I know I’m not the only one who suddenly and nonconsentually got an “SFGate Biztek Newsletter” earlier this afternoon. I know this because I got four different emails from readers who said they couldn’t find a way to unsubscribe, one who said they were going to take the Gate to small claims court for spamming them, and one who said that if I (a former Chronicle employee) didn’t unmask this shocking crime they’d go tell SFist on me.
Having just trashed the newsletter when I got it, I wasn’t that incensed, myself. However, since I know SFist editor Brock Keeling’s been looking for a way to knock me off my high horse for years, I snapped into action. “But at the bottom of the email” I wrote to one “It says ‘To unsubscribe to this newsletter, or to subscribe to additional SF
Gate newsletters, please visit our newsletter administration page at
http://wc.sfgate.com/t?ctl=301EE40:B4130E6F122B91A41B0BA95359C2DC287417BE44D17D6DD1&‘ Did you try that?”
“Nope, that takes me to a page that shows me I am signed up for nothing,” my correspondent said. “After digging around I found a page or my account settings or
something that hand checked that I might some times get mail from them, but nowhere could I find a delete my account option.”
Clicking on the link myself, I discovered he was right. I, too, had been spammed, and I couldn’t shut it off! A shocking turn of affairs. I’m making light of a situation I know is a big deal to some of you and, yes, the fact that you can’t unsubscribe means the email is seemingly not in compliance with current laws. What a jerk I am!
A quick check with a contact at SFGate got us the information of the person who can help you if you, like us, are not signed up for any Gate emails but have gotten at least one today: John Angelico, whom you can email at angelico@sfgate.com. IF YOU EMAIL HIM BE NICE. John’s a good guy, and he’ll help you out. Update: Commenter k2real confirms that SFGate staff is responding quickly to emails from users who don’t want to be contacted.
