Junk Mail

Is your mailbox stuffed with junk mail? Companies use direct mailings as a way to get you to purchase their product. Your name and address are added to mailing lists in many ways but the most common way is when you provide your information to a company when purchasing something. This company usually compiles the information on you and "rents" it to another company who will then send you a direct mailing. While you may want to purchase items from some of the mailings you receive, there may be others that you would prefer not to receive. It is practically impossible to stop all the mailings but you can reduce them by registering with the Direct Marketing Associations (DMA) Mail Preference Service. Instructions on how to register can be found by clicking here. 

More information on stopping junk mail can be found at:

Federal Government consumer website: http://www.consumer.gov/
Privacy Rights website: http://www.privacyrights.org/fs/fs4-junk.htm
Federal Trade Commission Fact Sheet on Prescreened Offers of Credit and Insurance: http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/credit/prescreen.shtm

Unwanted Telephone Calls

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is responsible for the National Do Not Call Registry. 

You can register online or call toll-free, 1-888-382-1222 (TTY 1-866-290-4236), from the number you wish to register. Registration is free. You may place your cell phone number on the Do Not Call Registry as well.

Some calls are not covered. Once your number has been on the registry for 31 days, most telemarketing calls will stop. However, you still may get:

• calls from — or on behalf of — political organizations, charities, and telephone surveyors;
• calls from companies with whom you have an existing business relationship. A company may call you for 18 months after you make a purchase or three months after you submit an inquiry or application;
• calls from companies you’ve given permission to call.

File a complaint. If your number has been on the registry for at least 31 days, and a telemarketer calls, complain to the FTC. You’ll need to provide the date of the call and the phone number or name of the company that called you.

See the FTC's page on the Do Not Call Registry (http://www.ftc.gov/donotcall) or call the FTC at 1-888-382-1222 for additional information about the National Do Not Call Registry.