Green Team

STEP 1: Create a form letter asking that your name be removed from all mailing lists and not be sold or distributed. Include a list of your name(s) and address in all the different ways it appears on your junk mail. Include this note with all donations, subscriptions, etc. that you make. Sign and date the letter.

STEP 2: Avoid warranty cards and contests Warranty cards are a means of gathering names for mailing lists and to inform customers about product recalls. When you purchase a product, you are usually covered by the manufacturer's warranty even if you do not send in the warranty card. Some warranty cards have a box to check to opt out of receiving "product information or items of interest." Keep the receipt as proof of purchase. Write to National Demographics and Lifestyles to be removed from the lists created from warranty cards especially if you know you have filled one out in the past.

STEP 3: Credit bureau marketing lists Do you get solicited for new credit cards or lines of credit or loans? Credit bureaus sell names and addresses to banks and credit card companies. Write or call credit bureaus and ask to be removed from their direct mail file. Call the OPT-OUT phone line at 888-567-8688 (888-5OPTOUT) or 800-353-0809 (24 hours a day). All four credit bureaus share this number. Follow the automated prompts to have them stop selling your credit information. You can do this for a 2 year period or permanently. Have your social security number handy.

The three largest credit bureaus are:

STEP 4: Get off national mailing lists and telemarketing lists Write to the address below and ask to be placed on a "suppress" file for both direct mail and telemarketing calls. I believe you can include both types of suppression requests in one letter. Include a list of your name and address in all the different ways it appears on your junk mail and phone number for telemarketing suppression. The Mail Preference Service places your name in the suppress file for five years. The Direct Marketing Association sends this list to its business subscribers four times a year.

Mail Preference Service Direct Marketing Association P.O. Box 9008 Farmingdale, NY 11735-9008

Telephone Preference Service Direct Marketing Association P. O. Box 9014 Farmingdale, NY 11735-9014

STEP 5: Notify mailing list brokers Some companies specialize in collection and selling mailing lists. Write or call these companies and ask to be placed in their "suppress" files. Use your form letter.

R.L. Polk & Company Attn: Opt-Out Coordinator 26955 Northwestern Highway Southfield, MI 48034-8455 800-873-7655

Donnelly Marketing, Inc. Data Base Operations P.O. Box 3502 Ames, IA 50010-3502 888-633-4402

MetroMail Corporation List Maintenance 901 West Bond Lincoln, NE 68521 800-228-4571

Database America Compilation Department 100 Paragon Drive Montvale, NJ 07645-4591 800-223-7777

STEP 6: Reduce coupon packs, ads, samples, unaddressed flyers If you don't want these items, check for the name of the company distributing the items. Write or call and ask that your address be removed form the company's lists. Coupon packs: There are several different companies - ADVO ("Mailbox Values"), Harte Hanks ("Potpourri"), Val-Pak Coupons - that send these out in different areas around the US. The advertising is sent as a "supplement" to an address card that has the postage-paid notice on it. These bundles are sent to every address in the affected areas, and it takes two separate actions to stop it. First you have to get ADVO or Hart Hanks to stop printing the address card, and only then can you get your mail carrier to stop delivering the advertising. Both ADVO and Harte Hanks have local offices scattered around the country, and the best way to get off their list is to talk to the local office.You can also try their national offices. The cards usually have the local phone number on them, or at least an address (call directory assistance.) Ask for the circulation department, and call back in a week to check that they really did remove your address. Be prepared to wait 8 weeks for the mail to stop. They'll occasionally "accidentally" send out another card, but it's easier to stop them the second time.

Advo Incorporated
Delivery Services
1001 W. Walnut Street
Compton, CA 90220-5191
310-637-0438

Advo Incorporated
List Service Department
One Univac Lane
Windsor, CT 06095
860-285-6100

Here are some of the other coupon companies:

Harte-Hanks
Ciculation
C/o Pennysaver
2830 Orbiter St.
Brea, CA 92821
800-422-4116

Val-Pak Coupons
Address Information
8605 Largo Lakes Dr.
Largo, FL 33773

Carol Wright/Cox Direct
800-678-2743, option 3

Don't forget to recycle the junk mail you DO receive!

For more information:
The Stop Junk Mail Association
3020 Bridgeway, Suite 150-F
Sausalito, CA 94965
800-827-5549

Junkmail information websites:
Computer Professionals for Social R esponsibility - (general info such as above)
Consumer Privacy & Resources - (general info such as above)
Junkbusters - (service to stop various junkmail)
Stop Unwanted Junkmail, Email, Phone Calls -(general privacy issues)
Junkmail Reduction Kit (more basic info)

Make a pre-printed form similar to the ones below and include with all of your donations, mail-order purchases, subscription renewals, etc.

TO:_________________________________________
FROM: Name
Address

I am instructing you not to LEND, SELL or TRADE my name to any other organization for its mailing lists. I want to reduce the amount of paper and resources being spent to generate unwanted mail. Thank you.
DATE: ________
SIGNATURE:________________________________

AFFIX MAILING LABEL HERE

Kindly remove my name from your mailing list. I want to reduce the amount of paper and resources being spent to generate unwanted mail. Thank you.
DATE: _________
SIGNATURE:_________________________________

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Last updated 3/13/06