1. Mailing lists of the major national marketers
If you want off as many national mailing lists as possible, your first step is to contact the Direct Marketing Association's (DMA) Mail Preference Service (MPS). You must re-register after five years.
* Register for the Mail Preference Service by mail. Send a letter plus a $1 check or money order to:
Mail Preference Service
Direct Marketing Association
PO Box 282
Carmel, NY 10512
Click here for our simple mail-in form, www.privacyrights.org/Letters/jm1a.htm
Register online. You may also sign up online at the DMA's website for a $1 fee charged to your credit card at: www.dmaconsumers.org/cgi/offmailinglist. DMA says this option is quicker than by postal mail.
https://www.dmachoice.org/MPS/mailpref.php
2. Remove your name from pre-screened credit offers.
If you would like to reduce the number of pre-screened credit and insurance offers you are receiving, visit www.optoutprescreen.com or call 1-888-5OptOut (1-888-567-8688) to opt-out of these offers. This is a free service to consumers offered by the major credit bureaus.
3. Remove your name from DMA Member Prospect Lists
With DMA's MPS you can remove your name from DMA member prospect lists. Please note that signing up with MPS may prevent you from receiving mail you want, such as new catalogs, coupons, announcements about new businesses in your community, and notices of special offers.
Members of the DMA are required to use our name-removal service, and all marketers are encouraged to use it. Because some mailings are prepared far in advance, please allow 30-90 days for your registration with MPS to become fully effective. Click here to sign up.
4. Flyers and advertising supplements
These are the major “resident” or “occupant” mailers:
* ADVO, Inc. You can remove your name and address from ADVO three ways:
o Call ADVO's Consumer Assistance line: (888) 241-6760
o Fill out and submit the form at ADVO's website: www.advo.com/consumersupport.html
o Send a letter to:
ADVO, Inc.
Customer Assistance
P.O. Box 249
Windsor, CT 06095
* PennySaver in California or The Flyer in Florida, (Harte-Hanks). You can remove your name and address from these mailings two ways:
o By phone :
PennySaver at: (800) 422-4116
The Flyer at: (813) 626-SELL
o By mail:
Circulation
C/O Pennysaver
2830 Orbiter Street
Brea, CA 92821
Circulation
C/O Flyer
201 Kelsey Lane
Tampa, FL 33619
* Val-Pak Savings Coupons. Val-Pak maintains regional lists, not a central one. Send your request to the address printed on the envelope you receive. If you receive the blue envelope you can also remove your address from their website at: www.coxtarget.com/mailsuppression/s/DisplayMailSuppressionForm
5. Catalogs, mail order lists and magazines
Catalogs are a major source of waste. They use millions of trees a year and since they are generally not from recycled sources because of the high quality, glossy paper and toxic inks.
When you buy something from a mail order catalog, your transaction is likely to be reported to Abacus, owned by DoubleClick Digital Advertising. Members of the Abacus Alliance, mostly catalog companies and publishing companies, contribute and exchange information about their customers. Your name may also be sold to other catalog and publishing companies. One way or another, when you ask for one catalog, you're like to get catalogs from other companies as well.
There are two ways to opt out of the Abacus database. You'll need your name, including any middle initial, your current address, and if you've moved recently, your previous address.
* By e-mail: abacusoptout@epsilon.com
* By mail:
Abacus, Inc.
P.O. Box 1478
Broomfield, CO 80038
Companies that do not participate in the DMA and Abacus opt-out programs must be contacted directly. This includes magazines, charities and many professional associations. It may take some hunting, but you can usually find a toll-free customer service number and/or address on the advertising piece. Let them know you not only want to be off their list, but you don't want them providing your contact information to other companies.
For magazines, it is best to inform them that you do not want your name and address sold to others when you subscribe. Be sure to inform them in writing.
6. Pre-approved offers of credit
Many of the companies you do business with provide data to credit bureaus about how much you owe and how promptly you pay your bills. The four credit bureaus are Equifax, Experian, TransUnion, and Innovis.
* (888) 5OPTOUT (888-567-8688) is a single number you can call to opt-out of Innovis and the three major credit bureaus. It is available in English and Spanish.