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	Eliminating Junk Mail
	By Ramona Creel

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• you make a purchase or register with a company for a service
• your name is added to that company's customer list
• your contact information is sold or rented to a list broker
• name can then be sold to literally hundreds of organizations
• each organization may send you unwanted mail and add you to another list

• gather information that lenders use to decide your credit-worthiness
• sell your name to banks and credit card companies for "pre-approved" offers
• contact each credit bureau directly asking to "opt out" of this practice
• Experian / PO Box 919 / Allen, TX 75013 / 800-353-0809
• Equifax / PO Box 740123 / Atlanta, GA 30374-0123 / 800-755-3502
• TransUnion / 555 West Adams St. / Chicago, IL 60661 / 800-345-2349

• can get off lists for "Val Pak" coupons and other impersonal junk mail
• ADVO Inc. / List Service / 239 W. Service Rd. / Hartford, CT 06120
• Cox Direct / Operations / 6030 N. US 301 / Elm City, NC 27822
• Carol Wright Gifts / 340 Applecreek Rd. / Lincoln, NE 68528-1501
• Harte Hanks Direct Marketing / 100 Alco Place / Baltimore, MD 21227-2090
• Money Mailer / 14271 Corporate Dr. / Garden Grove, CA 92843
• Val-Pak Coupons / Address Info. / 8575 Largo Lakes Dr. / Largo, FL 33773

• sponsor's the "Mail Preference Service"
• ask to have your name removed from their marketing lists
• include all permutations and misspellings of your name and address
• this "delete" list is distributed to major direct marketers 4 times a year
• send a postcard to DMA / PO Box 9008 / Farmingdale, NY 11735-9008
• or visit www.dmaconsumers.org

• warranty cards often go to list brokers rather than the manufacturer
• don't return warranty cards -- your warranty is good without them
• credit cards let other companies send promotions to their card holders
• ask to opt out of these and even in-house mailing besides your bill
• signing up for store scanner "discount cards" adds you to more mailing lists
• contact current magazine subscription and ask to "opt out" from their lists

• companies who sell and rent lists of potential consumers
• contact them and ask to deleted from their mail and telemarketing lists
• Polk List Order Services / Opt Out / 1621-18th St. / Denver, CO 80202
• Donnelly Marketing / Name Supression Service infoUSA Inc. / P.O. Box 3502 / Ames, IA 50010-3502
• List Services Corp. / 6 Trowbridge Dr. / Box 516 / Bethel, CT 06801
• Metromail Corp. / Consumer Services / 901 W. Bond / Lincoln, NE 68521
• Database America / Compilation / 100 Paragon Dr. / Montvale, NJ 07645
• Walter Karl / Consumer List Mgmt. / 1 American Ln. / Greenwich, CT 06831
• Dun & Bradstreet / 899 Eaton Ave. / Bethlehem, PA 18025-9922

• US postal service sells change of address lists to marketers
• includes a list of "licensed parties" -- all sales and marketing depts.
• can ask to have your name removed from the NCOA database
• include your name, old address, and new address in your request
• NCOA Customer Support / 6060 Primacy Pkwy. #101 / Memphis, TN 38188
• check the box for "temporary move" and set time frame for 364 days
• only permanent address changes go in database

• write "return to sender" on first class junk mail and put back in box
• simply refuse any piece of junk mail and the post office must deal with it
• put the junk mail in the company's postage-paid return envelope
• include a note saying "stop sending me your junk"
• mail it back to them at their expense

• ask to "opt out" anytime you give someone your contact information
• use the words "please do not rent, sell, share, or trade my name"
• ask that your name be put on an "in-house" list only
• don't give out your contact information unless it is absolutely necessary

 

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