In fact, the practice of writing credit card numbers on checks is now against the law in several states. To further protect your privacy and prevent fraud, MasterCard prohibits merchants from requiring you to provide a phone number, home address, or other personal information as a condition of making a purchase with your MasterCard card. This policy is reinforced in CA, DE, GA, MD, MN, NV, NJ, and NY by laws prohibiting such conditional requirements. If you subscribe to a magazine, have a credit card, belong to an organized group, donate money or return a warranty card, your name will likely appear on these lists. List compilers purchase information from various public and private sources to develop consumer databases for specific marketing purposes.
Compilers rent their lists to businesses and charitable organizations for marketing purposes.
Nearly everyone's name appears on compiled lists. It is the only list Experian sells that uses credit information. If you have at least one credit card and pay your bills on time, a company likely will send you a firm offer of credit. To obtain the credit, all you usually have to do is sign your name and mail your response back. The Direct Marketing Association compiles lists of consumers who prefer not to receive mail or telephone solicitations.