Robinson list
Encyclopedia
A Robinson list or Mail Preference Service (MPS) list is an opt-out
list of people who do not wish to receive marketing transmissions. The marketing can be via e-mail
, postal mail, telephone
, or fax
. In each case, contact details will be placed on a blacklist
. Although the purpose of such a list is to reduce unwanted marketing, the principle that "data is only private until someone decides it isn't" indicates it can also generate unwanted marketing.
In the UK, the Mailing Preference Service composes a Robinson list funded by the direct mail industry which collects names and addresses of people who do not want to receive direct marketing. This list is circulated to marketing companies which are then responsible for not contacting people on the list. Although use of this list is governed by the Advertising Standards Authority and the Code of Practice of the Direct Marketing Association, there is nonetheless the potential for names on the list to be used for the opposite of their intended purpose, either accidentally or intentionally.
Opt-out
The term opt-out refers to several methods by which individuals can avoid receiving unsolicited product or service information. This ability is usually associated with direct marketing campaigns such as telemarketing, e-mail marketing, or direct mail. A list of those who have opted-out is called a...
list of people who do not wish to receive marketing transmissions. The marketing can be via e-mail
E-mail
Electronic mail, commonly known as email or e-mail, is a method of exchanging digital messages from an author to one or more recipients. Modern email operates across the Internet or other computer networks. Some early email systems required that the author and the recipient both be online at the...
, postal mail, telephone
Telephone
The telephone , colloquially referred to as a phone, is a telecommunications device that transmits and receives sounds, usually the human voice. Telephones are a point-to-point communication system whose most basic function is to allow two people separated by large distances to talk to each other...
, or fax
Fax
Fax , sometimes called telecopying, is the telephonic transmission of scanned printed material , normally to a telephone number connected to a printer or other output device...
. In each case, contact details will be placed on a blacklist
Blacklist
A blacklist is a list or register of entities who, for one reason or another, are being denied a particular privilege, service, mobility, access or recognition. As a verb, to blacklist can mean to deny someone work in a particular field, or to ostracize a person from a certain social circle...
. Although the purpose of such a list is to reduce unwanted marketing, the principle that "data is only private until someone decides it isn't" indicates it can also generate unwanted marketing.
In the UK, the Mailing Preference Service composes a Robinson list funded by the direct mail industry which collects names and addresses of people who do not want to receive direct marketing. This list is circulated to marketing companies which are then responsible for not contacting people on the list. Although use of this list is governed by the Advertising Standards Authority and the Code of Practice of the Direct Marketing Association, there is nonetheless the potential for names on the list to be used for the opposite of their intended purpose, either accidentally or intentionally.
Examples
- British Telephone Preference ServiceTelephone Preference ServiceThe Telephone Preference Service is a UK opt-out telephone list that is intended to prevent telemarketing calls to those who do not wish to receive them. The list is administered on behalf of Ofcom by the British direct marketing industry, who also run the Mailing Preference Service and Fax...
- UK Mailing Preference Service
- Canadian Do Not Call ListCanadian Do Not Call ListThe National Do Not Call List allows residents of Canada to decide whether or not to receive telemarketing calls. It was first announced by the Government of Canada on December 13, 2004.The DNC list has been labelled a "disaster"...
- New Zealand Name Removal ServiceNew Zealand Name Removal ServiceThe New Zealand Name Removal Service provides a way for New Zealanders to reduce the amount of junk mail and telemarketing calls they receive.The service is provided voluntarily by the Marketing Association of New Zealand and stops only calls and mail from their 500 members...
- United States National Do Not Call RegistryUnited States National Do Not Call RegistryThe National Do Not Call Registry is intended to give U.S. consumers an opportunity to limit the telemarketing calls they receive. To register by telephone , consumers may call 1-888-382-1222. The registry was set to begin in 2003, but a court challenge delayed its implementation until 2004. The...
- Belgian Robinson list
- Spanish Robinson list