Frequently Asked Questions

Question 1: What is the UnsubscribeNow.org program?

The UnsubscribeNow.org program is the first of its kind - a web-based privacy initiative designed to help spam recipients electronically leverage the power of the recently enacted US Federal CAN-SPAM law. Effective January 1, 2004 - email marketers must provide a valid and working unsubscribe feature in their email messages.

The opportunity

Today's anti-spam products make use of real-time filters, spam block IP lists, header analysis and a host of other anti-spam exploits. Our program is unique.

With the introduction of CAN-SPAM - an official rationalization and market opportunity is now available and the race is on to create an Opt-out mechanism that automates the process of unsubscribing. UnsubscribeNow.org is committed to this challenge, to inform consumers by example and re-orient consumers and marketers about today's CAN-SPAM Opt-out policies.

UnsubscribeNow.org is not affiliated nor does the system overlap with third party email suppression sites such as EthicalEmail.com or UnsubCentral.com

Question 2: I would like to subscribe to the UnsubscribeNow.org program. How long does the sign-up process take?

The sign-up process will take approximately three minutes to complete.

Question 3: Will spam in my inbox disappear tomorrow?

No. The UnsubscribeNow.org program is designed to work in tandem with CAN-SPAM by helping its subscribers suppress their email addresses over time as remove requests are submitted and lists are electronically queued (flagged) to remove that address from relevant mailing lists.

As a tool, UnsubscribeNow.org helps automate this process online, however UnsubscribeNow.org does not enforce email marketers who have not honored successfully submitted remove requests in a timely manner.

Question 4: What other products does UnsubscribeNow.org have planned?

UnsubscribeNow.org will be introducing its own Outlook Express anti-spam installable application. Available free to members, this application will install easily into your email browser and automatically bounce incoming junk-email through UnsubscribeNow.org's own spam definition database.

Our long term mission is to patent the online process and license the mechanism as a viable compliance-driven spam suppressing technology.

Question 5: Will the UnsubscribeNow.org program stop all commercial email?

No. The UnsubscribeNow.org program is an attempt to help suppress the number of circulating messages subscribers receive and preserve a 'manageable' level of intrusions. With electronic lists duplicating daily, the likely alternative being 40-100+ messages per day.

As CAN-SPAM compliance gains momentum, UnsubscribeNow.org will gain a favorable strategic position to help its members benefit from today's far reaching federally enacted solution.

Question 6: Could you clarify what a CAN-SPAM compliant email advertisement looks like?

The Direct Marketing Association has released "The CAN SPAM Act of 2003: What to Look For, What to Look OUT For," an email marketing reference and compliance guide to the new Federal anti-spam law. The two examples illustrate commercial emails that comply with the law and provides contact information for the government authorities in charge of enforcement. www.the-dma.org/antispam/E-mail_Chart.pdf

Additional information about "Remove Me" Responses and Responsibilities can be found at the Federal Trade Commission website.

Question 7: I subscribe to eZines and receive newsletters I want from various online portals; will I be Opted-out of these?

No. UnsubscribeNow.org utilizes spam traps which harvests circulating spam associated with larger direct to consumer bulk mailing houses. Direct to customer or confirmed Opt-in newsletter advertisers would be unaffected.

Messages originating from government institutions, charities, educational and military establishments however are exempt from UnsubscribeNow.org's Opt-out database. This includes .gov .org .edu and .mil related domains.

Question 8: What happens if my addresses were cancelled from processing, or if I deleted my addresses from the system?

Once entered into the program, members are encouraged to keep their addresses in continuous processing queue. Benefits gained through the UnsubscribeID mechanism relies on a long-term viral cancellation approach; Opting-out from multiple lists for every new list that emerges.

Question 9: How does UnsubscribeNow.org retrieve the removal links?

UnsubscribeNow.org runs proprietary scripts on spam trapped messages to "spider" their form-submit type removal links. Once collected, these links are screened for duplicates from our database and then tested for its DNS availability (is the domain live?) Once we have pre-qualified the links they are entered into our program where they undergo a "seeded quarantine" holding stage. A marker script is used to submit the link a test "seed" address which is then monitored for any signs of list management abuse.

If the seeded address spawns spam messages, the link is determined abused by the advertiser and discarded. Links which pass our holding period are entered into our database and made available for automated Opt-out processing.

Several additional pre-qualifying steps are taken to help ensure the legitimacy of the advertisers message removal system. Threshold and compliance data is not available at this time.

Question 10: After I subscribe and register my email information, what happens next?

Your part is finished. After your data is registered, it will begin processing through the UnsubscribeNow.org Opt-out database.

All collected data will remain confidential and will only be used in conjunction with operation of the UnsubscribeNow.org program.

Question 11: Who is eligible to be on the UnsubscribeNow.org Opt-out program?

UnsubscribeNow.org is available to all residential, private and commercial email subscribers.

Question 12: How is the UnsubscribeNow.org program funded?

The UnsubscribeNow.org program is privately held, it is profitable and funded through it's annual membership fee's.

Question 13: Why don't you bill monthly?

The UnsubscribeNow.org program costs less than $6 per month per member. Additional transaction and credit card authorization fees associated with monthly billing would result in a higher membership cost to our subscribers.

Question 14: Do you offer a guarantee?

Usage of the UnsubscribeID program as a long-term spam suppression utility will give varying independent results and we are committed to our members satisfaction. We offer a 30 day money back trial guarantee in case members are unsatisfied with the UnsubscribeNow.org program. Inquiries regarding member accounts can be made by contacting UnsubscribeNow.org accounts support.

Question 15: Does everyone in my household or business need to register?

No. Only one account holder needs to subscribe to the program. Be sure to register any additional email addresses at the same location.

Question 16: I use Microsoft's Outlook Express, what else can I do?

Microsoft's Outlook Express can help filter your messages and automatically delete spam containing obvious keywords. Setting this up requires just a few minutes.

1. Open Outlook Express.

2. On the Tools menu, point to Message Rules, then click Mail.

3. On the Mail Rules tab, click New. Here you will create a new rule that Outlook Express will follow.

4. In box 1 put a check mark on these two lines
    [ x ] - Where the subject line contains specific words.
    [ x ] - Where the message body contains specific words.

5. In box 2 put a check mark on this one line
    [ x ] - Delete it.

6. In box 3 click the underlined "contains_specific_words" link and a word editor will open up.

7. Start entering spam related keywords and keyword combinations such as Viagra, absolutely free, future mailings, weight loss, enlargement, etc. etc. Those messages containing these keywords will automatically be sent to your deleted folder.

8. Click OK. Then click the Apply now button twice to apply the rules to your inbox.

9. Once Outlook finishes sweeping out your inbox, click OK. Your rules have been set. To edit these rules, simply click the Tools menu again.