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Because I have had my mailbox contents robbed, I am especially annoyed at the unsolicited multitude of credit card/loan mailings every day. I attempted to write "refused" and my name on the envelope, but the mailman refused to take them. I do shred them as I get them, but I am looking for a way to stop this unwanted litter. A friend told me that she shreds everything but the prepaid envelope. Then she puts a blank piece of paper in the prepaid return envelope and mails it. It won't stop the mailings but it will cost the offending company a little more of their profit. I'm going to start doing that as well. If anyone else has a cost/time effective way of dealing with this, I'd love to hear it. Easy as One Call The major credit agencies all sell aggregate credit information to any bidder. Direct mail and credit companies generate mail based on demographics including zip code, income band and credit payment patterns. Stopping this is easy. You just need your address, former address within two years, and social security number. One call does it all for agencies Equifax, Trans Union, Experian and Innovis. Dial 1-888-5 OPT OUT (or 1-888-567-8688) 24 hours a day. Write to the Reporting Agencies If you would like your name taken off all pre-approved credit solicitations you can write the following credit reporting agencies. Please be sure to include your name, current address and Social Security Number: Experian Equifax TransUnion Name Removal Option Jean Contact Direct Marketing to Get Removed From Lists A great way to get rid of that unwanted mail is to contact Direct Marketing (Mail Preference Service). You can reach them at: www.dmaconsumers.org/consumerassistance.html You can register online for $5.00 or by mail for free. You will need to update every five years or if you change addresses. They also have the ability to take your name off telemarketing lists and e-mail lists. You will need to fill out forms for each. I did this for the first time 7 years ago and I've loved it. Within 3 months I stopped the "junk mail" and the telemarketers. I've always wondered why people pay the phone company to stop telemarketers when you can do it yourself. Stuff and Return I've found it very effective to stuff everything that came in the envelope, including the outer envelope, back into the prepaid one and just send it back. I rarely receive anything a second time. They usually take the hint. I also found this on www.ecofuture.org: "The Mail Preference Service division of the Direct Marketing Association (known as DMA) compiles a list of people who do not want junk mail. This list is provided to any company who requests it, usually magazines. Mail Preference Service Mail Preference Service Taryn May Be Worth Putting A Fraud Alert You will also stop getting unsolicited credit card offers if you put a fraud alert on your credit report. It will make it more cumbersome when you apply for loans, but the trade off might be worth it! Website to Check Out JunkStopper at www.junkstopper.com/ has a lot of info on stopping unwanted junk mail, including phone numbers for the three credit reporting agencies which is who you need to contact to stop the credit card solicitations. Do you have a time or money saving idea that wasn't included in this article? Please send it to tips @stretcher.com. We get the best ideas from our readers!
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