Clear out junk mail solicitations

WATCH YOUR STEP

Why are mailboxes constantly filled with unsolicited mail?

One reason is because companies often pad their coffers by selling or renting customer lists.

The average American receives 41 pounds of junk mail per year. Not only does junk mail clog up mailboxes, but it also wreaks havoc on the environment. Nearly half of the junk mail received annually (44 percent) ends up in a landfill. In addition, nearly $320 million in local tax money is used to dispose of junk mail, and more than 100 million trees are used to create pulpwood for paper products.

While the United States Postal Service does not have a one-stop method for reducing junk mail, there are many ways to reduce the amount received.

Many times stores and restaurants will ask customers to fill out a survey to receive a free gift or discount. However, in the fine print ,the survey is not being conducted by the business being rated, but by another company that then can sell the information to other parties. Remember, nothing is really free.

The key to stopping unwanted advertising mail is getting off the mailing lists. There are literally thousands of commercial lists out there.

Several actions are needed to stop the delivery of unwanted mail, and even after opting out, not all mail solicitations will end. Solicitations may still be received from local merchants, religious and charitable organizations; professional and alumni associations; politicians; and companies with which you do business.

Here are some steps to reduce unwanted mail:

• To opt out of receiving junk mail for five years, call 1-888-5-OPTOUT (1-888-567-8688) or visit www.optoutprescreen.com. The phone number and website are operated by the major consumer reporting companies.

• To opt out permanently, begin the permanent opt-out process online at www.optoutprescreen. com. To complete your request, you must return the signed Permanent Opt-Out Election form, which will be provided after you initiate your online request. When you call or visit the website, you’ll be asked to provide certain personal information, including your home telephone number, name, Social Security number, and date of birth. The information you provide is confidential and will be used only to process your request to opt out.

• Tell companies you do business with to remove your namefrom customer lists they rent or sell to other companies. Look for information on how to opt out of marketing lists on sales materials, order forms, emails and websites.

• Consumers can register at the Direct Marketing Association’s (DMA) consumer website, www.DMAchoice.org, for a processing fee of $2 for a period of 10 years. Registering online is the fastest way to see results. DMAchoice offers consumers a simple, step-by-step process that enables them to decide what mail they do and do not want.

In addition, DMAchoice offers registration for DMA’s email preference service to reduce unsolicited commercial email.

• 41pounds. org can help eliminate 80–95 percent of junk mailings by contacting dozens of direct marketers on your behalf. The one-time fee of $41 covers every adult in your household for five years, and more than a third of this fee is donated to the environmental or community organization of your choice.

• The Consumer Credit Reporting Industry’s Opt-Out Program stops credit card and insurance offers. All major credit reporting agencies, including Equifax, Experian, Innovis and TransUnion, participate in this program. Register online or call (888) 567-8688 to opt out of receiving these offers for five years. To opt out of these offers permanently, register online. If you have previously completed a request to opt out from receiving firm (pre-screened and pre-approved) offers for credit or insurance, you must complete a request to opt in to begin receiving offers again.

• Complete and file PS Form 1500 at the Post Office to prevent or stop receiving sexually oriented advertising in the mail.

• Call the companies that send catalogs and offers and ask them to stop.

• Call (800) 645-9242 to be taken off the Publisher’s Clearinghouse Sweepstakes Mailing list.

• Contact American Family at (800) 237-2400 to be removed from its sweepstakes mailing list.

• Remove your name from mailing lists at http://www.dmachoice. org. It can take up to 90 days for the flow to stop since many mailings are already in print or production.