If you hate getting junk mail as much as I do, you don't have to settle for it.

There are a few things you can do to decrease the amount of junk snail mail you receive.  I got this information from the my mail carrier.  Like most gov't processes, it took a while to get.  It took her about a couple weeks to dig this information up.  This information is likely available to most people at their local US Post Office.

First thing to do is write to the Mail Preference Service and request that your name be registered.  This is a free consumer service sponsored by the Direct Marketing Association, designed to assist consumers who would like to decrease the amount of national non-profit or commercial mail they receive.  You have to register your name directly; second party requests cannot be processed.  This means no one can sign you up for this list, you have to do it yourself.  Once registered, names are placed in a name removal file.  This "delete" file is made available to business subscribers four times a year, in January, April, July and October.  Names are maintained on the file for 5 years, after which time consumers should register their names again.  Registrants typically notice a decrease in their mail volume about three months after their names are registered into the Mail Preference Service system.

Unfortunately, registrants can't request deletion from specific lists.  Name removal through the MPS is general in nature.  To reduce the number of direct marketing solicitations they receive from specific companies, they have to write to the individual companies that send them.

The post office noted that registrants to the Mail Preference Service will probably still receive mail from companies with which they do business on a regular basis or from charitable organizations which are not subscribers to the Mail Preference Service, and from local merchants, professional and alumni associations, and political candidates and officeholders.

On the other hand- my mail carrier told me I'm not the only one who requested this information, though the requests are surprisingly few and far between.  She informed me that everyone who's signed on to this list has DRASTICALLY reduced the amount of junk mail they get and is very happy with the process.

Here's the address:

Mail Preference Service
Direct Marketing Association
PO Box 9008
Farmingdale, NY 11735-9008


If you're in the Seattle area and wish to discontinue the "Weekend" advertising newspaper (delivered through the US Mail) you can call Advo Systems, Inc. in Kent, WA. at 206.872.0553.

Regardless of your location, I suggest looking at the fine print along the bottom of the front page of circulars you receive for the names, addresses, and likely the websites & phone numbers of the companies sending them to you and request removal from their lists also.

Finally, WRITE YOUR CONGRESSMAN and suggest they author a bill to institute a federal level DO NOT MAIL list similar to the DO NOT CALL list now in place for telemarketing.  You can find your own Representative and write to them here.

Good luck!
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