There is perhaps a place for employing inmates (the old cliché of inmates making license plates come to mind); however, using felons to gather personal information about you and your family is clearly a problem.

Even if you never deal with telemarketers, there is still potential of finding your personal information in hands of convicted and incarcerated felons, since direct marketing lists are sold and rented among various businesses.

For people who want to receive marketing offers in mail and have their names and addresses sold to other companies, there should be an "opt-in" option (i.e., "Initial here if we may use your name and address for marketing purposes.") Unfortunately, this is not case, and most companies just assume that once you conduct business with them your personal information is theirs to do with as they please.

HOW TO REMOVE YOURSLEF FROM THESE LISTS

While there is no "opt-in" option available, there is an "opt-out" one available.

Because most reputable businesses that engage in direct marketing (sending junk mail) are members of Direct Marketing Association(DMA), you can notify DMA Mail Preference Service and DMA Telephone Preference Service that you do not wish to receive direct marketing ads and calls from telemarketers, and they will add you to a database of names and addresses to be excluded from mailing and telemarketing lists.

Of course, DMA can do noting to limit junk mail from companies that do not subscribe to it, so this is not an all-inclusive way to get rid of junk mail. However, opting out with DMA is a free service; all it takes is a few moments of your time and a couple of postage stamps.

To have your name removed from member mailing and/or telemarketing lists, contact DMA at following addresses:

Mail Preference Service Direct Marketing Association P.O. Box 9008 Farmingdale, NY 11735

and

Telephone Preference Service Direct Marketing Association P.O. Box 9008 Farmingdale, NY 11735

Maybe your need isn’t for total light blockage. There are other options that are more suitable for dimming light in a room and helping to keep it cooler in heat or retaining heat during winter. Often referred to as ‘dim out blinds’ they are usually made of similar fabric with some light blocking properties, but aren’t fitted into channels to block all light. They come in same range of colors, patterns and styles designed to coordinate with any room décor, so shop around to find window treatments that fit your rooms perfectly.

Another recent entry into blackout blinds market is cellular blackout blinds. Cellular blackout blinds are not available from every manufacturer, and are often a custom order from others. Like blackout roller blinds, they come in both room darkening and light filtering colors. They offer many options that standard blackout blinds don’t – top down or bottom up raising and lowering, for example. The colors available range from white to lavender to sea green to rose, and can block as much as 80% of light from entering your room.

If you’re buying blackout blinds from an online dealers be sure to visit their web site to get detailed measuring instructions. Since blackout blinds of any kind must be cut to measure, you’ll seldom get a refund if you make a mistake with measurements or choose a color that doesn’t suit your rooms.