How Can I Stop Junk Mail & Unwanted Phone Calls?

Unwanted mail is a nuisance and a waste of paper.

Unwanted phone calls and mailings don't have to be a way of life. If you are bombarded with nuisance phone calls, offers from credit card companies or letters from companies you do not want to do business with, there are ways to make it stop. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recommends several measures to cut down on junk mail and eliminate telemarketing calls.

Instructions

1. Contact the three major credit bureaus -- Experian, TransUnion and Equifax -- and tell them you do not want to receive pre-approved credit card offers for the next five years. You can opt out of offers from all three bureaus by calling 1-888-5-OPTOUT. Alternatively, you can visit the opt-out pre-screen website to eliminate the offers from your mailbox for five years. In either case, be prepared to supply your name and contact information, as well as your social security number to verify your identity.

2. Contact the Direct Marketing Association (DMA) to stop unsolicited mail from many national companies. Putting your name on the company's mail preference service list will not stop direct mail from all marketers, but will cease mailings from all companies that use DMA to send out letters. The service costs $1, as of early 2011, and your name will be on the list for five years.

3. Put your name on the National Do Not Call Registry list to stop unwanted telemarketing calls. A telephone number can be placed on the registry by calling 1-888-382-1222 from the number you want added to the list, or visiting the registry's website. Your phone number will remain on the list until you remove it or your phone number is disconnected.

References

• Federal Trade Commission: Unsolicited Mail, Telemarketing and Email: Where to Go to "Just Say No"

Resources

• National Do Not Call Registry
• Direct Marketing Association
• Optoutprescreen.com