Using e-mail addresses?

by **JasonF** » Wed Apr 15, 2009 8:58 pm

I recently left a company to begin my own.

The company I left has an email list i would like to contact. Could I email the customers who gave ME their e-mail whilei was employed for said cmpany, to let them know I left and that I have begun my own venture? These are personal customer contacts that I made and maintained while at the company... I dont want to email the ones I dont know. is this illegal? These people personally gave me their email address.

by **may** » Wed Apr 15, 2009 8:59 pm

Well, it seems you are taking the companies customers, while you received these emails you were working for the company, so if you think about it they aren't really your contacts, explain more about the company, its hard to answer, there isn't enough detail.

by **TheRugbyPlayer** » Wed Apr 15, 2009 9:01 pm

Hi,

I have been in the corporate world for over 28 years and have met many business people who have given me their email address. I have always considered that a personal contact and kept in touch with several individuals throughout the years. I have also included many in my newsletters. There is an opt-out option which tells me they no longer want a copy of my newsletter. There should be no reason why you cannot make contact on a one on one basis with individuals who you may have worked with while at your old company.

Be aware, if you have any sort of non-compete, you may want to read that to be sure that you do not take clients away from your former employer.
Best of Success!