraining orders, court orders for address protection, A.C.P. (State Address Confidentiality Programs) Check your state to see if that Program is available. A.C.P. is a program where to participate in the program you have to be referred by your local DV leason or protection program you are with. There are strict rules that apply & you have to follow to a "T". 

Local states that offer A.C.P. : 

ADDRESS CONFIDENTIALITY PROGRAM BY STATE

Remember this can only be done through programs that you are involved in that help protect you by referral from them. You might have to ask for this if they do not already offer it outright. This program does exist!

These people that work for A.C.P. are wonderful advocates for protecting your privacy! Someone asks for your social, have them call A.C.P., your DV Advocates or any other protection program you are under. Their job is to help you stay safe. One way of leaving a whole in their efforts to do that....give out your social. DON'T DO IT! REFUSE & ASK WHY it is needed. Majority of the time it is not even a requirement but they might say, it is...know that it is not.

You should be very careful about sharing your number and card to protect against misuse of your number. Giving your number is voluntary even when you are asked for the number directly. If requested, you should ask:

* Why your number is needed;

* How your number will be used;

* What happens if you refuse;

* What law requires you to give your number to them. (most won't have enough ligit information to give you as to why they need it.)

Some options where you do not have to give your social security #:

* A social security card is not required for an I-9 form a birth certificate or baptismal record can be used instead.

* Vet, doctor, school, utilities, phone companies & cellular.

* A landlord CANNOT "legally deny you housing" because you do not submit your SSN, BY LAW you are not required to.

Only those listed below have the right to you Social. NO ONE ELSE DOES! Protect it. You can also apply for a small monthly fee to protect your social here: http://www.lifelock.com/  GOV USE ONLY!

* Internal Revenue Service for tax returns and federal loans;
* Employers for wage and tax reporting purposes;
* Employers enrolled in E-Verify;
* States for the school lunch program;
* Banks for monetary transactions;
* Veterans Administration as a hospital admission number;
* Department of Labor for workers’ compensation;
* Department of Education for Student Loans;
* States to administer any tax, general public assistance, motor vehicle or drivers license law within its jurisdiction;
* States for child support enforcement;
* States for commercial drivers’ licenses;
* States for Food Stamps;
* States for Medicaid;
* States for Unemployment Compensation;
* States for Temporary Assistance to Needy Families; or
* U.S. Treasury for U.S. Savings Bonds Privacy Act requires the agency to inform the person of the following: the statutory or other authority for requesting the information; whether disclosure is mandatory or voluntary; what uses will be made of the information; and the consequences, if any, of failure to provide the information.

NOTE: Even though these programs require a social # you "WILL" still need to express to them the security & privacy of you # with documention proof so that your info within their system can be "red flagged". Meaning that they need to be extremely careful on whom they share this information with. Provide all documents of restraining orders, court orders, A.C.P. protection program for them to better secure you # & information. PROOF REQUIRED but you have to let them know!

 

New Social Security numbers in cases of domestic violence Updated 12/14/2010 03:24 PM | Answer ID 88

I am a victim of domestic violence. Can I get a new Social Security number assigned?

Yes. Although Social Security does not routinely assign new numbers, we will do so to help protect you when evidence shows you are being harassed or abused or your life is endangered. Applying for a new number is a big decision. It may impact your ability to interact with federal and state agencies, employers and others. This is because your financial, medical, employment and other records will be under your former Social Security number and name (if you change your name). If we assign a new number to you, you may use only that number. You cannot use your old number, too. If you expect to change your name, we recommend you do so before applying for a new number. To get a new number, you must apply in person at any Social Security office. We will help you complete an application for a new number and a statement explaining why you need it. For more information, see New Numbers For Domestic Violence Victims (Publication No. 05-10093). They have the forms there for you to fill out if changing your social is something seriously to consider for safety reasons. Remember if changing your number, don't forget to include your children as well.

So, what to do now......START WRITIN THOSE LETTERS FOR OPT-OUT!

Write a letter to your Congress & State Representatives can find those listed here:  Write your Representative

Get INVOLVED....understand & get more information on what is going on in Gov to help those whom have experienced Domestic Violence, Violence in General of any kind. You have a voice...USE IT...who better for them to hear from then those who have experienced it & your difficulties because the system isn't perfect & needs to change now. Go here to

GET INVOLVED. (link)

It is a lot to ask, a lot to do just to protect yourself, your children & your privacy. I know, but if not yourself doing this, don't expect that it will just happen & don't wait for someone else or program to do it for you. They all have limited rescources, time to do this for everyone. Keep yourself one step ahead, it makes looking over your shoulder all the time a lot easier to sleep at night. I hope all this information has helped, it is a lot of work but it is so worth the time it will take to do this for a longer reassuance of safety.

REMEMBER THIS: What is your safety, privacy & life worth? You are IMPORTANT, you are SOMEONE SPECIAL, LOVED & if not to yourself to those who depend on you & love you.