Counter-Corporateering Kit

More information will be posted shortly, but here's how you can begin today.

Here are five simple ways to fight back the given rights you already have as an individual:

1. Tell a corporation, "Do Not Call." Next time a telemarketer calls, just say, "Put me on your do not call list." Corporations are required under law to have such lists and to pay $500 every time they call someone on them. If they keep calling, collect $500 for each violation. In addition, you can sign up for the newly established national „Do Not Call¾ list. Many states have also developed "Do Not Call" lists that individuals can sign up for and corporations have to respect. For more information on your rights to stop unwanted telemarketing calls, click here.

2. "Opt out." Send a corporation the following note that you "Opt Out" of their system of sharing your private financial information:

I am asserting my rights under the Financial Services Modernization Act and the Fair Credit Reporting Act to "opt out" of the following two uses of my personal information:

*Do not disclose personally identifiable information with your non-affiliated third-party companies or individuals.

*Do not disclose my creditworthiness to any affiliate.

*Further, I request, even though it may not be required by law, that you: (1) Do not disclose my transaction and experience information to any affiliate of yours; and (2) Do not disclose any information about me in connection with marketing agreements between you and any other company.

I would appreciate written confirmation of these requests.

3. Change a corporate contract. Corporations typically require individuals to sign long, standardized contracts that often have repugnant clauses, such as a waiver of the right to trial, in the fine print. Next time you are presented with such a contract, read it and cross out the objectionable provisions before you sign. No corporations can force you to sign a contract. Individuals have a right to negotiate that they rarely use.

4. Stop corporate junk faxes. A federal law makes it illegal to send an unsolicited commercial advertisement to a fax machine from anywhere in the U.S.A. People who receive junk faxes have the right to recover at least $500 per fax. In most cases, the law authorizes courts to award up to $1,500 per fax. For how to stop junk faxes and a sample complaint see: http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/other/fs/fs001543.php3.

5. Challenge a corporation. When the corporation upsets you, put your gripe in writing to the corporation, to a regulator, or to the media. The corporation may or may not want to change, but the letter memorializes your problem. If you want to make anyone nervous, particularly a corporation, put something serious about them in writing.