Junk Mail
In 1990, over 418,000 tons of bulk mail were thrown away unopened in the U.S. Reducing junk mail saves landfill space, conserves natural resources, and may reduce your trash bill.
Subscribing to Mailing Lists
Every time you buy something, order a product by mail or on the web, enter a contest, make a donation, write a check, subscribe to a magazine, or send in a warranty card, chances are your name and address are being added to a mailing list of some kind. That mailing list might be rented, sold, or traded to other companies.
Unsubscribing to National Mailing Lists
Direct Marketing Association (DMA) Mail Preference Service (MPS)—MPS can be used to get off of some junk mailing lists. There are 2 ways to do it, online for $5, and by mail for free. To do it by mail, you need to go online to generate a form to mail in.
According to its website, ADVO, Inc. is the nation's largest targeted home-delivered print advertising provider, with 25 mail processing facilities, 33 sales offices nationwide and in Canada, approximately 3,900 associates, 25,000 clients, and more than $1.2 billion in revenues. You will need to mail the paper form to ADVO again every 5 years, and whenever you move. ADVO's Web site does not specify whether or not the Web form must be resubmitted every 5 years.
Notify Mailing List Brokers
Some companies specialize in collecting and selling mailing lists. Write or call these companies and ask to be placed in their suppress files.
Donnelley Marketing, Inc.
470 Chestnut Ridge Rd.
Woodcliff , NJ 07677
Phone: 800-223-7777
Donnelley Marketing, Inc.
Data Base Operations
416 South Bell
Aimes, IA 50010
Phone: 888-633-4402
Experian
List Maintenance
901 West Bond
Lincoln, NE 68521
800-228-4571
Returning Junk Mail
Return junk mail unopened to the sender by writing "Refused. Return to sender." on the envelope. Without this special notation; the post office will not return the mail to the sender.
Canceling Catalogs
Most catalogs provide an 800 telephone number for placing an order. Call this number and ask to be taken off their mailing list.
Contact Specific Organizations or Businesses
If you receive unwanted flyers or mail, call the customer service department of the organization or business responsible and request that your name be removed from their mailing list. Alternatively, send in a written request that is signed and dated. Include a sample of the mailing label so the sender can identify how you are listed in their files.
Contact Credit Bureaus
Credit bureaus may sell names and addresses to banks and credit card companies. You can now contact Equifax, Trans Union, and Experian by calling a single toll-free number: 888-5-OPT-OUT or 888-567-8688. There is also a 4th credit reporting agency, Innovis, which receives this information.
Subscribing to Mailing Lists
Every time you buy something, order a product by mail or on the web, enter a contest, make a donation, write a check, subscribe to a magazine, or send in a warranty card, chances are your name and address are being added to a mailing list of some kind. That mailing list might be rented, sold, or traded to other companies.
Unsubscribing to National Mailing Lists
Direct Marketing Association (DMA) Mail Preference Service (MPS)—MPS can be used to get off of some junk mailing lists. There are 2 ways to do it, online for $5, and by mail for free. To do it by mail, you need to go online to generate a form to mail in.
According to its website, ADVO, Inc. is the nation's largest targeted home-delivered print advertising provider, with 25 mail processing facilities, 33 sales offices nationwide and in Canada, approximately 3,900 associates, 25,000 clients, and more than $1.2 billion in revenues. You will need to mail the paper form to ADVO again every 5 years, and whenever you move. ADVO's Web site does not specify whether or not the Web form must be resubmitted every 5 years.
Notify Mailing List Brokers
Some companies specialize in collecting and selling mailing lists. Write or call these companies and ask to be placed in their suppress files.
Donnelley Marketing, Inc.
470 Chestnut Ridge Rd.
Woodcliff , NJ 07677
Phone: 800-223-7777
Donnelley Marketing, Inc.
Data Base Operations
416 South Bell
Aimes, IA 50010
Phone: 888-633-4402
Experian
List Maintenance
901 West Bond
Lincoln, NE 68521
800-228-4571
Returning Junk Mail
Return junk mail unopened to the sender by writing "Refused. Return to sender." on the envelope. Without this special notation; the post office will not return the mail to the sender.
Canceling Catalogs
Most catalogs provide an 800 telephone number for placing an order. Call this number and ask to be taken off their mailing list.
Contact Specific Organizations or Businesses
If you receive unwanted flyers or mail, call the customer service department of the organization or business responsible and request that your name be removed from their mailing list. Alternatively, send in a written request that is signed and dated. Include a sample of the mailing label so the sender can identify how you are listed in their files.
Contact Credit Bureaus
Credit bureaus may sell names and addresses to banks and credit card companies. You can now contact Equifax, Trans Union, and Experian by calling a single toll-free number: 888-5-OPT-OUT or 888-567-8688. There is also a 4th credit reporting agency, Innovis, which receives this information.