How to Stop Junk Mail

JUNK mail isn’t just annoying. It uses precious natural resources to make, only to be binned as soon as it enters our home. Thankfully, there are lots of ways to cut the tidal wave of unwanted paper and plastic coming through your letter-box each day.

If you are receiving unwanted mail from a company that you have shopped with in the past then try logging in to their website and updating your communication preferences.

You should be able to switch to e-mail-only communications or opt out of all communications.

Do note that some companies can take up to 12 weeks for any changes to come into place, so you may still receive some mail from them in that time.

If you are unable to opt out of junk mail online, then you can return unwanted mail to the sender.

Simply cross through your address, and add a note to the envelope asking to be removed from their mailing list. You don’t even need to add a stamp.

To help stop other types of junk mail, you can sign up for the Mailing Preference Service online.

This is a free service that you can use to get your name and address removed from lists used by companies to market their products.

Signing up for this means you should receive no junk mail addressed to you personally from companies that use lists to send out direct marketing materials.

Unfortunately, this service has its limits. It does not stop mail addressed “to the householder” or “to the occupier”.

Nor does it stop unaddressed junk mail from being delivered, or junk mail originating from abroad.

This is because the Royal Mail are contractually obligated to deliver any junk mail that companies have paid them to distribute.

To stop this type of unaddressed junk mail, you need to opt out via the Royal Mail website every two years.

Finally, to help stop circulars you can also put a “no junk mail”, or “no circulars” sticker or sign on your letter-box.

The use of a “no junk mail” sticker won’t stop the delivery of free newspapers.

You’ll have to add a “no free newspapers” sign on your letter-box as well.

It is frustrating that there is no one-stop service that allows you to opt out of all junk mail.

However, with a bit of perseverance, you can stop the majority of unwanted mail from reaching your letter-box. ■