How To Stop Junk Mail
If you're like most people, the majority of mail you get are things that you don't really want, need, or have even asked for. Junk mail has been a major issues in many homes. From catalogs to credit card applications, most of out mail boxes have been overflowing with the stuff for years. Junk mail is mail sent to either "resident" or "occupant," marketing tools sent through the USPS meant for a large audience, and any additional unwanted or unrequested mail sent to the specific recipient. Most of us get it, and most of us want to know how to stop junk mail from clogging up our mail boxes.
While it is very difficult to eliminate all junk mail, there are steps you can take to greatly reduce the amount you receive. Here is why you are getting junk mail.
Your buying habits and personal information are very vital to many businesses. If they can have this information, they can market their products directly to you, potentially saving money on their advertising costs. Whenever you purchase something, you open yourself up to getting junk mail. Any time you put your phone number, address, full name, or e-mail address onto a warranty card, a bank form, an application, even an online order form, you open yourself up to get more junk mail. Here's how to stop junk mail; never get it in the first place. Anything you fill out can should be considered a fishing attempt to get personal information about you.
Whenever you fill something out, write "Please do not trade, sell, or make available my personal information to any other company." Many forms now come with boxes to check if you would like to receive additional information on other product or services provided by that company. Never, under any circumstances, check this box. In many cases, the small print provides them with the legal right to sell or trade your information with other similar companies to market additional product to you.
When figuring out how to stop junk mail, there are a number of forms you should never fill out unless you absolutely have to. These include;
- Contest Entry Forms and Applications
- Warranty Card (Read the fine print. Most state you don't have to fill out the card to use the warranty.)
- Credit Card Application Sent Through The Mail
- Freebie Applications (Mail you receive that says you will get a free prize for filling out and returning a form.)
Each of these will most likely sell your information to other companies and mailers. Never fill them out (unless warranty card clearly state the warranty is not effective unless this information is returned to the company).
School Applications
One of the big problems I dealt with was going to college. Universities have large stores of personal information on all students, and this information will commonly be used by companies to sell products and services to students, specifically credit card applications, student loan applications, and similar services that prey upon young people who are not in the best financial situation in the world. Inquire about not having your information sold to other companies, or put your parents address on the applications (acts as a permanent address) and have them return the mail to remove your name from the list (explained in the next section).
How To Stop Junk Mail For A Period Of Time
It is inevitable that you will get junk mail from some companies, but when learning how to stop junk mail, there are several different tricks and techniques you can use to effectively reduce the amount and types of junk mail you regularly get.
- For most mail, write "Refused: Return To Sender," followed by "Remove From Mailing List." Then, just drop it in the mailbox. This will take care of most mail. For added efficiency, cross out your address and the barcode the company uses to identify you. For bulk mail, you will need to write "Request Address Correction." This will ensure this piece of mail makes it back to the company that originally sent it.
- Catalogs are one of the biggest, least environmentally friendly piece of junk mail you will get. Since they almost always end up in the trash, why would you still get them when most legit companies currently have a website that is much easier to search. Contact the customer service department and inform them you would like to be removed from the catalog mailing list in favor of shopping online. They cannot refuse your removal for any reason, and most companies will act faster if they still think they have your business.
- Credit card offers are some of the hardest to get rid of, and having bad credit will only get you more (typically worse) offers. Contact the individual credit card companies requesting removal from their mailing list. Most applications have a customer service number that will give you a doorway to getting off these lists. If you receive applications from several different credit card companies, you can call 1-888-5-OPTOUT (1-888-567-8688) or visit www.optoutprescreen.com for removal from many of these companies lists. This company has endorsements from the Federal Trade Commission.
- The Direct Marketing Association can help to stop a number of junk mailers you receive. They have a free service that can reduce a number of junk mail items you get. It's free, but can take up to 6 months to take effect.
The majority of these techniques will work to remove you from mailing lists for a period of time, but when learning how to stop junk mail, you can stop your junk mail and work to stop getting more junk mail in the process.
Don't Trade Junk Mail For Other Forms
With digital technology taking off, you have a number of new options and worries when learning how to stop junk mail. While you now have several trick and techniques for eliminating junk mail from your mail box, here's how you can eliminate it using the Internet. Junk mail is normally some type of direct advertisement sent to you in hopes that you will buy a product or service. Most companies have paid for your information, and they will try and fight you when you want to be removed from their mailing lists (they will try and make it very difficult for you). These easier way to stop junk mail is to start doing everything online.
E-Mail is quickly replacing standard mail, so much that the post office is having trouble making ends meet. Many companies would much rather send you an e-mail rather than paying for postage and materials on a mailer. Providing them with a way to contact you online will definitely help reduce the amount of junk mail you get online. The drawback, you will now be getting hundreds of spam e-mails a day.
The solution, just have more than one e-mail address. It is not uncommon for people to have more than one e-mail address. Many of us currently have one for work and one for personal use, so why not add one for your shopping. If you buy something online or sign up for e-mail newsletters, send them to an e-mail account you have set up specifically to receive those things. This will keep your personal e-mail clear, and you will only have to check it periodically to keep it active. If you buy something online, use this e-mail address and your personal e-mail will stay free and clear as you mail box will be.
