Imagine Your Home Without the Junk Mail

The avalanche of junk mail that comes into our homes and offices every day continues to be a problem for most people. It might seem that short of becoming a hermit there’s little you can do to prevent commercial scavengers from tracking you down. Your name, address, phone number and other details about you are constantly being circulated --when you make a purchase, renew your driver’s license, fill out a warranty form, sign up for a supermarket savings card, make a charitable donation, or do just about anything else that requires you to identify yourself.

You may not be able to eliminate junk mail altogether, but you can decrease it dramatically. The key is vigilance. Here are 10 practical steps you can take.

1. Write to Stop the Mail, P.O. Box 9008, Farmingdale, NY, 11735-9008. Request that your name not be sold to mailing list companies. This single step can reduce your junk mail by as much as 75%.

2. When you make an inquiry, a purchase or a donation, request that the company or organization not add your name to its list. A single purchase through a catalog can set you up for the receipt of dozens of other catalogs, unless you specify that you want to receive only the catalog you’re ordering from or don’t want to be added to the list at all. For some people, making purchases in cash might be worth the inconvenience since it helps maintain your anonymity.

3. When you subscribe to a magazine, ask that your name not be sold to a list broker. Otherwise, your name will be sold to possibly dozens of related magazines and product suppliers. That’s one way magazines make their money.

4. Make junk mailers pay. This is one of my favorite ways to fight back. If you get a piece of junk mail accompanied by a postage-paid return envelope, put the entire mailing back in the postage-paid envelope and return it on their stamp. Or, use their 800 number to call the company and request that they remove your name from their list.

5. Protect your phone number. It may be worth the several dollars the phone company charges to keep your phone number unlisted, as it will dramatically cut down on junk mail marketing calls. Watch out for other ways you let your phone number out. For example, many people print their phone numbers on their checks. If you do receive unwanted calls, ask that your name be put on a “do not call” list. Telemarketers are required by law to comply.

6. Don’t fill out warranty cards. Whenever you purchase a large item or piece of equipment, such as a computer, it is accompanied by a warranty card, which you are urged to return immediately. The implication is that you won’t be covered under the warranty unless you return the card. However, if you read the fine print, you’ll see that you’re covered by your proof of purchase whether you return the card or not. The warranty card is a marketing tool and a fairly transparent way to get personal information about you, including often your age and income bracket.

7. Beware the government. Are you aware that state departments of motor vehicles sell information about you, including the make and model of your car? Your demographic information is also sold if you order a government document or apply for a fishing license.

8. Lobby for your privacy rights. Write or call your congressperson to encourage support of bills that would limit the amount of information distributed about you by the Department of Motor Vehicles, the U.S. Postal Service and other public entities.

9. Donate with care. When you write a check or donate to a charity by credit card, your name will probably be sold to a list for like-minded causes. Establish a firm policy that you’ll never make a donation over the phone or in response to a mail solicitation. As much as possible, support local charitable organizations and be sure to let them know that you don’t want your name listed or sold.

10. Order a copy of the pamphlet “Stop Junk Mail Forever.” Send a check for $4.50 to Good Advice Press, P.O. Box 78, Elizaville, NY 12523; (914) 758-1400. This is a comprehensive resource with lots of practical, easy steps you can take to halt the tide of junk.

According to research conducted by the authors of “Stop Junk Mail Forever,” Americans receive some 65 billion pieces of junk mail every year. This harassment takes its toll on our lives and our environment. You can do your part to end it, starting with your own mailbox. Just imagine how much easier it would be to reduce the clutter in your life if you stopped the junk mail.

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Elaine St. James is the author of “Simplify Your Life” and “Simplify Your Life With Kids.” For questions or comments, write to her in care of Universal Press Syndicate, 4520 Main St., Kansas City, MO 64111, or e-mail her at estjames@silcom.com.