[Please note this information is rather dated. Up to date and more detailed information is now available in the Guide to Stamping Out Junk Mail - JB].
Unsurprisingly, the most frequently asked question I get is how to stop junk mail. Unfortunately, there's no easy answer; there are a bunch of things you need to do if you really want to stamp out junk mail. Here are my recommendation:
Get a 'No Junk Mail' sticker
Putting a 'No Junk Mail' sign on your door is the only way to stop junk mail delivered by local businesses. The stickers Stop Junk Mail sells give you the option to say 'yes' or 'no' to free newspapers as well. (of course I recommend you buy a sticker from the sticker shop - they only cost a pound (postage 25p) and buying a sticker helps keep the campaign going.)
Register with the Mailing Preference Service
The Mailing Preference Service will remove your name from many direct mail lists. This should stop unsolicited mail from companies who have bought your name and address with the intention of targeting you for credit cards, loans, mail order catalogues and so on. The opt-out service claims your name will be removed from 95% of direct mail lists, but don't expect the amount of junk you receive to be reduced by the same percentage. Registering will not stop unaddressed mail, mail addressed 'To the Occupier' and mailings from companies you have - maybe without realising - given permission to send you junk mail.
That said, registering is recommended. You can do so online, by e-mail, by phone, or by pen and paper:
Register with Royal Mail's Door-to-Door Opt-Out
Royal Mail is responsible for a good deal of the unaddressed junk you get. You can opt out of receiving these so-called door-to-door items by contacting Royal Mail directly:
- optout@royalmail.com
-
Door-to-Door Opt-Outs
Royal Mail
Freepost RRBT-ZBXB-TTTS
Kingsmead House
Oxpens Road
OXFORD
OX1 1RX
Tick the box to say 'no' to further information
Whenever you buy a product or service, donate money or fill out a warranty card, tick the box to say that you don't want any further information about other products and/or services. If there's no tick box, write in large letters "Please don't sell my name or address". Most companies and charities will understand you're not interested in junk mail and leave you in alone.
Opt out of being on the edited register
When you fill in your electoral registration form you can to choose to opt out of having your details included on the edited electoral register. It's a good idea to tick the opt-out box on the form. The edited roll can be bought by any person, company or organisation and may be used for any purpose, including sending junk mail.
Return to sender any remaining junk mail
If you receive junk mail with a return address on the envelope, write 'Unsolicited Mail - please return to Sender' on the envelope and put it back in the post. Decent junk mailers will remove your details from its mailing lists.