by Hollie Domiano

Created on: December 09, 2008   Last Updated: December 15, 2008

It happens nearly every day. Your mailbox is cluttered with junk mail. You don't want it, but how can you get rid of it? Here are some tips on how to get rid of unwanted junk mail.

Ask to be removed. Contact the Direct Mail Marketing Association, Box 9008, Farmingdale, NY 11735. They keep an opt-out list which is good for five years from signing up. You'll have to renew your listing every five years, but that is just one little inconvenience which you can exchange for many inconveniences in your mailbox.

The DMMA also have a web site at www.dmachoice.org that will allow you to stop the receipt of catalogs, or receive more if you wish. A few words of advice: You will have to provide a credit card number to verify your identity. You will not be charged. This was done because some people were putting others' names on the receive list just to annoy them.

Ask for privacy. You can request that your contact information not be sold or shared.

Change your phone listing. Your name, address and phone number listing can be considered a public record. Either ask for an unlisted number or have your listing exclude your address. Alternatively, you can use just a cell phone without having a landline. Cell phone numbers are unlisted.

Return to Sender. No, it's not the Elvis song. You can write to various companies and get removed from their mailing lists. You can write "Refused" on the junk mail and have it returned to the sender. The company will have to pay the returned postage.

Contact your credit card company. Credit card companies generally share or sell contact information to companies. Tell them you don't want your information shared or sold. There is also a web site at www.optoutprescreen.com which will prevent the major credit bureaus from sending pre-approved credit card applications to you. While using this site, it will ask you for your Social Security number. Some people may be afraid of this by thinking of identity theft. In fact, you will be preventing ID theft by cutting down on pre-approved credit card applications sent to an old address where they could be picked up by ID thieves.

Avoid entering contests. Chances are, when you fill out the entry form, your name and address will be shared with other companies for their direct mail campaigns.

Don't register your products. Unless the product in question is in danger of being recalled, the information you provide on the registration form can be sold and shared.

If you follow these handy tips, you will be able to reduce or eliminate the waste in your mailbox.

Learn more about this author, Hollie Domiano.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.