FAQs

What is Direct Marketing?

Companies use Direct Marketing to contact you with information about products and services that you may be interested in, and in a way which most suits your lifestyle. Covering everything from online marketing, interactive television and text messages to inserts, Direct Mail and product demonstrations in your local supermarket - Direct Marketing is there to enable you to buy the goods that you want in the quickest and easiest way possible, while providing you with value for money.

This includes everything from buying holidays online, donating to charities following receipt of a fundraising pack, or making the most of the offers in their local supermarket advertised in a door drop leaflet. Direct Marketing covers a huge number of the communications you receive each day, to many of which people respond.

What is the IDMA and how can it help me?

The Irish Direct Marketing Association is a non-profit organisation which represents the Direct Marketing industry. Over 60 organisations are members of the IDMA and every member has to adhere to the standards set by the IDMA in our Codes of Practice.

One of our aims is to improve consumer trust and confidence in the Direct Marketing industry by regulating our members and providing help and advice on how to communicate with consumers in a way which will be both effective and welcomed.

How do I find out which organisations are members of the IDMA?

This website has a list of all present IDMA members. Find out if a company is an IDMA member with our online directory. Please contact us if you are unsure whether an organisation is a member or not.

I want to make a complaint about an IDMA member, how do I do this?

If an organisation is a member of the IDMA you can report them to the IDMA. The IDMA is committed to stamping out bad practice within the industry and takes complaints against its members extremely seriously. Members not complying with the Code could ultimately be ejected from the IDMA, although we aim to give an organisation the opportunity to improve its practices and stop breaching the Code before expulsion is considered.

I want to make a complaint about an organisation that is not a member of the IDMA, how do I do this?

If the organisation you are having problems with is not an IDMA member, and your complaint relates to a misleading, offensive or inaccurate advertisement, you should contact the Advertising Standards Authority for Ireland (the ASAI), who administer the Irish Code of Standards for Advertising, Promotional and Direct Marketing.

What is data protection? And what are my rights when it comes to my data?

When you give your personal details to an organisation or individual, they have a duty to keep these details private and safe. This process is known as data protection. Organisations or individuals who control the contents and use of your personal details are referred to as ‘data controllers’.

Most of us give information about ourselves to groups such as Government bodies, banks, insurance companies, medical professionals and telephone companies to use their services or meet certain conditions. Organisations or individuals can also get information about us from other sources. Under data protection law, you have rights regarding the use of these personal details and data controllers have certain responsibilities in how they handle this information. To find out more about data protection, visit the Data Protection Commissioners website.

How do I stop receiving junk mail?

For mail received through your letterbox to be considered to be Direct Marketing it must be addressed to a named person and must be promoting a product or service. Unaddressed mail put into your letter box or mail addressed to “the occupant”, “the resident” or “the householder” does not necessarily involve the use of personal data and consequently data protection legislation does not apply.

If you do not want to receive Direct Marketing, you have a right to notify the sender that you object to receiving such material. It is against the law (Section 2 of the Data Protection Acts) for an organisation not to respect a written request from you. If you continue to receive marketing after you have objected, you can make a complaint to the data protection commissioner.

Apart from contacting organisations individually, you may also wish to avail of the IDMA Mail Preference Service. Under the Mail Preference Service, if you supply your contact details to the IDMA, it will circulate these details amongst its members. This will result in most of the main Direct Marketing companies removing your details from their mailing lists.

How do I stop flyers that come through my letterbox and unaddressed mail?

Many local and national organisations like to communicate information to people using unaddressed mail and door to door material delivered directly to their homes. Such items can include free newspapers, free magazines, catalogues, information leaflets, advertising brochures & money-off coupons, local directories and free product samples.

Organisations who communicate in this way include local authorities, utility companies (e.g. gas, water, electricity), public service organisations, charities, political parties, local shops and providers of local services.

These kinds of items are delivered to most homes within a given area and do not involve the householders name and address being asked for or kept on record. As Unaddressed Direct Mail does not involve the use of personal data, consequently data protection legislation and the Mail Preference Service do not apply. You may want to consider putting a notice on your letterbox stating ‘No advertising please’ which may reduce the number of items received.

How do I stop unwanted emails and text messages?

Electronic mail (text messages, voice messages, sound messages, image messages, multimedia messages or email messages) for the purpose of Direct Marketing cannot be sent to you without your prior consent unless it is from someone with whom you have a current customer relationship. If you are receiving unsolicited emails or text messages please contact the Data Protection Commissioner.

How do I stop unwanted sales and marketing calls from organisations?

The easiest way to prevent organisations phoning you on your fixed phone number (landline) for marketing purposes is to have your preference recorded on the National Directory Database (NDD). The NDD is traditionally the tool used to produce printed telephone directories and to supply details for directory enquiry functions. You can now contact the company to which you pay telephone line rental and inform them that you want your preference not to receive marketing calls recorded on the NDD. This is a free service. It is an offence for a person to make a marketing call to someone who has a preference not to receive marketing calls recorded in the NDD, unless the caller has some form of consent to make such calls. More detailed information on how to prevent colds calls may be found on the Comreg Consumer Website.

If you get a sales call more than 28 days after your details have been recorded in the opt-out register of the NDD, you can Make a Complaint to the Data Protection Commissioner.

How can I stop mail being sent to a deceased person?

We understand that receiving Direct Mail addressed to a person who has died is very distressing. There are a number of ways that you can stop this mail. If there are companies that the person had dealings with we would recommend you contact them direct and inform them of the change of circumstances.

You can also register their details onto the Mailing Preference Service (MPS). This will reduce unsolicited personally addressed mailings received under their name. This is a free service.