Simple Tips to Stop (nearly) All Junk Mail
Nearly everyone does not want junk mail. But the 2% of people who do reply, means the industry continues to send around one tree’s worth of unwanted mail to people each year. And this includes glittery paper that is not easy to recycle (you can recycle window envelopes, machines can separate them).
Never send glossy leaflets through the post (one dog behind the door almost died, from licking the glue).
Citizens Advice has a good post on all the places to register with (Royal Mail, mailing preference services) etc to avoid receiving junk mail from registered companies).
Another good thing to do if you get a lot of junk mail is to get out a notebook and make up a middle initial! So each time you have to fill in any information, use a different one:
- Mr A A Carpenter
- Mr A B Carpenter
- Mr A C Carpenter
Etc. Then if you start getting junk mail, you should be able to see pretty easily where your name was sold on, and ask them to stop.
Stop Unaddressed Junk Mail from Royal Mail
To do this, you have to visit Royal Mail’s website. You have to go through lots of hoops (printing off the form – which means visiting a library if you don’t have a printer) to send off the form, then wait six weeks for it to take effect. But it’s worth doing.
Then after 2 years, you have to reapply. You could add a footnote on the form, asking Royal Mail to replace red rubber bands (that look like worms, and get eaten by ducks) with paper belly bands, this would also stop wildlife getting trapped in them.
Opt Out of the Open Electoral Register
By law, your details must be on the Electoral Register (but the only people who see these are the council and political parties, when campaigning).
The Open Register is allowed to be sold to companies. So when you register, always tick the box to remove your details off the Open Register, this is another effective way to remove junk mail. And also protect your privacy and personal safety.
Register with Marketing Preference Agencies
One effective method to reduce junk mail is opting out of various mailing lists. Services like Marketing Preference Service allow you to manage your mailing preferences. By registering, you can take back control of your mail.
Also register with:
- Telephone Preference Service (this stops sales calls, in the middle of having your supper).
- The Bereavement Preference Service and Baby Mailing Preference Service can stop junk mail at times of grief (trying to sell you baby goods, if you have lost a child).
Stopping Unwanted Mail from Charities
If you prefer to support small charities (rather than the ones that buy your name and bombard you with free pens), set up a private giving account (for person or business use) at Charities Aid Foundation.
Then you can donate to who you want and when you want. Just tick the box, to remain anonymous.
Fundraising Preference Service lets you opt out of charity marketing. Charities should be spending donations on doing good, not sending junk mail.
Olive was a kindly widowed poppy seller in Bristol. She liked to give a little of her pension to her favourite causes. She also suffered from depression.
But after she jumped off a bridge, it was found that she was giving away nearly all her income to big charities. Who had been selling her name to more charities, realising how generous she was.
The Campaign to Stop Scam Junk Mail
Think Jessica is campaign started, by the daughter of a women, who was bombarded with scam mail. When her mother was in hospital, she was even concerned about the post she was missing.
The campaign wants:
- Banks to place warning signs (to alert people about to remove their savings)
- Better Power of Attorney, to protect vulnerable relatives.
- A law that lets Posties (often the only ones aware of vulnerable people receiving tons of scam mail) to be able to alert the authorities.
