All across America, people have filed complaints about the plague of automated calls coming to their homes. The recent surge in "robo-calls" is because they now cost a fraction of a cent to make thanks to the Internet.

The FTC has now issued new rules about robo-calls. Starting just before Christmas, you'll have an option at the end of a robo-call to press a button that indicates they can no longer call you. Then, beginning in September 2009, companies will actually have to ask for express permission before they even call you.

If you're on the Do Not Call list, you should already be exempt from robo-calls. Of course, that's not always the case. So will robo-callers really comply with the new FTC rules? Clark doesn't know.

Clark's solution to the problem is that he and his wife never answer their home phone. All calls are screened by an answering machine. He recently cleaned out the answering machine and found only 1 out of 42 calls was legit. And they're on the Do Not Call list!

Several categories of businesses will be exempt from the new FTC rules, including banks and airlines. With banks, they are allowed to robo-call you up to 18 months after the end of your business relationship with them.

There is some controversy over whether calling to inquire about a bank's services constitute the start of a business relationship -- even if you never do any further business. This remains a gray area in the law.

When was the last time you got a notice in the mail from your bank that began, "We value your privacy…"? These privacy policies are typically printed in mice type and written in legalese. They explain all the harm that the bank will visit on you -- by selling your private information -- as part of their normal course of business. But ING Direct is reversing this trend. Their privacy policy explains in plain English that you'll have to opt in to their information-sharing program if you want them to share your info. Meanwhile, if you tell the average bank not to share your info, they're still allowed to do so with select "marketing partners." Clark thinks ultimately there's more money to be made from being honest to your customers than in taking advantage of them.

Clark recently received a postcard in the mail from an "award verification center," which trumpeted that he won a guaranteed prize. The prizing included his choice of either a couple of cars valued at $49,000; a massive shopping spree; a luxurious vacation; or a cash award.

But when he looked closely at the postcard, he noticed the words "commercial solicitation" printed in very small type.

In order to redeem his "prize," Clark needed to call the verification center within 3 days. They would then arrange for him to receive his prize on the day of his visit. Therein lay the key. This was obviously a solicitation for selling a timeshare or something similar.

Needless to say, Clark didn't call. So when you get a similar solicitation, do not bite. Throw it away.

Clark wants to share a “free insurance policy” that will help you protect your credit. It involves opting out of those pre-approved credit offers. Best of all, it’s free, simple, fast and efficient. You can eliminate more than 90 percent of those pesky offers you’re being bombarded with if your FICO score is 700 or above.

Simply go to OptOutPreScreen.com or call 888-567-8688. Be aware that you’ll be required to give your Social Security number. That’s how credit bureaus track people, so it’s a necessary part of the process. Opting out of these offers is especially important if you move and your mail goes to an old address, or if you have a jointly shared mailbox.

Meanwhile, you also can eliminate other kinds of junk mail for free at DMAChoice.org. In fact, you can even choose to get more junk mail if you want! But who would want that?

Finally, there’s a site in beta that can help cut down on the number of catalogs you receive. The address is CatalogChoice.org, though Clark’s not exactly sure how well the system is working yet.

Clark is adamant about shutting down junk mail -- not exactly cold, but maybe cool, as he says! The Direct Marketing Association offers a free, online-only service at DMAChoice.org that allows you to stop catalogs and junk mail -- or get more of them, if you desire. Most legit mailers are a member of the DMA, so this could reduce your load of junk mail by up to two-thirds. When you're at the DMA site, you may see a direct link to OptOutPreScreen.com, which will prevent the major credit bureaus from sending pre-approved credit card applications to you. One other website you may want to check out is WorldPrivacyForum.org, which is a clearinghouse for all these matters Clark has been discussing.

One word of advice: People are sometimes afraid to use the DMA site because you have to give a credit card number to verify your identity. You will not be charged. This practice was put in place because some folks were putting others' names on the receive list just to annoy them. When it comes to the OptOut site, people are scared of ID theft because you have to give your Social Security number. But you actually help prevent ID theft by cutting down on pre-approved applications that may be going to an old address where they could be picked up by ID thieves.

Have you noticed that you’re getting more direct mail delivered not only by the United States Postal Service, but also by independent delivery agents? The reason is because there’s been a deal in Washington that ties the cost of first class mail to the rate of inflation. So junk and bulk mail is now a much better deal. If you own a business and you’ve done direct marketing with the USPS, be on the lookout for private delivery services that may offer you a lower price. Clark is glad that these third-party deliverers are busting up the USPS monopoly. Not that he totally hates the existing postal service; he actually thinks it’s a great deal that you can get your mail delivered anywhere domestically for 41 cents. But many European countries have already done away with their postal monopolies. Their regular mail can come from a variety of carrier companies. We consumers benefit whenever there’s competition in the free market.

