The Road to Invisible

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Begin here.

• The path to privacy is a long one. You start by reading The Privacy Rights Handbook, by Beth Givens (Avon, 1997) and monitoring privacy news (www.accessreports.com).

• Stop direct mail by sending your name and address (all versions) to Mail Preference Service, Direct Marketing Association, Box 9008, Farmingdale, NY 11735-9008.

• Refuse to fill out warranty cards. (Warranties remain in force.) Patronize card-free supermarkets (www.nocards.org). When you buy by phone, say: “Do not rent, sell, or trade my name and address.”

• OOPS. You called an 800 number. The Automatic Number Identification System tags you for direct marketers.

• Stop the telemarketers: Send name, address, and phone number to Telephone Preference Service, DMA, Box 9014, Farmingdale, NY 11735-9014.

• If someone calls anyway, say: “Under the federal Telephone Consumer Protection Act, I want to be on your ‘do not call’ list.” To stop pre-approved credit card marketers: 888/5OPTOUT.

• Too much work? For $20 annually, Private Citizen will contact marketers on your behalf (www.private-citizen.com).

• OOPS. Your Social Security Number is printed on your checks. Someone could steal your identity. Better check your records: 800/772-1213 (www.ssa.gov).

• Tired of this yet? Start over: Get married and change your name. Watch out for the license; it will get you on more lists. So will the passport you need for that overseas honeymoon.

• Visit a privacy-friendly country. Watch out: Austria’s Freedom Party wants to issue foreigners an “Austria-Card” with photo, fingerprints, personal info. More info online at www.privacyinternational.org.

• Back home, you buy a new house. You fill out a permanent—instead of temporary—change of address card to let everyone know.

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