Consumers Union current policies on external e-mail lists

Consumers Union opposes the use of spam and does not knowingly spam consumers (read ConsumerReports.org's privacy policy and e-mail list policy with regard to its own subscribers).

In the last two years, Consumers Union's subscription Web site, ConsumerReports.org (CRO), has twice purchased external e-mail lists that it deemed good matches for consumers who might be interested in becoming CRO subscribers. CRO makes it known to vendors that it will accept only double and triple opt-in* e-mail addresses and that no harvested names* will be acceptable. CRO then e-mails subscription offers to consumers named on these lists.

The terms of CRO's policy regarding such lists include the following:

• CRO works only with reputable, nationally known e-mail list aggregators and vendors. It researches the companies it works with by checking references to confirm that they operate in an ethical manner.
• CRO interviews other organizations that have used the vendor about their experiences; contacts people who work in the industry itself; and does an independent sampling of specific e-mail sign-up procedures of sites that are part of purchased lists to ensure they conform with their stated opt-in policies.
• Although external e-mail is sent from the list owner, in current external e-mail campaigns, the words "Consumer Reports" are always the first two available words in the e-mail subject line to clearly identify the source of the offer.
• CRO uses straightforward promotional language in its e-mail offers, with no false claims.
• CRO includes links either to helpful free information and tips on the site or to specific references to this free content in its e-mail, so that consumers can obtain useful information from CRO even if they choose not to subscribe.

Consumers Union takes these policies very seriously. If you believe that you have received an e-mail from us that is not within the scope of these guidelines and policies, please contact us with your comments.

*Note: Double and triple opt-in means that consumers must check a box to indicate that they are interested in receiving e-mail from a site and/or its partners. The site then sends a confirmation e-mail that the consumer must respond to for placement on the list (double opt-in) and/or that the consumer must respond again to the first e-mail received (triple opt-in). Harvested names are e-mail addresses that are listed on Internet chat sites or Web pages that some e-mail list aggregators copy and use without the owners' permission.