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US Government wants to make it easier for you to click the 'unsubscribe' button

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Re: US Government wants to make it easier for you to click the 'unsubscribe' button

#61

Post by ghaff »

thinkingtoilet wrote: post #11
the__alchemist wrote: post #7

Anecdotally: A: I get more spam than ever. What is especially annoying is that the majority of reputable companies do this. Order something? Sign up for an account? Set up an LLC? File a trademark? Boom: Spam emails UFN. B: It's easier to unsubscribe than ever: Often one-click at the bottom of the email, or let Gmail/Fastmail etc do it for you. Generally effective. One annoyance I find is the Our terms have been alte…

I've stopped unsubscribing to emails I didn't sign up for and just send to spam. It hurts their "reputation" score and wastes their money (however small amount). I encourage people to stop unsubscribing and just send it to spam.

It can also lead to emails that other people did want getting routed to their spam folder which they never look at.

Re: US Government wants to make it easier for you to click the 'unsubscribe' button

#62

Post by nanoservices »

misstuned wrote: post #37
litenboll wrote: post #28

Disclosure: I only read up until it was revealed what the policy was. This was always my opinion on this. "As easy to cancel as it is to sign up". It's simple, and completely shuts down this malicious behaviour without making it harder to operate for the honest companies (or worse for customers in any way I can think of). Usually these policies have downsides but I can't really think of any. This kind of behaviour is…

The same goes for all services. I was able to sign up for an ISP service (in the UK) online very easily, with a few clicks and entries onto a form to enter my details, choose my installation date, choose my speed, etc. Fast forward a few years, I'm leaving that house and need to cancel the internet - snail mail letter needed.

There is zero incentive for a company to invest in tooling and tech to make processes that lose them customers more efficient. This is something that has to be regulated and enforced. I just don't see a c-suit clamoring to spend money on making it easier to leave.

Re: US Government wants to make it easier for you to click the 'unsubscribe' button

#63

Post by TimedToasts »

dfxm12 wrote: post #34

It's nice when the government improves the quality of life for regular people at the expense of businesses who are using dark patterns. I'll be sure to remember this in November. Here's more info on the initiative: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases...

Call me when it's more than wishful thinking and promises

Re: US Government wants to make it easier for you to click the 'unsubscribe' button

#64

Post by BiteCode_dev »

litenboll wrote: post #28

Disclosure: I only read up until it was revealed what the policy was. This was always my opinion on this. "As easy to cancel as it is to sign up". It's simple, and completely shuts down this malicious behaviour without making it harder to operate for the honest companies (or worse for customers in any way I can think of). Usually these policies have downsides but I can't really think of any. This kind of behaviour is…

So... EU laws?

Re: US Government wants to make it easier for you to click the 'unsubscribe' button

#65

Post by b112 »

mkoubaa wrote: post #17
thinkingtoilet wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've stopped unsubscribing to emails I didn't sign up for and just send to spam. It hurts their "reputation" score and wastes their money (however small amount). I encourage people to stop unsubscribing and just send it to spam.

I'm almost as severe. I look for an unsubscribe button in the email. I click it. If I am not immediately unsubscribed from everything, I mark the email as spam.

I won't do business with companies that spam me.

Here I am, already giving you money, and you want to spam me?! Even after I clicked unsubscribe?

The worst are the BS claims of "account status emails", which are just spam.

I moved my entire portfolio to another bank, filed a complaint, then filed complaints as I closed each account/card. The goal to have plenty of record as to why.

Screw that.

Re: US Government wants to make it easier for you to click the 'unsubscribe' button

#66

Post by downut »

mkoubaa wrote: post #17
thinkingtoilet wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've stopped unsubscribing to emails I didn't sign up for and just send to spam. It hurts their "reputation" score and wastes their money (however small amount). I encourage people to stop unsubscribing and just send it to spam.

I'm almost as severe. I look for an unsubscribe button in the email. I click it. If I am not immediately unsubscribed from everything, I mark the email as spam.

I get spam newsletters that I never signed up for from my alma mater, the GaTech ChE school. The tiny unsubscribe button 404s! Into the spam bucket it goes.

Re: US Government wants to make it easier for you to click the 'unsubscribe' button

#69

Post by meindnoch »

misstuned wrote: post #37
litenboll wrote: post #28

Disclosure: I only read up until it was revealed what the policy was. This was always my opinion on this. "As easy to cancel as it is to sign up". It's simple, and completely shuts down this malicious behaviour without making it harder to operate for the honest companies (or worse for customers in any way I can think of). Usually these policies have downsides but I can't really think of any. This kind of behaviour is…

The same goes for all services. I was able to sign up for an ISP service (in the UK) online very easily, with a few clicks and entries onto a form to enter my details, choose my installation date, choose my speed, etc. Fast forward a few years, I'm leaving that house and need to cancel the internet - snail mail letter needed.

Counter-anecdote: cancelling my Virgin Media plan was very simple. I've clicked through their online cancellation process, then they've sent me a prepaid return box for the modem, and that was it.

Re: US Government wants to make it easier for you to click the 'unsubscribe' button

#70

Post by jkaplowitz »

BiteCode_dev wrote: post #64
litenboll wrote: post #28

Disclosure: I only read up until it was revealed what the policy was. This was always my opinion on this. "As easy to cancel as it is to sign up". It's simple, and completely shuts down this malicious behaviour without making it harder to operate for the honest companies (or worse for customers in any way I can think of). Usually these policies have downsides but I can't really think of any. This kind of behaviour is…

So... EU laws?

What EU-wide law requires it to be as easy to cancel as to sign up? I’m sitting in Germany right now and I’m unaware of any such law - though it might very well be recent and not fully transposed into German law, or might be situational or not widely complied with.

It’s a good idea though, absolutely.

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