Years back I got on the Environmental Defense Fund's email list. This was fine by me. I read some of the emails, signed a few online petitions, etc etc. All was splendiforous, really. Then, on February 13, 2008 I made a donation to one of their various campaigns. I don't know what exactly about that campaign spurred me to pull out my credit card, but it did. Twenty five whole dollars (U.S.).
As thank you, EDF decided to raze a small forest.
Included either on the webpage after my donation was processed or in the email receipt was something along the lines of 'thank you for becoming a member of the EDF'. This surprised me, and I immediately used their online contact system to say a) I didn't want to be a member, b) they really should have clearer language (or some language) on the donation form saying I'd become a member by donating to a specific campaign (NOT their general fund, mind you), and c) to pull me off of any and all of their mailing lists, membership lists, etc. Email was fine, but I didn't want to receive anything else from them. There was no response from EDF aside from the automatic 'we received your comment' email.
Then I started receiving mail. Lots of mail. First it was a membership packet from EDF - rather thick, and full of full color papers and whatnot. Then there were a few more donation requests - help with this campaign, help with that one, etc. Bear in mind that during this they're still sending me emails.
By last summer I started getting mailings from other organizations - pretty clearly EDF had sold or given my name to other environmental groups or to some central list someplace. I nicely emailed all the different groups that were now sending me letters. Almost all of them responded saying 'sure, we'll take you off the list'. I didn't hear from those organizations again after one or two letters. Well done with the list management there folks! EDF, see me after class.
EDF kept sending stuff every so often, including a 'renew your membership now!' mailing sometime in the fall. I decided to try again and used the online form to say again that I wanted off their mailing lists (I couldn't find a direct email to their membership office or something similar; the online contact form seems to be the only electronic method of contacting them). Same message I sent to all the other organizations - but again, no response from EDF.
Finally, after getting a notice thanking me for my continued support (even though I was no longer supporting them) and calling me a member (even though I'd let the membership renewal deadline pass with nary a second thought) I called them and asked to be taken off their mailing lists. EDF said 'will do - but you might receive a few more mailings since we prep those in advance'. Sounded fine to me - at least I'd stop receiving papers from this environmental group someday.
Except the papers have kept coming. And coming. And so I'm going to chronicle these papers, and any more attempts I make to get off of EDF's lists, from this point forward.
Why am I starting this blog today? Dunno exactly. But simply recycling YET ANOTHER piece of unwanted mail from an 'environmental' organization that agreed to take me off their mailing list months ago, and who previously ignored several emails, AND who sold my mailing address to other environmental groups who proceeded to flood me with mail... well, that just didn't seem sufficient.
Received today: half-sheet envelope with full color printing outside; enclosed - a letter calling me a member (still!), a return envelope (for... it's not clear), and a 16 page full-color newsletter with a slew of stories roughly three quarters the length of your typical blog post.
Mark Dowie addresses this issue in his book "Losing Ground". It is worth reading.
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