FAQ
What is ProQuo’s mission?ProQuo’s mission is to help consumers control their personal information. Who is in control of your personal information today?There is a ten billion dollar industry profiting from the trading and selling of your personal information today — without your knowledge, and without your consent. The companies involved in this industry include data brokers, direct marketing companies, credit bureaus, and other organizations. On an ongoing basis, these companies sell lists containing the personal information of millions of consumers to thousands of different companies. Since these companies profit from selling these lists, these companies serve other businesses rather than represent consumers. What does the buying and selling of my personal information mean to me?A result of your information appearing on lists used by thousands of companies is voluminous paper junk mail, a wide range of solicitations (by email, postal mail, and telephone), and increased risk of identity theft. By removing your personal information from these lists and reducing the amount of paper junk mail you receive, you can reduce frustration associated with junk mail, limit shredding, and help prevent identity theft. How does this practice contribute to identity theft?Identity theft can begin when thieves get hold of the marketing mail that arrives in your mailbox containing your information. In addition, the risk of identity theft is increased as more and more companies obtain electronic lists containing your personal information – since hackers or data breaches can result in your personal information getting into the wrong hands. How does ProQuo help consumers?ProQuo helps consumers remove their personal information from marketing lists, data brokers, and other organizations responsible for a large amount of junk mail. ProQuo does this by helping people request removal directly from these sources. In many cases, ProQuo will send these requests electronically to the specific organizations that consumers select. For companies that don’t accept electronic requests, ProQuo helps consumers to print out forms for mailing or directs consumers to third party web sites. Who does ProQuo represent?ProQuo represents consumers, and we are dedicated to building, cultivating, and delivering upon a trusted relationship with users of our service. An example is our revolutionary privacy promise, which is dramatically different from the industry we help consumers manage. Will ProQuo share my personal information to third parties?ProQuo will never sell, trade, transfer or otherwise share your information with third parties without your express consent -- ever. In fact, you are in control at all times of what information you want to share and who you want to share it with. We encourage you to read our revolutionary Privacy Promise. What kind of marketing lists, databases and junk mail will ProQuo attempt to stop or remove my name and address from?We are making every effort to help you remove your name and address from as many lists as possible. The companies we contact on your behalf and at your direction include some of the largest direct mailers, marketing list providers, and junk mailers. ProQuo will continue to add new companies and will advise you when they are available. Is this service really free?Absolutely. We strongly believe it should be easy for consumers to request that companies stop trading, selling, and licensing their personal information. If the service is free, how does ProQuo make money?In the future, ProQuo will allow consumers to request offers that they do want in addition to eliminating the offers that they don’t want. ProQuo will make money from the advertisers that provide these offers. ProQuo will only provide these offers when requested by consumers. How long does it take to reduce the amount of junk mail I receive?Companies that send direct mail, junk mail, marketing offers, circulars, and coupon mailings often set up mail campaigns months before you actually receive the mail. You should begin seeing a reduction within 4 weeks, and you should see the full impact within 3 months. How much postal mail does ProQuo stop?Depending on the amount and sources of the junk mail that you currently receive, ProQuo can help you reduce anywhere from 50%-90% of the junk mail. Since we believe that consumers should decide what mail to stop and which to continue, the reduction in mail will depend upon the choices of individual consumers. As an example, some people may want to continue receiving coupons but stop other circulars, credit card offers, and other types of offers. Why do I have to go to other websites to request removal of my information?Certain companies like OptOutPrescreen.com and the Direct Marketing Association (DMA) require that the consumer submit the request themselves. As a convenience, ProQuo provides links to these sites for you to complete their forms. The Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) Do Not Call Registry is another website that requires consumers to submit the request themselves. A link to this site is also provided so you can instruct telemarketers not to call you at the phone numbers that you register. What makes ProQuo unique?
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