Junk Mail
Figures show that British households and businesses receive more than 20 billion items of unwanted mail - equivalent to 3.3 million trees!
If you want to reclaim your letterbox and stop the tide of junk mail please follow the advice below.
Targetted Junk Mail
The majority of junk mail comes from advertisers that have been given your address by list suppliers. The Mailing Preference Service (MPS) is a free service set up 20 years ago and funded by the direct mail industry to enable consumers to have their names and home addresses in the UK removed from lists used by the industry. It is actively supported by the Royal Mail and all directly involved trade associations and fully supported by The Information Commissioners Office. Either telephone the MPS Registration line - 0845 703 4599 or register online.
Another source of personally addressed mail comes from companies you have purchased goods or ordered literature from. They will continue to send you information unless you ask them not to. Most companies have an opt-out scheme. Look for the tick box on forms and use it!
Unaddressed Junk Mail
The Post Office delivers a lot of unaddressed junk mail, known as Royal Mail Door-to-Door. To stop unsolicited leaflets you first need to ask Royal Mail to send you an 'Opt-Out Confirmation Form' by sending an e-mail with your name and full address to optout@royalmail.com.
If you prefer, you can also write to:
Freepost RRBT-ZBXB-TTTS
Door-to-door opt-outs
Royal Mail, Kingsmead House
Oxpens Road
OXFORD OX1 1RX
Officially, the Door-to-Door Opt-Out team does not have a contact telephone number anymore. However, it is still possible to phone them; the number to dial is 01865 796 988. If that doesn't get you through, try phoning Royal Mail Customer Services on 08457 740 740.
Please be aware that this type of mail includes leaflets from central government and local authorities, if sent unaddressed. If you choose this opt-out scheme make sure you visit libraries, help points and the Council's website to find the most up-to-date information about your community.
Other tips to reduce unwanted mail
- Electoral register - tick the 'edited register' option when completing the annual form. This will keep your details out of the publicly available register.
- Tell your credit card, banking and mortgage companies that you don't want to receive information about other services and ask them not to pass your details onto other companies.
- Some utility companies offer on-line billing as an end to paper bills.
- Finally, if you don't want it, recycle it!