Suggestion: Permanent Contact Exclusion

It'd be nice to be able to permanently exclude a contact from ever being asked for an information update. With that I'd be able to request from all instead of having to always uncheck the many who should never receive a request.

Little known feature of Plaxo: https://www.plaxo.com/manage_emailblock

Is there a similar way to block inbound Plaxo contact emails? Or any other way to "disconnect" a particulalry spammy contact?

Thanks.

Do you mean if you are a member? or as a non-member.

Non-members can certainly block update request messages that they are being sent by Plaxo members through Plaxo. Each update request includes an opt-out link where the recipient can block further messages from the member.

If you are a member, the answer depends on what type of message you are receiving from the other person.

If the person is in your address book, you are receiving data change alerts each time they change their Plaxo information because you are connected to the person. If you don't wish to receive these alerts, you can simply disconnect from them by either removing them from your own address book, or configuring Plaxo to no longer sync the contact (IView Contact / Plaxo Sync Details).

On the other hand, if they are sending you an update requests and you've asked they not contact you, you should contact my Privacy department to investigate the member's activity.

Stacy Martin
Plaxo Privacy Officer
privacy @t plaxo.com

Hi Stacy,

Yes, I am a member, so is she, and today I've received the 6th or 7th update request from here in about 6 months. I don't think she picks on me, I believe she does the mass update requests this frequently. I have repeatedly asked her to stop, pointed her to Plaxo's updated guidelines, explained her that this is exactly the behaviour that causes many people to think of Plaxo as spam - she does not get it.

If removing her from my contact list helps, I'll be happy to, but I don't think that is the case - I think as long as we're both Plaxo members and she has me in her contact list, she can send those requests, can't she?

The individual email block is a smart option, but it should work both inbound and outbound ....

Thanks,
Zoli

For such a simple question, it unfortunately can have a complex answer. Basically, it all depends on how the other Plaxo member is "communicating" with you through Plaxo.

If the person is simply updating their Plaxo cards on a frequent basis, and you are connected to her (ie: she is in your address book), they you will receive an alert each time your address book is updated. You can stop this by simply removing her from yoru address book, or instructing Plaxo to longer sync her entry in your address book.

But if the she is actually taking the action to SEND you her updated Plaxo card information through an Update Request, then you are correct - that it doesn't matter if she is in your address book or not. The only thing to do in this case is to ask the member to stop sending her cards to you (which you've tried), or block her ability to send you her cards through Plaxo.

For non-members, this is very simple to block future update request messages by using the opt-out link included within the Update Request message. But for member to member communications, because the request is delivered as a Plaxo Alert, there is no opt-out link. Our support group can do it for you though, so I would suggest contacting my team at privacy @t plaxo.com. They will investigate the activity of the Plaxo member to make sure they are not violating our Terms of Service, and take the necessary steps to block further communicatins through our service to you.

Thanks... since it's one person only, that's not a big deal, I hit delete once a month.
But I think it's a major flaw, so the reason to bring it up here was more to try and help make Plaxo better.
I'm actually a lot more restrictive then you guys are in terms of what represents the decent way (http://www.zoliblog.com/blog/_archives/2005/6/6/975578.html) of using Plaxo. But even if you disagree with it, and promote sending the update requests, you could easily set some norms, e.g.:
- max of two update requests per year to the same person as part of a mass-mail
- more if the sender's own contact data changed ... etc.
Whatever the metrics are, YOU should be able to control the flow of spam, and believe me, not doing so is hurting you.

I appreciate you raising the point. I certainly understand there are both pros and cons to the update requests process. As you know, Plaxo doesn't send these messages but only processes the instructions of the member. But I agree that since our branding is on the messages, the negative perception is on Plaxo itself and it is up to us to try to best address the issue. That's what great when two Plaxo members are able to connect to each other and Update Request emails become a thing of the past.

We've discussed a number of things similar to what you've suggested, and have been continually making changes to try to improve the service for everyone (non-members included). In the meantime, we have our Terms of Service (http://www.plaxo.com/tos) which prohibits the sending of spam, including sending messages to people the member doesn't truly know or whom are unlikely to recognize the member as a known contact. We also have our Plaxo Etiquette Guidelines (http://www.plaxo.com/privacy/manners) which we continue to educate Plaxo members on and we will continue to be dilligent in handling Abuse reports (http://blog.plaxo.com/archives/000033.html).