Is there anything more annoying than finding an expensive bill in your mailbox? Actually, there is, and it’s called junk mail! If you’re frustrated with the amount of junk mail you’re receiving, you’re sadly not alone. As far back as 1972, junk mail accounted for a quarter of all delivered mail. That number has been increasing with each passing year.
Since you can’t dump this mail at Fred Sanford’s junkyard, what exactly can you do?
Here’s how to get rid of junk mail:
1. Contact the Mail Preference Service
Junk mail has become such a disease that there’s a central hospital to alleviate the plague!
It’s known as the Mail Preference Service, and it’s a central body that can help remove your address from bulk mail lists. You may not have known it, but your address is publicly available to many people.
One place where your address will show up is on bulk mail lists. Junk mail organizations often get access to this list to send you junk mail.
What You Have to Do
Send a postcard to Mail Preference Service, PO Box 9008, Farmingdale, NY 11735. All you have to do is write a short note requesting to remove your mailing address from bulk lists.
In most cases, this will stop or significantly reduce your trash mail. This should be one of the first things you do; however, you still can’t depend on it.
Let’s look at other ways to stop the inflow of junk mail.
2. Get a Virtual Mailbox
Wouldn’t having a separate mailbox to collect your junk mail would be nice? Or two mailboxes in case you receive too much mail?
One of the first things you can do is apply for a virtual mailbox with address. You can use this to separate your important mail from your junk mail. Some people will collect their personal and business mail with their virtual mailboxes.
Others will prefer to use their virtual mailbox solely to receive junk mail! The junk mail service can then dispose of the junk mail on your behalf.
This is one of the most convenient ways to avoid a cluttered mailbox and free yourself from junk mail.
3. Send It Back
Sometimes you’ll receive junk mail that wants you to reply. Rather than dumping it, now’s your chance to let the company know how you really feel.
But we’ll have to ask you to refrain from writing an angry note. Rather, just write the following on the mail: REFUSED: RETURN TO SENDER.
Once the postal worker sees this, they’ll have to send the mail back to the sender. Most of the time, the junk mail provider takes a hint and will stop sending you this mail again.
While there’s no guarantee, most companies will feel threatened only once you respond that you’re actively uninterested in their offers.
4. Here’s an Opportunity to Get Your Millionth Credit Card
One of the most annoying types of junk mail that comes in is an offer to apply for a credit card. No matter how many credit cards you already have, you’ll always be bombarded with so many more!
There’s a way to potentially reduce receiving such offers in your mailbox. Call the toll-free number 1-888-567-8688.
You’ll have to provide your mailing address and your social security number. This will then reduce or eliminate the credit card offers to your mailbox. It will not, however, remove credit card offers from companies that you already use.
Another option is OptOutPrescreen.com. With this website, you can fill out an online form to stop receiving credit card offers for a maximum of 5 years. You should call the number and use the online form to increase your chances of reducing junk mail.
5. Contact the Association of National Advertisers
This is another service that can reduce your chances of receiving direct mail advertisements in your mailbox.
For a small fee, they’ll remove your name from mailing lists owned by top advertising agencies. It’s annoying and unfair to pay a small fee, but this might be the only way to reduce direct mail advertisements.
You should only consider doing this if you receive too much mail. Hold off if trash mail is just a minor inconvenience for now. Make sure you keep track of how much mail gets reduced before you decide to use their service again.
6. Get Rid of Those Catalogs
You might have bought some socks for your child’s first birthday from a catalog. A decade later, it seems your mailbox is being swarmed by a herd of catalogs!
You can use a service such as Catalog Choice to remove your address from catalog mailing lists.
You’ll especially receive catalogs if you’ve purchased from them before or have rewards cards. If you buy something from the catalog later, make sure you request to opt out of future catalogs.
By default, once you buy something from a catalog, you’ll receive future editions indefinitely.
7. Contact the Company
Often, the only way to get rid of your junk mail is to write to the company directly. Again, don’t use threatening language but send a professional letter asking them to stop sending you trash mail.
Make sure you take a photocopy of the mail before you send it to them. Send it via certified mail to receive a signature confirmation that they have received it.
If you ever have to file a lawsuit, this might work as evidence that you made it clear that you didn’t want to receive mail from them again!
Get Rid of Your Junk Mail
Now you know how to eliminate junk mail and alleviate a cluttered mailbox.
The first step is to contact the central authority. This should complete most of the work for you. Make sure you also consider getting a virtual mailbox to separate your mail.
Other steps involve calling credit card companies or advertising agencies or sending the mail back. Take active steps to clarify that junk mail isn’t wanted here!
Need even more lifestyle tips? You’ll get your life in order if you peruse our blog posts!
