Postal Letter

What is the best way to get rid of junk mail through the post office?

What is the best way to stop junk mail? And I mean real mail not junk email. I really don't want to send a letter to every piece of junk mail I have recieved but I am getting tired of recieving a ton of junk.

Public Comments

1. remove yourself from several mailing lists. or ask the psot office to place you on a do not contact list.
2. I think you have to call the sender and ask to be taking off their mailing list....it could take weeks
3. I can't take the credit for this, thank Andy Rooney of 60 minutes. Stuff ALL the mail in the return envelope, and SEND IT BACK. The junk mail that has postage paid return envelopes cost the SENDER $1.15 for EACH piece that comes back, PLUS they have to throw away the paper junk. Very good feeling stuffing all that s**t into envelopes.
4. There really is no way to get rid of junk mail. I work for the post office and sadly, there is no way. If you ever look at the mail and where the stamp is supposed to go, the majority of the junk mail has something that says "Presort Standard." companies pay less than 10 cents a letter to send it. They dont pay enough to get it returned though. Even though you might write return to sender, the post office throws it away if there is nothing that says first class, or has a physical stamp. Sorry!
5. There is a way to reduce your junk mail. Many of the credit card and insurance offers you receive come from your credit report. The government allows every consumer to view their credit report from the three major credit reporting agencies at no cost once per year. When you get your credit report there will be a 1-800 number you can call that will remove your social security number from the list. This 800 number is connected to the credit agencies. Be VERY careful to acquire this number from your credit report; that way you can be certain it's legit. Here is the government link that include FAQs and information for obtaining your credit report legitimately. Follow these instructions, guidelines, and warnings and you should be fine. P.S. Your junk mail will not be 100% eliminated, but it will be significantly reduced (you will probably still get local mailers and stuff). My in-laws did this. This has an added bonus because you can make sure your credit is accurate and report errors if necessary. You will be amazed when you see the list of companies who checked your credit to send offers. http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/credit/freereports.shtm UPDATE: The Andy Rooney tip will not work. Here is the link to the appropriate Snopes page that explains both why it doesn't work and how your junk mail may potentially increase if you try sending back the solicitor's mail. This link also includes the Opt-Out phone number that I discussed above (related to the credit bureau), and another DMS service that will reduce other junk mail. http://www.snopes.com/politics/business/telemarket.asp
6. well you know the return envelope that comes with most of that junk mail..... well put some of that junk mail in it and return back to them... if you throw it away they loose nothing.. but if you return it to them then they end up paying twice for it.. so just send it back to them.. no biggie sooner or later they will catch on.....
7. One of the best ways is to never buy a magazine subscription. Never give a donation to a national charity, always give to a local charity. Never buy anything from an online catalog company. All of these mailers will sell your name on a mailing list, and that's when the fun starts. It also helps if you do not make much money. Advertisers are not interested in poor people who cannot buy their goods or services. If you receive alot of junk mail, consider yourself blessed, because you have a good income.
8. Did the sender send you a self-addressed letter? Send that letter back to them and write on the note/letter that you are not interested.
9. ALOT OF THEESE SOLICITATIONS HAVE PREPAID ENVELOPES THAT COME WITH THEM TRY TO SEND THEM BACK TO THE COMPANY WITH OUT WRITING ANYTHING ON THEM AND SEE IF IT WORKS I HAVE BEEN DOING THIS AND HAVE PRETTY GOOD LUCK WITH IT HERE IN MICHIGAN GOOD LUCK TO YOU.