What do you do with junk mail that comes to your home these days? Clark throws it away as soon as he sees it. He’s not the only one. Response rates to junk mail have gone down steadily over the years, and it makes one wonder why marketers continue to send this stuff. Well, they are a stubborn bunch and have come up with a new way to attract eyeballs. Direct mail marketers are now sending solicitations that look like a gift cards, and are able to be played in a DVD player. People are so enamored by the look of the cards and the utility of them, that they are actually putting them in their DVD player and watching them. In fact, about 50 percent of people activate these cards, which are manufactured by the company “Cardz.” So, how many of those people are purchasing after they check out the DVD? Two and a half times as many people are purchasing this gizmo as are purchasing offers from traditional direct mail solicitations. You can find out how it works if you visit Sirius.com. Of course, the novelty will wear off after a while.

There is a new practice out there called “trigger list marketing” that Clark wants you to know about. It’s a new way the credit bureaus have thought up to make money off you. Basically, they sell all kinds of personal information about you including how much your home is worth and how much you owe on it. So, if you’re getting intrusive letters and phone calls from lenders who know way too much about you, it’s because of the credit bureaus. The courts are now involved and are trying to determine if the bureaus are acting illegally. But in the meantime, you can destroy the ability for credit bureaus to build dossiers on you. All you have to do is “opt out” of the programs. You can do it on the Web site optoutprescreen.com or you can call 1-888-567-8688. You want to do this anyway when you move. But it’s important to do it now to avoid being put on trigger lists.

Clark’s six-year-old daughter, Stephanie, gets a lot of mail for being so young. The latest advertisement she got was for a golf vacation getaway for just $199. All she needed was to go to a timeshare presentation and to earn an annual income of $75,000 or more. Clark gets a lot of these “giveaways” too. So, are they worth it? Well, one in three people who stay at these places ends up buying a timeshare. And that is definitely not worth it. First of all, you never want to buy a new timeshare. They lose 80 percent of their value as soon as you buy it. You may think you can go to these getaways and not give in, but somehow it’s working for the salespeople. So, avoid them if you can.

New laws make it easier for companies to bother you with junk faxes. But Clark knows how you can stop them anyway. Get the scoop!

For more info on this topic, you can see the FCC's statement on fax advertising.

Clark’s mailbox gets filled every day with catalogs, most of which his family has never ordered. It’s like a new exercise program because Clark has to lift them out of the mailbox and carry them inside every day. Business Week published a story on how many catalogs people are receiving these days. You can stop these catalogs from coming simply by contacting the Direct Marketing Association or DMA. You can either sign up to stop the mailings online by paying $5, or you can write a letter to the DMA for free. The address is above.

How do you feel when someone approaches you at work to sign up for Girl Scout cookies or to buy wrapping paper? More people are getting tired of feeling pressure to buy things from the boss or co-worker, just because their kids are selling this stuff. But what happens if you don’t offer money for Johnny’s fundraiser? Some people think they may be harmed at evaluation time. The good news is that some employers are establishing rules prohibiting employees from selling candy, wrapping paper or anything else at work. Clark likes that policy and hopes more companies jump on board. He also wants parents to know that if their child attends a school that sells wrapping paper, the paper is overpriced and only a fraction of the proceeds goes to the school.

About 90,000 people have put themselves on the national “Do Not Call” list. It’s frustrated telemarketers to no end. So, they’re coming up with new ways to pitch us their products. The latest way is to send you advertisements in the mail. The Boston Globe reports that half of all businesses are planning to increase their spending on junk mail in the next year. The good news is that you can stop the junk mail coming to your house with one, quick registration. Go to dmachoice.org, fill out the form and pay just $5. You’ll eliminate about 70 percent of the junk mail coming to your home if you sign up.

How do you make big money today? Many people look for exciting, glamorous opportunities that no one has tried before. But, it turns out that the real way to make money is more simple and common, according to the New York Times. The following “mundane” businesses, as the Times calls them, made people the most money over the past five years. They are landscaping, child care, janitorial services, nail salons and hair salons. Those five have been the biggest money makers in the small business arena, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. It goes hand-in-hand with the date in the book, “The Millionaire Next Door.” The book talks about how the most boring jobs can be the most lucrative. The key is to do something that you’ll enjoy. You should never go into business just to make money. Yes, it should be a big consideration. But it shouldn’t be the only one.

Clark hates getting spam, like most people do. He uses a free mail service that diverts spam mail into a “Bulk Mail” account, and it does a pretty good job. But about 10 percent of the mail coming into his regular Inbox is still spam. What if you were blind? Many blind people use vocal e-mail services that say the messages out loud. They hear all kinds of inappropriate messages, and they are starting to give up on e-mail. Clark is happy to report that the biggest players in the e-mail world are working together to stop spam at the source. Right now, we focus on stopping spam once they’ve already arrived in our Inbox. But we should be concentrating on preventing spam from arriving in the first place. In addition, the government has decided to stay out of a “Do Not Spam” list. Clark is glad to hear this. The “spamsters” are not going to abide by laws anyway, so establishing legislation would do nothing. Coordination in the industry is what we need. When it comes to the e-mail phishing scams in particular, Visa, the BBB and the federal government are all working together to stop this crime. During summer, our natural patterns are disrupted. For instance, we may go months without looking at our bank statements over the summer. If a criminal gets a hold of your account information through these phishing e-mails and 60 days go by without you reporting it, you lose the money forever. The bank does not have to give the money back. So, check those statements.