Credit Card Junk Mail

MARY2007

Does anyone know how to stop credit card junk mail from being sent to my old address? I moved out a year ago and my friend who still lives there passes on my mail. Once or twice a week a get letters for pre-approved credit cards, (i.e. Vanquis) and letters from Littlewoods advising that all i need to do is return a letter and i have a catalogue account with them. I have registered with them MPS, but i want to find out who is gving out my details and get off their list. Any ideas? Thanks...

lisyloo

but i want to find out who is gving out my details and get off their list

Well you could try phoning to ask.
Often the call center people won't know but sometimes they might.
Oxfam told me once they got my name from the electoral role.

I would suggest that you make sure you are not on the "edited" register on the electoral role.
You have to be on the one that the police etc. have access to but you can take yourself off the "edited" register that ANY organisation can buy.

You could always write to the organisation (or phone or email) asking them to remove your details. This often works.

Also whenever you give out your details be careful to read and tick (or untick) the boxes about received information.
Be careful because some of them you have tick to receive info and other you have to tick to NOT receive info.
Be circumspect about who you give your details to i.e. don't enter loads of competitions that you have virtually zero chance of winning.

PBA

I assume you've now changed your address with anyone you actually want to get in touch? Print a load of labels saying "Gone away, not known at this address" and give them to your mate. He just sticks them on the letters and sends them back. Once the mailing companies know that post to you isn't being read they're not going to waste their money sending letters to you any more.

lifebegins

When we moved house, the new occupier was still getting loads of junk mail (and kindly forwarding it for us) a year after we moved.

I registered our names at the old address with the mailing preference service (mpsonline.org.uk)) and requested she did what PBA suggested and return any other letters to the senders. This seemed to do the trick.

lolarentt

Yes that's it 'Moved away - Return to sender' should do the trick!

MrsMillar

Open the junk mail and get out the pre-paid envelope (there always is one with credit card junk). Scribble "Take me off you mailing list" over your name and address. Send it back in their envelope so they have to pay the postage.

I find this works as it hits them in the pocket and I do the same with all unsolicited junk mail unless its from a charity. If everyone did the same it would cost these companies a fortune (tho I suspect they'd soon find some other even more irritating way of doing their marketing).

ukbill69

If you have registered your address with mps (www.mpsonline.org.uk) and then send the letters on to them via freepost. You can also get removed by crossing out your name on the envelope and if on the back, then circle the address and pop in the post.

MrsMillar

Yeah - but using their pre-paid envelope hurts the company that sends the junk directly as they then pay for the postage. It's a bit more effort, but worthwhile I think!

Of course, as a general point registering with MPS is also a good idea (I haven't, but I get little junk mail of this nature now). Also, be absolutely vigilant about those check boxes - seek them out on anything you sign and make sure you opt-out of mailings.