StayPrivate.org FAQ

What does this web site do?

It allows you to register with various opt-out services to reduce the amount of unwanted mail and sales calls you receive.

What doesn't this website do?

It does not stop ALL unsolicited marketing.

The services offered on this website DO NOT stop the following:

• contact from companies based overseas
• contact from companies you've already done business with
• unaddressed mail or mail addressed to 'The Occupier'
• mail from small local businesses (leaflets, fliers etc.)
• spam emails
• unwanted SMS/text messages

In the case of companies you've already done business with and small local businesses, you should contact them directly and ask them to cease contacting you.

Is this service free?

Absolutely! You should never have to pay to opt-out of receiving marketing communications. There are many websites that charge for submission to free opt-out services, we are not one of them and we do not encourage their use. If you have been contacted by anyone asking for payment to register with these opt-out services, THIS IS A SCAM. Please read this for more information.

What opt-out services can I register with through StayPrivate.org?

At the moment you can register with the Direct Marketing Association's Telephone, Mail and Baby Mail Prefence Services. Links to explanations of each service are provided below.

We plan to include more opt-out services from a range of providers over the coming months.

• the Mailing Preference Service (MPS) deals with unwanted mail for households
• the Telephone Preference Service (TPS) deals with cold calling for households
• the Baby Mailing Preference Service (BMPS) deals with baby-related unwanted mail

These opt-out services are already available online. Why did you build this site?

We built it to both simplify and unify the process of registering for services. Our aim is to make registration more attractive, which we hope will ultimately benefit consumers.

Currently, users are forced to sign up for each service separately, which means providing largely the same information each time. The amount of information required is not insubstantial. This is a tedious process which probably discourages many people from signing up. Furthermore, users are expected to re-submit their details again wholesale for address changes and in the case of some services, when registration expires.

We've therefore attempted to make things easier by creating a single submission form covering all services. We've also provided the option to set up a StayPrivate.org user account. Accounts allow users to store their details for automatic resubmission to all selected services upon expiry. Also, changes to details only need to be made once to take effect across all selected services.

What exactly do you do with my details?

This depends on whether or not you sign up for a user account.

If you do not sign up for an account, we will store your details until we have finished submitting them to the different opt-out services. Once this is complete, we will destroy them.

If you do sign up for an account, you will have a choice about what we do with your data. We can either keep it, which will make it easier to submit changes to the opt-out services and register with new services as we add them, or we can destroy it once we've finished the submissions. If you ask us to destroy it, we will keep your name and email address and the dates on which we submitted you to each service, but we will destroy everything else.

While we have your details, they are kept securely in an encrypted database. We will never pass your details onto third parties (other than to register you with the services you have asked to be submitted to).

You can ask us to destroy your data and/or close your user account at any time from your profile.

Do I need to create a user account?

You have the option to create a user account when you sign up but it is not compulsory. If you create an account, you will have access to more features as we build them and we will be able to remind you if subscriptions require renewing. You will also be able to log in, change your details as necessary and resubmit them to your chosen services in one go.

If you don't create a user account, we will destroy any data you give us as soon as we have submitted your details to the various opt-out services.

My details have changed. Should I resubmit them?

Yes. The opt-out services have no way of tracking people to new addresses or telephone numbers. If you have a StayPrivate.org account and we are storing your details, you can simply amend your details in your profile and hit the 'resubmit' button. Other users will need to fill out the sign up forms.

I've signed up but haven't received the confirmation email, what can I do?

Confirmation emails can take up to 30 minutes to come through, so please be patient. Check your spam folder just in case - all of our emails are sent from bot@stayprivate.org. If you can't find it, request a new activation code and we will send out a new one.

If you do not subsequently receive your new activation code, please check the spelling of your email address.

Why have I received multiple confirmation emails?

This is normal - you will receive notifications from both StayPrivate.org and the opt-out services you've chosen to register for.

Will I miss out on legitimate marketing I may be interested in if I sign up to the opt-out services?

Depending on your definition of what is legitimate, you may well. Opt-out services always carry this risk and you should weigh up if this factor is important to you or not before registering.

Can I register on behalf of others?

Yes. If they share the same address as you simply add their details to the sign up form. If they have a different address to you, you will need to make a separate registration.

If you would like them to have a user account they will need a separate email address (if they don't, we would suggest using one of the free web-based email providers to register a new address, if only for use with StayPrivate.org).

In all cases, you should gain their consent before registering them with the opt-out services.

Can I cancel my registration?

Yes, at any time. You will need to contact the different opt-out services directly to be removed from their systems. If you've set up a StayPrivate user account, you'll need to log in and delete your account.

Why am I having trouble entering my details (surname, postcode, username etc.) in the sign up form?

Please follow the instructions given on the form itself. Title, forename and surname are always entered in three separate corresponding fields, telephone numbers are required without spaces, your account nickname can contain only letters, numbers and underscores (no spaces or symbols) and your password must be at least 7 characters long and can contain letters, numbers or symbols but no spaces.

What is Consumer Focus Labs?

CF Labs is a team that builds online tools to make people's dealings with companies fairer, save them money, or keep them informed about products and issues that are important to them. We collect ideas for projects to build or support through our website, so let us know if there is something you think we should consider.

CF Labs is based within Consumer Focus, the statutory consumer champion for England, Wales, Scotland and (for postal consumers) Northern Ireland. We operate across the whole of the economy, persuading businesses, public services and policy makes to put consumers at the heart of what they do.

How can I contact Consumer Focus Labs?

Just email us at team@consumerfocuslabs.org.

If you want to send us feedback on StayPrivate.org or have a problem with the service please do not email us at this address. Please see our feedback and help pages for more information.