8 Ways to Stop Junk Mail Forever

You have enough paperwork in your life without having to sort through pieces of junk mail you don’t even want. Here’s a complete 8-step plan for how to stop junk mail and keep it from starting up again.

Junk mail is an overwhelming nuisance. And some of it contains so much personal information that you really need to shred it.

Can You Really Stop Junk Mail?

It takes a little effort to stop unsolicited mail, but probably less than you think. The good news is: once you get it stopped, it usually stays stopped.

Sometimes it starts up again when you change addresses. But then you just repeat the relevant steps below and it stops again. I’ve been using these steps since 2007, and I get very little junk mail.

Does It Work on Every Type of Junk Mail?

Note: there are two main types of junk mail: direct marketing mail which actually has your name and address, and mail which comes to “resident” at your address. The first kind comes from companies selling mailing lists.

The second kind is usually in the form of circulars, or envelopes full of local coupons, and those companies have no idea who lives at which address – they’re sending something to “resident” at every address they can find. Your tactics for stopping these will vary a little.

Why Junk Mail Persists

Even after following all these steps, some junk mail pieces may still arrive. The short answer is that this happens because the mailing industry is large and complicated.

Companies often buy and sell mailing lists multiple times, and sometimes your information gets passed around without your knowledge. Also, some mailers use outdated or shared lists that might not reflect your current opt-out requests.

It’s important to be patient and persistent. Keep using the methods described, and continue to reject or return unwanted mail. Over time, the amount will shrink considerably.

Use a PO Box or Virtual Mailbox for Sign-Ups

One way to protect your home mailbox is by using a PO Box or virtual mailing address when signing up for promotions, contests, or online offers. This keeps your real home address off many mailing lists.

If you use a PO Box for these purposes, any junk mail sent will go there instead of your home. You can then decide to discard it or handle it as you wish without cluttering your personal mailbox.

Virtual Mailboxes

The easiest solution in my experience is a virtual mailbox. I use Traveling Mailbox (detailed on that page) and have also used Virtual Mail Box in the past and recommend both.

Be Careful with Your Information Online

Many people unknowingly give out their mailing addresses when they sign up for online newsletters, loyalty programs, or free samples. Always read privacy policies carefully before submitting your information.

Look for checkboxes that ask if you want to receive marketing material and uncheck them if possible. If there isn’t an option, consider whether it’s worth providing the info. Using disposable email addresses can also help reduce unwanted offers.

And now for the steps to cancel that junk mail!

How to Stop Junk Mail and Catalogs

I recommend following these steps in this order, because the first steps are the “nuclear options” that will stop most of your unwanted mailings with minimal effort. The other tactics take a bit more work, but will catch any stragglers who ignore the first tactics.

Or if you like some circulars and not others, for example, you’ll have to deal with each company individually.

1. Get your address off circular and bulk mail lists

Write to “Mail Preference Service, PO Box 9008, Farmingdale, NY 11735.” A postcard or hand-scribbled note will do: just let them know that no one at your address wants to receive any circulars.

This completely removed my address from all circular databases. But my mail carrier still often unthinkingly stuffs a junk mailer for my neighbor’s address into my box. I just pop it in the outgoing mail, and this time they have to look at the address to see where it needs to go.

2. Stop credit card offers

Dial 1-888-567-8688. Most credit offers come from lists sold by the consumer credit reporting companies (Equifax, Trans Union, Experian and Innovis). That call will remove you from all lists (which means you will stop getting any unsolicited offers of credit).

You’ll have to give them your addresses for the past two years and they will ask for your social security number (they already have your social security number, disturbingly, they just want to make sure they’ve got exactly the right person).

Note: this will not necessarily stop unwanted junk mail from the credit card companies you do business with. For that, use Step 7: “Take me off your mailing list.”

3. OptOutPrescreen

This is an online form that lets you opt in or out of receiving credit card offers. You can choose between a period of 5 years or permanent removal. I used this, and it took about a month to stop receiving these offers, and I’ve hardly had any since.

4. Opt out with ANA, formerly DNA

DMA, or Direct Marketing Association, was one of the top mailing list providers that direct marketers buy addresses from. They used to provide a free opt-out service called DMAChoice that let you remove yourself from any of three categories of mail.

But they’ve been bought by ANA, Association of National Advertisers, and it looks like it’s a paid service now – between $4 and $5, depending how you pay. Am I the only one offended at the idea of paying them an administrative fee to undo the work they’ve done to sell my info?

To opt out of being included in any databases they sell to businesses, click here and fill out the form. The link to it is at the bottom, and it’s a popup window.

5. Opt out of Catalog Choice

Catalog Choice is a free service that helps you opt out of unwanted catalogs. If you’re getting a lot of catalogs from shops where you have rewards cards, these guys can help you navigate the complicated opt-out request process.

6. “Refused: Return to Sender.”

If a piece of unwanted mail says “return service requested”, “forwarding service requested”, “change service requested” or “address service requested,” write “Refused: Return to Sender” (exact words) on the unopened envelope and pop it right back in the outgoing mail.

This forces the USPS to return it, and when most businesses get back mail like this, they remove you from their mailing list rather than keep wasting money on you.

7. “Take me off your mailing list.”

Some companies actually take you off their mailing lists if you just call them or find an email address or online form to send them that request. This is important when you deal with companies that send you junk mail as well as useful correspondence.

