SBA Green Team Tip of the Week (5/19/09)

Reducing Personal and Business Junk Mail

This site lists some ways to get off of mailing lists. It gives details on how to find out how to contact companies, etc. Here are some of the ideas in abbreviated form, for more details on how to reduce personal and business junk mail, visit their website: http://www.globalstewards.org/junkmail.htm

Contact the Direct Marketing Association:

Every loose-leaf bundle of business or supermarket fliers must be delivered along with an address postcard. Locate this address card - the cards usually have an advertisement and a photograph of a missing child (ADVO is the most common). Mail the address card to the address printed on the card and ask to be removed from their mailing list.

To stop receiving unsolicited credit card and other credit related offers, gather your current address, other addresses from the last two years, and social security number(s). Call the credit reporting industry's toll-free number, 1-888-567-8688 (24 hours a day).

Your credit card company probably sells your name the most often. Call and ask them to stop. Also make the same request of your bank and any other companies from which you purchase products or services on a regular basis (for example, companies who sell you magazines, phone service, and gas & electric services).

Create a place to store all unwanted mail. Once a month, call the local or toll-free numbers on the mailings and ask to be removed from their mailing lists (toll-free area codes are 800, 888, 877, or 866). This is the most effective way to get off mailing lists.

Questions? Want to join the SBA Green Team? Email: greenteam@sba.pdx.edu for more information.