Junk mail and do not call

"Junk Mail" Is Back Again

Those "junk mail piles" are on the rise again. "Junk" mailings sent out by retailers and marketers increased 29% in the last 5 years. Marketers have found old fashion "snail mail" is still one of the best ways to reach their customers. And with 100 million people signed on to the national "do not call" registry, the amount of junk mail you receive will only increase. But there are a few steps you can take to reduce the flow of junk mail. Let's start at the beginning.

What is "Junk Mail"?

It's that unsolicited mail you receive everyday, sent out by marketers that try to match you with a product or service that they sell.

Why is "Junk Mail" making such a comeback?

Many people are suspicious of offers sent by e-mail or over the internet, but will take time to look through ads they receive in the mail.

How did I get on all these mailing lists? How did the pile get so big?

When you made a purchase or paid for a service and provided your name and address, chances are good you were put onto a mailing list. That mailing list is maintained in a computer database and may be rented or sold to other businesses. So you may get mail from a company you never contacted or bought anything from.

How do I make the "pile" smaller?

You can have your name and address placed on a “do not mail” list maintained by the Direct Marketing Association (DMA). Registering with the the DMA’s “mail preference service” will reduce the amount of direct mail you receive. There is a $1.00 fee to register for the service. Just click on the link for more information.
You can remove the name of individuals under your care from commercial mailing lists. Family members, friends and caretakers can remove the names of individuals under by registering with the DMA’s "Do Not Contact List for Caregivers (DNCC)". Visit www.dmaconsumers.org/consumerassistance.html/
You can also stop junk mail from being sent to a deceased relative. The Direct Marketing Association maintains a "Deceased Do Not Contact" list for use by family members of deceased persons. Visit www.dmaconsumers.org/consumerassistance.html/
You can stop receiving many pre-approved credit card solicitations. The four major credit reporting agencies offer a service that will take you off their mailing list for pre-approved credit card solicitations. Call 1-888-5OPT-OUT or visit www.optoutprescreen.com. If you need to contact a specific reporting agency on a credit matter, they are listed below:

Equifax: www.equifax.com;

Experian: www.experian.com;

Trans Union: www.transunion.com;

Innovis: www.innovis.com/customer_assistance.htm

*Innovis is a credit reporting service used by the real estate industry.

You can get off mailing lists of many catalog and publishing companies by contacting The Abacus Alliance, which offers a service that allows you to get your name removed from its lists. E-mail your request to optout@abacus-us.com or contact them by mail at Abacus, Inc., P. O. Box 1478, Broomfield, Co. 80038.
You can reduce mail addressed to “resident” and occupant” by contacting ADVO, Inc. and Val-Pak Savings Coupons, two of the major companies which send this type of mail. If you wish to be removed from their mailing lists:

ADVO, Inc.: www.advo.com/consumersupport.html

Val-Pak Savings Coupons:

If the envelopes you receive are blue log onto: http://www.coxtarget.com/mailsuppressions/DisplayMailsuppressionfoirm.html

If the envelopes you receive are not blue, send a request to be removed from the list by regular mail to the return address on the envelopes in which you received the coupons.

To have your name removed from the major nationwide sweepstakes mailers, contact the following:

Publishers Clearinghouse

By phone:
(800) 645-9242

By mail:

Christopher L. Irving, Sr. Director
Consumer & Privacy Affairs
Publishers Clearinghouse
382 Channel Drive
Port Washington, NY 11050

By email :

privacychoices@
pchmail.com

Readers Digest
Sweepstakes

By phone:
(800) 310-6261

Hearing impaired:
(800) 735-4327.

By mail:

Reader's Digest
PO Box 50005
Prescott, AZ 86301-5005

Mail from stockbrokers and mutual fund companies can be reduced by sending written requests to be removed from lists to:

Dun and Bradstreet Customer Service 899 Eaton Avenue Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18025	R. L. Polk & Co./Name Deletion File List Compilation Development 26955 Northwestern Highway Southfield, Michigan 48034-4716
Database America Compilation Department 470 Chestnut Ridge Road Woodcliff, New Jersey 07677	Acxiom U. S. Consumer Advocate Hotline Phone: 877-774-2094 www.acxiom.com/us

The U. S. Postal Service maintains a list for individuals who do not wish to receive any sexually oriented advertising in the mail. Contact your local Post Office or visit www.usps.com/forms/_pdf/ps1500.pdf

Remember!

Use Junkmail Quick Letters when you make donations, mail-order purchases or renew subscriptions to avoid having your name sold to advertisers. http://www.fightidentitytheft.com/junkmail_labels.html
By using the services listed above, you will reduce the amount of unsolicited mail you receive, but not eliminate it.
It make take several months before you see a reduction in mail, that's because lists are updated at different times during the year, depending on the service.
You may continue to see mail from local merchants, professional associations and political candidates.
Mail addressed "occupant/resident" may continue to be delivered.
Your name may not appear in the "do not mail" lists permanently. You may have to reregister after a few years, if you see an increase in "junk" mail.

(westchestergov.com/consumer)