Sacramento -
Matt Conens has spent the last 15 years trying to stop junk mail from appearing in his mail box. For the most part he's been successful, but it's hard work. He still gets the occasional solicitation, circular, coupon packet or catalog.
"I look at unsolicited mail as an annoyance and a waste...and each time go online to e-mail someone and ask them to stop," said Conens.
It's a constant battle because there is no one place to go to stop junk mail, not even the post office. The Postal Service doesn't have the staffing to flag junk mail upon request and it must deliver bulk mail to each address.
That's why most of the estimated 41 pounds of junk mail that goes to each household ends up in the trash or recycle bin, 44 percent of it unopened.
"The burden is definitely on the consumer in this situation, " said Katie Robison of the Sacramento area Better Business Bureau.
Robison says you often have to identify each business and make a request in writing to opt out of any mail marketing. She says a business have no advantage in ignoring your request.
"That would be just negative marketing for them if they're just annoying their customers and customers are getting hounded," said Robison.
She said the Better Business Bureau takes complaints if the business do not cease sending junk mail.
When Conens opens a credit card account, subscribes to a magazine or signs up with any service, he tells them not to sell, lend or rent his address to other businesses. You should also be careful of filling out warranty information cards, entering contests or giving out information for surveys.
There are major players like the Direct Marketers Association, credit reporting agencies, and catalog distributors that can take you off junk mail lists.
The non-profit Privacy Rights Clearinghouse has contact information on how to get off most lists. You can log on to privacyrights.org and go to the Direct Marketing page for who to write to or call and for strategies to reduce junk mail.
"I look at unsolicited mail as an annoyance and a waste...and each time go online to e-mail someone and ask them to stop," said Conens.
It's a constant battle because there is no one place to go to stop junk mail, not even the post office. The Postal Service doesn't have the staffing to flag junk mail upon request and it must deliver bulk mail to each address.
That's why most of the estimated 41 pounds of junk mail that goes to each household ends up in the trash or recycle bin, 44 percent of it unopened.
"The burden is definitely on the consumer in this situation, " said Katie Robison of the Sacramento area Better Business Bureau.
Robison says you often have to identify each business and make a request in writing to opt out of any mail marketing. She says a business have no advantage in ignoring your request.
"That would be just negative marketing for them if they're just annoying their customers and customers are getting hounded," said Robison.
She said the Better Business Bureau takes complaints if the business do not cease sending junk mail.
When Conens opens a credit card account, subscribes to a magazine or signs up with any service, he tells them not to sell, lend or rent his address to other businesses. You should also be careful of filling out warranty information cards, entering contests or giving out information for surveys.
There are major players like the Direct Marketers Association, credit reporting agencies, and catalog distributors that can take you off junk mail lists.
The non-profit Privacy Rights Clearinghouse has contact information on how to get off most lists. You can log on to privacyrights.org and go to the Direct Marketing page for who to write to or call and for strategies to reduce junk mail.
