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Billions of spam email messages are send each day, yet, most of us with web-based email accounts never see any, or most, of it thanks to the ever-evolving spam filter. If something does make it through, it’s just a couple clicks to banish the message to oblivion. Unfortunately, the original white meat, junk mail, trickles in every day. Whether you dislike the junk because you shudder to think about the wasted resource as you place another 10 pounds of junk in the recycle bin, or you simply don’t like having to deal with the endless ads and shredding of credit card offers, there’s a few ways you can try to clamp down on the trickle. Below I list web sites, forms, and phone numbers you can use to get yourself off of some of the lists on which you and your mailing address found itself.

First off, if you’re receiving mail from companies you’ve dealt with in the past, or where you are currently a customer, there’s a good chance the mailer is sent because somewhere in your customer mailing preferences you left a check box marked stating you wish to receive these promotions. Try signing into your online accounts and look for “marketing preferences,” “mailing preferences,” or something of that nature. Also, whether or not you’re a customer, check the fine print on the mailing. There’s a good chance there’s a web site or phone number you can use to remove yourself from the list.

Catalog

Catalogs are usually sent because you purchased something, or you signed up for offers. Again, check the catalog for a opt-out procedure, or check the online account you were forced to create when you purchased that one thing from that one e-tailor. For everything else try:

Catalog Choice
Thousands of merchants who mail catalogs have signed up with Catalog Choice to receive opt-out messages from recipients.

Credit Card Offers

OptOutPrescreen.com
1-888-5OPTOUT (1-888-567-8688)
Opting-out here prevents the four Consumer Credit Reporting Companies, Equifax, Experian, Innovis, and TransUnion, from giving out your info for credit card offers.

Phone Books

YellowPagesOptOut.com
Phone books: Going the way of pay phones

Direct Mail / Advertising Packs / Grocery Circulars

DirectMail’s National Do Not Mail list
Don’t let the name fool you; this isn’t some government-run list like the national Do Not Call registry. DirectMail, however, claims to remove your name from its lists because mail-order companies don’t want your name on there anyway.
DMAchoice.org
“The most comprehensive ‘do not mail’ list that most large list owners, compilers and mailers will bump their lists against.” [Their words]
Equifax
Phone: 888-567-8688
Mail: Equifax Direct Marketing Solutions
P.O. Box 740241
Atlanta, GA 30374
Include your name, address, ZIP code and phone number.
Experian
Phone: 402-458-5247
Mail: Experian Consumer Services
901 West Bond Street
Lincoln, NE 68521
RedPlum
RedPlum is a advertising mailer from Valassis. There’s a good chance removing yourself from Valassis’ database will stop more than just RedPlum mailers:
http://www.valassis.com/1024/Contact/consumersupport.aspx
TransUnion
Phone: 888-5OPTOUT
Mail: TransUnion Name Removal Option
P.O. Box 97328
Jackson, MS 39288

Mail for previous residents

Change of Address Card from USPS
The USPS provides a neat and free forwarding service for most of your mail so it can follow you when you move, giving you the chance to contact those companies directly to change your address. Well, you can do the same for a previous occupant whose mail forwarding has expired, or was never set up. Simply fill out a change of address card for the person whose mail you receive frequently, but instead, mark on the card “Moved/Left No Forwarding Address.”