Exporting Contact List - Confirmed Opt-Out Date Column and Contact Database

[SeanO26]

Hi, I noticed that after I export a contact list to excel that within the column, "Confirmed Opt-Out Date" there are some dates for a few of my contacts...however these contacts are still in my database to email? Shouldn't these automatically be taken out of your database as to not accidently email them? Or I am I miss understanding this column? 

Thanks for any clarification!

[William_A]

Hello @SeanO26 ,

We handle removing the contacts from lists and setting their permission status to unsubscribed, so you don’t have to worry about accidentally sending to them afterwards, nor have to worry about them impacting your billing. We maintain a record of your unsubscribed contacts on the backend, so you are free to export and/or delete them from your account if you prefer. 

[SeanO26]

Thanks William, 

I am seeing many of my contacts that have a date within the "Confirmed Opt-Out Date" column that also are "Active" in the "Email Status" column. And after viewing the details of one of these contacts and reviewing the "Engagement" , recent activity shows that emails were sent to this contact that shows a date in the "Confirmed Opt-Out Date" column. So...still a little confused on what the "Confirmed Opt-Out Date" column means. Thanks for your help! 

[William_A]

If they're actively subscribed and have an opt-out date, that would typically indicate their most recent unsubscribe action was on that date, but they've since resubscribed. At this time, any contacts that have interacted with the unsubscribe link in an email, even if they didn't follow through, would also have info for the opt-out date field.

In either regard, the opt-out date only really needs to be focused on in regards to unsubscribed contacts.

[SeanO26]

Thanks again William! How would you interpret this contact from the following contact report:

How would you approach this contact? 

Thanks again!

[William_A]

Since there's no opt-out source, and their status is currently Active and implied permission, this would mean they're a fully subscribed contact at this time.