Privacy Statements

Question about using 3rd party mailing list software

[VictorE]

I am currently using mailing list software that runs on my webhost. However, I am currently looking to change my mailing list software. Several of the mailing list packages that I am looking at are hosted by the mailing list companies on their servers. All of the e-mail addresses collected are stored by them, and all of the messages are sent out by their servers.

Do you think it would still be okay to claim:

"We will never give your contact information to anyone"?

Thanks!

[pendanticist]

"We will never give your contact information to anyone"?

If you can't guarantee it, don't even think about it.

Pendanticist.

[carfac]

While I agree with pendanticist, I do not think that answers your questions.

I think you need to look at the operating agreement(s) with those off-site hosted solutions. If you are given password-protected, encrypted or otherwise secure areas, and the providers promise your security, I do not see that you are giving anyone's address away. And, obviously, if the mail providor WON'T guarrantee your rpivacy, walk away!

dave

[Dreamquick]

Generally if you are using the services of a 3rd party you need to understand the business relationship you have.

If you are their paying client and you want them to handle your data, then while they are doing this they are essentially an agent for yourselves and technically it hasn't been passed on to a "3rd party" in the normal sense as this company is effectively an just carrying out your orders...

In the marketing lists business this sort of thing is a really common practice as people who buy lists can't release to a 3rd party under the terms of their data licence, however most of them cannot actually handle fulfilment themselves and so they hire a 3rd party to deal with all the data (mailing houses etc).

But as carfac points out so well it really does come down to the type of business relationship they will offer you.

- Tony

[EliteWeb]

With third party e-mail senders you and them have an agreeement that they will keep your information private. Thus your not giving their details out or selling them. Your hiring them to do your emailing. That to me is fine as long as its still only you sending emails to those lists. To be sure I would seed some backup emails of yours that NOBODY knows ie: [e-mail] which you've never submitted but you've added to the list. and if you ever get email there or to the multiple addresses you never get email at. (make sure its not linked on any site either) then if you get email at all those emails you KNOW the people hosting your list are using your DATA for their purposes.

I suggest EVERYONE do this with mailing lists.