Stop Junk Mail

Many people who are trying to keep up with the clutter that paper can cause in their homes want to find a good way to stop junk mail from coming in. There are many techniques that will help you to stop the paper monster from taking over your life. When you donate to a charity, purchase a magazine, or deal with a credit card company, always ask on the phone and then in writing for them not to sell your name. Most of the junk you get is from your name having been sold. To this end, you can help stop junk mail by tracking who is selling your information. While you cannot use this method for credit cards and other official business, you can select a false middle name for charities and other mailings. Keep a list on file so that if you receive something you did not order, you can match the name on the address label with the group who sold it.

You also can stop junk mail by not signing up for it. When you sign up for product warranties, which are rarely useful, or for contests or otherwise give out your contact information, you are asking people to send you their materials. Stop junk mail by refusing to fill out these cards.

If you still need to stop junk mail and you have given the above methods about six months to take effect, you should begin returning first-class mail to the post office. Circle the “first-class mail” stamp, cross through the barcode on the bottom of the envelope, and write “refused” on the envelope. The company will not continue to send you mail if you are returning it. You also have the option of writing companies specifically and asking that they remove you from their mailing list. Do so by certified mail and keep records. These methods should stop junk mail from coming into your home – leaving you free to get only the mail you want.