Isn’t it annoying to walk down to your mailbox only to find junk mail from companies trying to get you to apply for their credit cards, catalogs offering every imaginable product, or envelopes filled with coupons? Americans receive nearly 90 billion (yes – that is billion) pieces of advertising mail. A whopping 59 percent of the mail you receive is junk mail. Obviously, these advertisers think we are going to read all this mail when in fact we might read only half of it.
Not only does all this mail kill trees, fill up your trash bin, and tempt you unnecessarily, you run the real risk of having someone steal your discarded mail and apply for the card for you, essentially hijacking your identity. This is not a pleasant experience. Below are some places to contact either via email or on the Internet, where you can opt-out of all of this junk mail.
Opt-Out of Credit Bureau Mailing Lists
You can protect yourself from identity theft by taking your name off of the credit bureaus mailing lists. The credit bureaus are one of the biggest offenders when it comes to selling your name and information to the credit card companies who in turn send you all those pre-approved applications. One call to the Opt-Out Request Line (for Equifax, Trans Union, Experian, and Consumer Credit Associates) is all it takes to permanently remove your name from all marketing lists that the credit agencies supply to direct marketers. You can also opt for a two-year period, renewing your request at any time in the future by calling 1-888-567-8688.
Opt-Out of Credit Card Offers
You can also fill out the form online www.optoutprescreen.com to opt-out of all credit offers sent to you in the mail.
Get Rid of Junk Mail
To get rid of most other junk mail, write a letter giving your complete name, name variations, and mailing address to:
- Mail Preference Service
Direct Marketing Association
P.O. Box 9008
Farmingdale, NY 11735
Call 1-800-407-1088 to opt out from all mailing and telemarketing lists.
Once you write, you’ll remain on the Direct Mailing Association opt-out list for five years. It may take up to three months before you notice a significant reduction in the amount of direct mail and phone calls you receive.
To be removed from the mailing lists of the major data compilers, call or write to these firms. (Note: These companies also subscribe to the DMA’s Mail Preference Service.)
- R. L. Polk & Co.
List Compilation
26955 Northwestern Highway
South Field, MI 48034
(810) 728-7000 - First Data Info-Source Donnelley Marketing, Inc.
Data Base Operations
1235 “N” Ave.
Nevada, IA 50201
(888) 633-4402 or (515) 382-8321 - ADVO-Systems
Director of List Maintenance
239 West Service Rd.
Hartford, CT 06120-1280 - Metromail Corp.
List Maintenance
901 West Bond
Lincoln, NE 68521
(800) 426-8901 - Database America
Compilation Dept.
100 Paragon Dr.
Montvale, NJ 07645
(201) 476-2000 or (800) 223-7777 - Haines and Company,Inc.
Criss-Cross Directory
2382 East Walnut Avenue
Fullerton, CA 92631 - Donnelly Marketing
Database Operations
416 South Bell
Ames, IA 50010 - Acxiom Corporation
1 Information Way
Little Rock, AR 72202
(501) 342-2722
Telephone Solicitation Lists
To remove your name from many telephone solicitation lists, send your complete name, address, and phone number with area code to:
Telephone Preference Service
Direct Marketing Association
P.O. Box 9014
Farmingdale, NY 11735
Stop Receiving Coupons
To reduce or stop receiving coupons, ads, and/or product samples in your mail, you will need to contact the companies distributing these materials to your residence. You can write or call these companies and request that your name and address be removed from their company’s mailing lists. One such company mailing these materials is:
Advo Incorporated
Delivery Services
1001 West Walnut Street
Compton, CA 90220-5191
(310) 637-0438
Stop Yellow Page Phone Book Delivery
Go online to get a list of local directory publishers. Visit YellowPagesOptOut.com and input your zip code to their search field. The results will show you local directory publishers and how to contact them.
Opt-Out of Online Databases
