Foo - Is there a way to stop junk mail from coming to your residence?

Like most people I am getting too much junk mail. I even thought I saw the mailman stop and take a breather from all the ridiculous amount of junk mail he has to stuff in those boxes. None of this mail is actually addressed to me and I did not ask for it. Can I send a request to the USPS to stop it?

Probably a stupid question. But I am close to having a bonfire party at the mailbox area. :D

I heard that writing "DECEASED" on the junk and sending it back works.

For some areas it works too well, the post office might take note and stop ALL incoming mail.

Nail bomb in your box :p.

Okay, now that I'm back on the FBI's watch list how about just putting a note on the front of your box? I've seen a few people doing that here.

The credit reporting agencies let you opt out from all of those pre-screen credit card offers, those are probably part of your junk mail problem. You can do it at this website:

https://www.optoutprescreen.com/

I did it over the phone by calling: 1–888-567-8688

I had heard about it when it was advertised on one of my credit card statements. When I did it, I had the choice to opt out for five years or permanently. I chose the five year option. What that does is keeps marketing companies (credit cards, etc) from being allowed view your credit report to pre-select you for an offer without your permission.

I still get a little junk mail from companies that don't actually use my credit card to determine whether I am eligible for their offers, but my daily pile has decreased significantly.

There was a Seinfeld episode about this. I believe the final answer was "no".

http://www.dmaconsumers.org/consumerassistance.html

Junk mail is useful -- when I shred real documents, I shred them with junk mail of a similar type as the documents, so someone will have to discern data that can be used for identity theft from letters from realtors saying that the house down the block sold for a big amount.

Nail bomb in your box :p.

Okay, now that I'm back on the FBI's watch list how about just putting a note on the front of your box? I've seen a few people doing that here.
The postal delivery worker has to deliver everything to your box, they are by law forbidden to sort your junk mail out for you.

Junk mail is useful -- when I shred real documents, I shred them with junk mail of a similar type as the documents, so someone will have to discern data that can be used for identity theft from letters from realtors saying that the house down the block sold for a big amount.
I hate the local and AJC papers, junk mail is what I start my fireplace with all winter. Keeps me from having to buy those fish wrappers as kindling.

The credit reporting agencies let you opt out from all of those pre-screen credit card offers, those are probably part of your junk mail problem. You can do it at this website:

https://www.optoutprescreen.com/


I went to that site but paused when it asked for my social security number. Am I being too paranoid?

I went to that site but paused when it asked for my social security number. Am I being too paranoid?
No you are not. Don't give that out to anyone, ever, even make the bank ask twice.

With the junk mail I get, I use the postage paid envelope to put ads from other places that send me junk mail. It keeps USPS employed and puts their good envelopes to use! It does nothing to stop it but it sure feels good!! :D
_________________________________________________________________________________________

I find that putting "deceased" on an unopened mailer does the job for me. Just make sure it REALLY is junk mail or else you'll end up with the wrong results. :eek:

I don't know about stopping it but try this:

Every time you get junk mail save it for a few months. Look at the company that sends the most to you. Take their SASE and cram all the other junk mail into it and pplace in the mail. They have to pay the shipping and the more you weight it down the more it cost them and if evryone did this they would soon get the picture. They would not know who sent it................just that people are sick of the crap.

There was a Seinfeld episode about this. I believe the final answer was "no".
Yes, Seinfeld is the controlling authority on this. ;)

I went to that site but paused when it asked for my social security number. Am I being too paranoid?

If it makes you feel more comfortable, here is the same phone number referenced on Bank of America's website (that's where I heard of the service, they had it printed at the bottom of my statement):

https://www.bankofamerica.com/privacy/Control.do?body=privacysecur_tips


Opt out of all pre-approved credit card offers by dialing 1-888-567-8688. This will opt you out of all offers, not just those from Bank of America.

I have a good solution for fax spam..........

Create a multiple page fax with a black background and white text, print it and loop it in the fax machine and send it to the fax spammer!

Text reads : Stop spamming (555)555-5555 *sample number!*, use your own of course!

Do it at a time where their office is closed and the machine is still on. You'll either run themm out of paper, or toner, or both!http://digilander.libero.it/le.faccine/faccinea/computer/00330018.gifhttp://www.thetechlounge.com/forum/images/smilies/more_smilies/drevil1.gif

msheron is too nice. get a nice box, toss your junk mail into it, and when the box is full, THEN use one of those return envelopes taped to the box.

The only true success I've had against junk mail, was dealing with the local paper's ad extra flyer. I don't take a paper so they used to just chuck one at the foot of the driveway every day, dirt road, dirt driveway. I got sick of the pile of moldering, Georgia red clay soaked, mucky papers that I had to shovel into the back of the truck every now and again. After repeated calls, to the paper to ask them to stop, came to no avail, one, to the sheriff's office, to report a litterer, did.

If it makes you feel more comfortable, here is the same phone number referenced on Bank of America's website (that's where I heard of the service, they had it printed at the bottom of my statement):

https://www.bankofamerica.com/privacy/Control.do?body=privacysecur_tips

- is that the same Bank of America that was found (during a recent Washington Post investigation into phishing published today) to have a compromised New Accounts server?

:-)

story here (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/13/AR2007031301522.html)

I've found that making passes at my mail man works well enough.. -but only if you're not wearing pants.

Federal Trade Commission (http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/alerts/privprotalrt.htm)
Experian (http://www.experian.com/preapproved_credit/opting_out.html)
Hawaii Government (http://www.hawaii.gov/dcca/helping_hand/identity_theft)
Better Business Bureau (http://www.dallas.bbb.org/emailalert.html)
State of Mississippi (http://www.deq.state.ms.us/mdeq.nsf/page/Recycling_JunkMailReduction?OpenDocument)
State of Minnesota (http://www.pca.state.mn.us/oea/media/01-04-22.cfm)

- is that the same Bank of America that was found (during a recent Washington Post investigation into phishing published today) to have a compromised New Accounts server?

:-)

story here (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/13/AR2007031301522.html)

I bet it was a Windows server ;)

I've found that making passes at my postman works well enough.. -but only if you're not wearing pants.
While Red House and I are at differing ends of discussions often, this is genius. :lol:

GreenDimes (http://www.greendimes.com/). They'll handle stopping your junk mail for you, and plant trees as well. Cost is $4.00 per month.

I agree, there isn't no way to stop junk mail from stopping. You could use it for the fireplcae, if you have one. :)