Friday, May 22, 2009
Thursday, May 14, 2009
And a new countdown begins
Just got off the phone with EDF again. A very professional woman asked what she could help with (I called a while back to ask to stop receiving mailings, and I'm still receiving mailings), when I called (November 18, 2008), my name, and my phone number.
A records check later came the most excellent news - they HAD removed me from the mailing lists when I called last year. No, she didn't have an explanation as to why I was still receiving mail, but she would make a note on my record and remove me from the mailing lists. Again, apparently. I asked for the timeline - 4-6 weeks she said. Sounds quite reasonable, I thought, unless you remember the way EDF bends time when it comes to their mailings.
I tried for the nuclear option to put this to rest once and for all - is there a way I can be completely removed from their database so I can't wind up on their mailing lists again, or have my information given to other groups again? Well sir, I've removed you from the mailing lists -- No, no - can I be completely removed from your database? She seemed either to not understand or to be being pulled off script. You just looked me up and found my information, right? I said. Can I be removed from that database completely so there's no way for you to send me a mailing again? That sort of action requires higher management (her words), she finally responded.
I suspect EDF has a more is more philosophy and doesn't put too much effort into culling bad entries (non-responsive, moved, lost, wants off) from their database. That's their perogative. But let's just remember - they have my email address. They email me frequently. The only way I ever gave to them was in response to an email and online. I don't want paper, especially from an environmental group. It is wasted time, money, and natural resources to send me mail, and has been for the last 14 months.
This blog will continue to exist for (at least) six more weeks. Check back to see just how many more trees EDF will slaughter in their fruitless quest to get me to donate money to stop the slaughter of trees.
A records check later came the most excellent news - they HAD removed me from the mailing lists when I called last year. No, she didn't have an explanation as to why I was still receiving mail, but she would make a note on my record and remove me from the mailing lists. Again, apparently. I asked for the timeline - 4-6 weeks she said. Sounds quite reasonable, I thought, unless you remember the way EDF bends time when it comes to their mailings.
I tried for the nuclear option to put this to rest once and for all - is there a way I can be completely removed from their database so I can't wind up on their mailing lists again, or have my information given to other groups again? Well sir, I've removed you from the mailing lists -- No, no - can I be completely removed from your database? She seemed either to not understand or to be being pulled off script. You just looked me up and found my information, right? I said. Can I be removed from that database completely so there's no way for you to send me a mailing again? That sort of action requires higher management (her words), she finally responded.
I suspect EDF has a more is more philosophy and doesn't put too much effort into culling bad entries (non-responsive, moved, lost, wants off) from their database. That's their perogative. But let's just remember - they have my email address. They email me frequently. The only way I ever gave to them was in response to an email and online. I don't want paper, especially from an environmental group. It is wasted time, money, and natural resources to send me mail, and has been for the last 14 months.
This blog will continue to exist for (at least) six more weeks. Check back to see just how many more trees EDF will slaughter in their fruitless quest to get me to donate money to stop the slaughter of trees.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
And with an extended deadline!
Does more time to not send back a donation mean even more time before they stop sending me donation forms?
Received today: Small envelope with tri-fold contribution form, smaller info sheet, and return envelope.
Received today: Small envelope with tri-fold contribution form, smaller info sheet, and return envelope.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
The phone call
I went back and checked my phone bills (online, don't worry) to get the exact information about when I called to get off EDF's lists. It is:
11/19/08
3:09 PM
800-684-3322 (the number their website says to call for questions about 'membership')
4 minutes long
I recall talking with a nice young man who said he had removed me from the mailing lists but that I might receive several more pieces of mail since they prep mailings months in advance. I used to work in annual giving. I know this is true, and I wouldn't hold a few months against them when all is said and done. But six? SIX MONTHS? Seriously? I've told them I don't want to be on their mailing list. In doing so, I've nicely offered them an easy way to increase the rate of return on their mailings by NOT SENDING IT TO THE GUY WHO WON'T RESPOND.
I may call them again tomorrow. This might be fun.
11/19/08
3:09 PM
800-684-3322 (the number their website says to call for questions about 'membership')
4 minutes long
I recall talking with a nice young man who said he had removed me from the mailing lists but that I might receive several more pieces of mail since they prep mailings months in advance. I used to work in annual giving. I know this is true, and I wouldn't hold a few months against them when all is said and done. But six? SIX MONTHS? Seriously? I've told them I don't want to be on their mailing list. In doing so, I've nicely offered them an easy way to increase the rate of return on their mailings by NOT SENDING IT TO THE GUY WHO WON'T RESPOND.
I may call them again tomorrow. This might be fun.
Saturday, May 9, 2009
That does it...
This blog won't be a full chronology since my headache with EDF goes back over a year at this point. Here's the scoop:
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.
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.
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