honestly I wish mail was an opt in system, much like digital mail aka email is supposed to be. However, most companies that send out mail harvest the information to send out junk commercial mail. For this reason, there are a few items we can do to tell these companies, at least those that follow the rules, to stop sending. The first option below is the main one I personally have used and it offers the ability to pause for a period of time the mail clogging the mailbox.
Opt Out of Most Mail
DMAChoice is a mail preference service offered by DMA. DMA, which is part of the Association of National Advertisers, gives you the options to choose what mail should be stopped. This includes magazines offers, credit card offers, catalogs, as well as other mail. There is a granular level, for instance on catalogs, which allows you to choose which catalogs to stop sending, or all of them entirely. For 10 years of removal service there is a $2 fee, which is well worth it if you wish to essentially eliminate junk from your mail box.
Opt Out of Credit Card Offers
While DMAChoice has a credit card offer page, the actual credit card offer opt out is done through https://www.optoutprescreen.com/, the official Consumer Credit Reporting Industry website for opting out of mailings like credit card offers. This is a joint venture of the top 4 credit reporting companies. You can opt out for 5 years digitally or permanent which requires printing a form and mailing it via snail mail. I personally have done the permanent opt out option.
Opt Out of Phone Books & Catalogs
If there are catalogs you have received in the mail you no longer wish to receive? You can call the company and ask to be removed. Companies wish to save money, so there should be no issue getting yourself removed. To stop receiving phone books, you can visit https://www.yellowpagesoptout.com/ and enter your zip code to see the phone books available for opting out.
Opt Out of Direct Mailing
Aside from DMA offering DMAChoice, there are several smaller direct marketing and list brokers in the US. These typically require a more manual method, often via snail mail, and you could be on their lists with variations in your name or mailing address format. Since their lists are often not checked for similarities, you will need to clip each mailing label. Attach the labels to a sheet of paper and photocopy the page. Add your signature next to each label and mail off to each of the 3 addresses below.
Make sure to indicate: “Please remove my name and address from your mailing lists and do not rent, sell or trade my name or address.”
Alternatively, you can also try calling them at the phone number provided or use their provided form on site.
Valpak
1 Valpak Avenue North
St. Petersburg, FL 33716
1-727-399-3000
https://www.valpak.com/mailer-suppression
Note: ValPak will remove mailings by the address, so this should remove all at the entered address, regardless of name. Removal only lasts for 5 years.
Save (formerly Valassis Direct Mail, Inc.)
Consumer Assistance
PO Box 249
Windsor , CT 06095
1-800-437-0479, between 8:30 and 5:00 EST
Unsubscribe from their publication here:
https://www.save.com/mailing/delivery-options
Note: Save will remove mailings by the address, so this should remove all at the entered address, regardless of name.
Epsilon Data Services
Abacus Cooperative Databases
Telephone: (866) 267-3861
https://www.epsilon.com/us/marketing-data-summary-request
Select Opt Out or Delete option and enter your full name, including middle initial, and address. If you changed your address over the past six months, you can also submit your previous address as well.