How to Reduce Junk Mail Service for Free
There are nearly 4 million tons of paper junk mail sent through the U.S. Postal Service each year as part of a direct-marketing strategy to consumers. This unwanted mail not only takes time to sort through and recycle, but also clogs landfills and contributes to deforestation. It only takes a few phone calls and visits to websites to remove your name from junk mail mailing lists. These methods are simple and free.
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Instructions
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Contact the Direct Marketing Association (DMA) to add your name to its do-not-mail list. You can go to its website (see Resources) or call it directly at 212-768-7277, extension 1500. This does not stop mail addressed to "resident," but does remove your name from lists.
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Call the 1-800 telephone number located on a piece of unwanted junk mail to remove your name from the sender's mailing lists. If the junk mail includes a pre-paid envelope, place your address label on the envelope and mail it to the sender.
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Remove yourself from credit card solicitations by calling the Opt Out telephone number, 1-888-567-8688, or going to the http://www.optoutprescreen.com website.
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Contact your credit card company, catalog companies and other direct-marketing companies to be removed from their mailing lists. Request that your name and address not be rented, sold or traded.
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Stop unwanted sexually explicit junk mail by filling out the U.S. Postal Service Form 1500 and attaching the junk mail. The post office will have this form.
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Contact your phone book company to request your name be removed from its mailing lists if you do not want to receive phone books.
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Tips & Warnings
You can also hire a junk mail removal service to reduce junk mail. They are not free, however.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit american Mail box and freeway sign image by Ashle Whittle from Fotolia.com
