Here’s a shortened version of the ‘Guide to Stamping Out Junk Mail’ on www.stopjunkmail.org.uk. It’s still quite lengthy; unfortunately there isn’t an easy way to get rid of junk mail yet. Still, following these tips will reduce junk mail to just a couple of leaflets per year. Promised!

* To Stop Unaddressed Mail *

Register with the Door-to-Door Opt-out
Royal Mail delivers up to three pieces of unaddressed mail per household per week. You can opt-out of receiving leaflets delivered by the postmen by registering with Royal Mail’s Door-to-Door Opt-Out. Simply send an e-mail with your name and full address to optout@royalmail.com and complete the form Royal Mail will send you in the post.

Register with the Your Choice Opt-Out
The Your Choice Preference Scheme for Unaddressed Mail is supposed to stop unaddressed mail delivered by members of the Direct Marketing Association. The opt-out is unlikely to stop much junk mail but registering is free and can’t hurt.

Get a ‘No Junk Mail’ sign
A more effective solution for unaddressed mail is to get (or make!) a ‘No Junk Mail’ sign. The stickers Stop Junk Mail sells also give you the option to stop free newspapers.

* To stop addressed junk mail *

Register with the Mailing Preference Service
The Mailing Preference Service (MPS) is a can prevent your name is added to ‘prospect databases’. It will not stop addressed junk mail from organisations whom you have given permission (perhaps without realising) to send you junk mail. Registering with the MPS is free and you can use the service to register a previous occupants' name at your current address. See www.mpsonline.org.uk for more details.

Return to Sender
If you receive junk mail with a return address on the envelope, write 'Unsolicited Mail, Return to Sender' on the envelope and put it back in the post unstamped. The sender will have to pay the return postage and may remove your details from their mailing lists.

Contact the Sender
Under the Data Protection Act 1998, any organisation has to stop sending you junk mail if you directly ask them to do so. Usually it is enough to phone the sender and ask them to take your details of its mailing list. However, your request will only be legally binding if it is in writing. For more details and an example notice, see www.stopjunkmail.org.uk/guide/contact_sender.php.

* To Prevent Junk Mail *

Opt out of Being on the Edited Electoral Register
The Edited Electoral Register is the main source of junk mail lists. When you fill out your annual electoral registration form, choose for your details not to be added to the 'edited electoral register'. There is absolutely no advantage in having your personal details on this version of the electoral roll. The list can be bought by any person or company and may be used for any purpose, including sending junk mail. Read your registration form carefully and tick the box to ensure that your details will appear on the 'full register' only.

Tick the Box
When you give your name and address to an organisation, for instance when you buy a product or service, look in the small print and tick the box to say that you don't want to be contacted by that organisation. If you don’t you give the organisation your consent not only to send you heaps of junk mail, but usually also to share your personal details with lots of other bulk mailers.

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