buried in catalogs

Yesterday I was buried in so many catalogs in my mailbox that I was compelled to call each one to cancel. Don't you hate the tedium of that? I think I must have purchased something somewhere and ended up on a name rental list.

As I called each company I found it interesting how differently they all handled my requests to remove my name from the mailing list. Some were super-efficient (saw my address linked from the phone# I dialed in on) and some were so pathetic I have no faith the catalogs will stop.

One catalog was especially nice though, because she told me based on my source code the name of the company which has been renting my name out. She aslo told me how to contact them and stop it. Hooray!!

Here's what she said:
Write a letter with your name and address and ask to be removed from all lists for rentals/mailings.
Send the letter to:
MPS DMA
P.O. Box 9008
Farmingdale, NY 11735-9008

Of course the junk mail goes beyond catalogs. I had also signed up to reduce mailings online. I am not sure if it is the same agency as above(mailing address is different). I paid $1 and submitted an online form.

I also learned how you can stop offers for credit cards. Contact 1-888-5OPT-OUT if you wish to reduce solicitations for credit offers. This is the opt-out number operated by the three major credit reporting agencies (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion); it is not related to DMA's Mail Preference Service.

And here is something I just found, but am eager to try: green dimes. Not only do they stop all your junk mail for you, they plant a tree! Sign me up!