While you’re at it, let them know you want your contact information used only by their company, and only for them to send you necessary correspondence. That eliminates them sharing your data in any way with other companies for their mailing lists.

8. The postage-paid envelope trick

I used to receive junk mail from companies I used. Like, my bank would send me an unwanted credit card offer, but I couldn’t tell from the outside what it was. So I’d open it and then realize it was junk mail.

If you’ve already opened a piece of junk mail, but it has a postage-paid return envelope, here’s a good trick. Write your return address and name on the postage-paid return envelope.

Seal the postage paid envelope, empty, and pop it right back in the mail. I’m not sure why it works, but this has gotten me off quite a few mailing lists. Maybe it’s the fact that the company had to pay the postage.

Does it Work?

Following these steps can actually eliminate junk mail for good. They did for me. If you want to keep some circulars but not others, you must contact the ones you don’t want and ask them to remove you from their list and stop sending you mailers.

To get rid of Valassis/Red Plum/RetailMeNot, use this page.
Call Publisher’s Clearing House at 1-800-645-9242 or email them at pch@ant.net to get off their lists.
Call ADVO at 1-860-285-6100 to stop their junk mail.

Too Much Work?

If you feel like this is too much work, there is a simple option that won’t stop the junk mail, but will stop you from having to deal with it. A virtual mailbox service will scan your envelops, upload the scans, and then do what you tell them with each piece of mail.

Most of these services screen out the junk mail for you. As for the rest of your mail, you can instruct them to scan the contents for you, physically forward the mail, or shred and recycle it.

What About Apps?

I used PaperKarma for a couple of years. It probably worked 60% of the time for me. It’s certainly worth a try, especially if you’ve tried the other steps and a few companies are still sending junk mail. But it’s not a primary tool for me. I don’t even keep it on my phone anymore.

And stay off those lists!

How did you get on these lists in the first place, and what can you do to avoid getting back on them?

Getting something for free in exchange for submitting your address online often results in your contact info being used by that company, and by any others they share data with. If you do submit your address online:

Use a slightly altered name when submitting your information, so you’ll at least know where the unwanted mail is coming from. For example, if you usually give your name as Joan Smith, try “J.B. Smith” for when you suspect your information’s going to be used to send junk mail.
To get rid of mail coming from these sources, try Steps 6 and 7 above.

Tips For Staying Off Mailing Lists

Check Your Credit Reports Regularly

Since credit card offers come from credit bureaus, it’s smart to check your credit reports at least once a year. This helps you see if your personal details are being shared without your permission or if there are any errors.

You can get a free credit report from each of the three major bureaus once a year at AnnualCreditReport.com. If you spot suspicious activity or accounts you don’t recognize, report it immediately to protect yourself from identity theft and reduce unsolicited mail.

Use Technology to Help Screen Mail

Besides PaperKarma, other apps and services can help manage or reduce junk mail. Some apps let you scan envelopes and automatically send opt-out requests to the sender. Others provide ongoing monitoring of your mailing preferences.

Digital mailbox services often include features that filter mail before it reaches you. Some even allow you to recycle unwanted mail without opening it. This is helpful for busy people who want to reduce clutter without spending a lot of time on it.

Talk to Your Mail Carrier

Your local mail carrier knows what kind of mail you usually get. If you explain that you want less junk mail, they might be able to help by not delivering certain types of circulars or flyers.

While they can’t completely stop junk mail, mail carriers sometimes have insight into local distribution patterns and can offer advice. Building a friendly relationship with them might make a small difference.

I’ve had postal carriers who were super nice and really wanted to help… and then I’ve had the exact opposite. If you get the second kind, don’t expect them to be any help.

Use a Mail Stop or No Soliciting Sign

If you live in a neighborhood where flyers and circulars are commonly slipped under doors or into boxes marked “resident,” placing a clear “No Junk Mail” or “No Solicitation” sign might help.

Some local postal carriers respect these signs and reduce the amount of unaddressed advertising mail they deliver. These signs won’t stop addressed junk mail but can help reduce bulk deliveries.

Consider Mail Preference Services for Your State

Some states offer their own mail preference programs that work alongside the national Mail Preference Service. Check if your state has such services and sign up for them as well.

These local programs sometimes have agreements with regional marketers and can block mail pieces that federal programs might miss.

Shredding Junk Mail Properly

Since junk mail often contains personal information, shredding is key before throwing it away. A cross-cut shredder is best because it cuts paper into small pieces that are harder to reassemble. And I’ve got a whole post on creative uses for the shredded paper!

If you don’t have a shredder, soaking paper in water before discarding it can make the information harder to recover. Always be careful with any mail that has your name, address, or account numbers printed on it.

How to Handle Junk Mail When You Move

When you change addresses, junk mail often spikes because your new address gets added to multiple databases.

To reduce this:

Submit an official change-of-address form with USPS.
Repeat the opt-out steps listed above for your new address.
Contact companies that sent you junk mail at your old address and notify them of your move.
Consider placing a temporary hold on your mail while you finalize address changes.

Protect Your Privacy Beyond Junk Mail

Stopping junk mail is one part of protecting your privacy. Remember that companies collect data about you from many sources like online browsing, purchases, and public records.

To limit data sharing: