CHICAGO, March 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Trans Union LLC will appeal a ruling by
the Federal Trade Commission that orders it to stop selling certain target
marketing lists and demographic models available from its target marketing
business.
    "We regret that the commissioners did not agree with our legal position,
but are not surprised by the ruling," says Oscar Marquis, vice president and
general counsel, Trans Union.  "We will now take the case to the Court of
Appeals, where we expect to prevail."
    Trans Union is one of the nation's leading consumer credit information
companies and operates a credit reporting business, as well as a target
marketing division, PerformanceData.  Lists and models offered by
PerformanceData do not reveal confidential credit information about consumers.
They consist only of names, addresses, and types of credit held by consumers,
and do not disclose any details about consumers' credit status and payment
history.  In addition, consumers are given the choice to have their names
removed from all lists provided for target marketing.
    Jan Davis, PerformanceData's executive vice president states, "Many
consumers enjoy receiving catalogues and other offers in the mail.  Consumers
benefit from receiving offers that target their interests as opposed to the
alternative of mass marketing.  So it is important that data remain available
to marketers for appropriate and permissible purposes.  We have strict
procedures to maintain a careful balance between consumers' privacy interests
and their interests in the convenience of shopping from home."
    In an effort to ensure consumer privacy, Trans Union has adopted stringent
privacy protocols to protect the confidentiality of personal credit
information maintained in its database.  All company products and services are
measured against these protocols, which are intended to enhance consumer trust
and faith in the system.
    Trans Union is one of the nation's leading consumer credit information
companies with owned and independent credit bureaus in all 50 states.  The
company provides a broad range of industries with products and services.
Trans Union also offers similar products through its operations in Puerto
Rico, Canada, Italy, Mexico, South Africa, Chile, Kenya, Peru, Spain, and Hong
Kong.

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