Onforwarding E-Mails
(A Technical Issue)

OzUnited has a large number of subscribers.

When we send out (broadcast) an e-mail, we have to comply with laws relating to preventing SPAM - which we happily do because we detest SPAM just as much as you do.

One of the laws requires that we must provide an 'unsubscribe' or 'update email address'  link at the bottom of our e-mails.

No exceptions allowed for any person/organisation that distributes 'non-individual' or 'generic' emails to more than one person.

BUT... if the email we have sent is onforwarded (by person 'A') to someone else (person 'B'), then Person 'B' can unsubscribe Person 'A' simply by clicking that word  'unsubscribe' or 'update email address' at the bottom of  the e-mail that 'B' received from 'A'.

And, unfortunately. there is a great deal of jealousy, mean-spiritedness and immorality in our society today. In some instances, someone will do it just to be spiteful.

It gets worse.

If "B' onforwards the e-mail unchanged  to ten thousand other complete strangers, then ANY one of those ten thousand can click 'unsubscribe' or 'update email address' and Person 'A' will be unsubscribed. (Isn't it crazy?!)

Due to the technical realities of broadcasting emails and legal requirements, this is "just the way it is" and there's currently nothing we can do (on 'our' side) to prevent it. But we certainly are working at it!

When we first started out and were not aware of this problem, we started receiving many 'false unsubscribes.'

It took me a lot of time and effort to work out what was happening.

That's one of the reasons why I went 'off air' for many weeks in late 2011.

I was looking for a software system that didn't have that inherent problem.

Unfortunately there isn't a system available that is legal.

Because I urgently needed to continue broadcasting e-mails and prefer OzUnited to remain 100% within the law, I have been obliged to currently use software that is...well... "better than nothing."

Here is one way YOU can instantly eliminate the problem.

When YOU  onforward e-mails received from OzUnited, just delete the word 'unsubscribe' or 'update email address'  from the bottom of the e-mail.

Here's how to delete the word (it can be tricky, but is quick and easy once you know how):

1) First click the 'forward' button as you normally do to onforward an e-mail.

2) After the new e-mail opens - and BEFORE you click 'send' - scroll down to the words 'unsubscribe' or 'update email address' at the bottom of the e-mail.

3) Click just behind the words 'unsubscribe' or 'update email address' (definitely don't click on the words!) and then delete it using the backspace arrow (located somewhere above the right-hand-side 'enter' key on your keyboard.)

4)Then you can safely click 'send' to onforward the e-mail as you normally would.

This is actually a potential problem for ALL organisations that distribute large quantities of e-mail. so it's 'good practise' to always do this with any email that has an 'unsubscribe' link, even with e-mails not originating from OzUnited.

It is potentially an especially big problem for OzUnited because such a very high percentage of OzUnited e-mails are onforwarded by supportive subscribers (thankfully!).

I sincerely regret any temporary inconvenience and certainly do continue to search for a 'better' option.

Peter Forde

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