Links to other junk mail resources.
Junk mail horror stories
Lost In The Mail (http://www.freerepublic.com/...)
A widow loses her home when she mistakes important letters to her late husband for junk mail.
A widow loses her home when she mistakes important letters to her late husband for junk mail.
Beverly and the Rapist (http://www.motherjones.com/news/...)
An Ohio grandmother's response to a coupon offer ends up in the hands of a convicted rapist who then terrifies her with sexually explicit mail.
An Ohio grandmother's response to a coupon offer ends up in the hands of a convicted rapist who then terrifies her with sexually explicit mail.
Betrayed By The ACLU (http://www.nettle.com/archives/000059.html)
Shortly after signing up for the ACLU, a man is suddenly inundated with junk mail from non-profit organizations.
Shortly after signing up for the ACLU, a man is suddenly inundated with junk mail from non-profit organizations.
Preying On The Elderly (http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/...)
Emotional story about a woman's dying mother whose addiction to sweepstake scams barely allows her to cover medical expenses.
Emotional story about a woman's dying mother whose addiction to sweepstake scams barely allows her to cover medical expenses.
Ship For Brains (http://blogtown.portlandmercury.com/2007/...)
Princess Cruise Lines demands to see a death certificate before removing a deceased relative from their mailing list.
Princess Cruise Lines demands to see a death certificate before removing a deceased relative from their mailing list.
Young Politicos Scam Seniors (http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/...)
College Republicans milk senior citizens for millions of dollars with a dishonest junk mail campaign.
College Republicans milk senior citizens for millions of dollars with a dishonest junk mail campaign.
Antidepressants In The Mail (http://query.nytimes.com/...)
A Walgreens drugstore sends Prozac samples in the mail after gaining unauthorized access to patients' private medical records.
A Walgreens drugstore sends Prozac samples in the mail after gaining unauthorized access to patients' private medical records.
Truck Fire Follows Mail Confusion (http://www.ktre.com/Global/...)
A man's pickup truck explodes after he confuses a manufacturer's recall letter for junk mail.
A man's pickup truck explodes after he confuses a manufacturer's recall letter for junk mail.
Thomas Kyle v. America Online (http://aolwatch.org/kyle.htm)
One man's two-year long battle to stop receiving AOL discs in the mail culminates in court action against AOL Time Warner.
One man's two-year long battle to stop receiving AOL discs in the mail culminates in court action against AOL Time Warner.
Fred Elbel's Letter (http://www.ecofuture.org/jmcowk.html)
Fred faces some hostility when he asks to be removed from a mailing list.
Fred faces some hostility when he asks to be removed from a mailing list.
Do you have a junk mail horror story? Share it with us.
Campaigns & petitions
Do Not Mail (http://donotmail.org/)
One environmental group's campaign for a national Do Not Mail registry. Be sure to sign their online petition.
One environmental group's campaign for a national Do Not Mail registry. Be sure to sign their online petition.
New American Dream (http://www.newdream.org/junkmail/)
Includes current information on the status of state junk mail legislation, and another petition for you to sign.
Includes current information on the status of state junk mail legislation, and another petition for you to sign.
Free services
DMA's Mail Preference Service (http://www.dmachoice.org/MPS/)
The junk mail industry's official opt-out registry.
The junk mail industry's official opt-out registry.
OptOutPrescreen.com (https://www.optoutprescreen.com/)
The official Credit Reporting Industry website. Drastically reduce the number of pre-approved credit card and insurance offers you receive.
The official Credit Reporting Industry website. Drastically reduce the number of pre-approved credit card and insurance offers you receive.
Catalog Choice (http://www.catalogchoice.org/)
Easily decline paper catalogs you no longer wish to receive.
Easily decline paper catalogs you no longer wish to receive.
ProQuo (http://www.proquo.com/)
"Helps you to remove your name and personal information from thousands of marketing lists, data brokers, and other organizations."
"Helps you to remove your name and personal information from thousands of marketing lists, data brokers, and other organizations."
Free informationSome of these sites have overlapping information, some are no longer updated, but all are worth a look.
The JunkBusters' Guide (http://www.junkbusters.com/junkmail.html)
An informative guide to reducing junk mail.
An informative guide to reducing junk mail.
Junk Mail Fact Sheet (http://www.privacyrights.org/fs/fs4-junk.htm)
A popular FAQ on reducing junk mail.
A popular FAQ on reducing junk mail.
Private Citizen (http://privatecitizen.com/)
Home of anti-telemarketing legend Robert Bulmash, who has been waging war on intrusive marketing for 20 years.
Home of anti-telemarketing legend Robert Bulmash, who has been waging war on intrusive marketing for 20 years.
Fred Elbel's Guide (http://www.ecofuture.org/jnkmail.html)
Tips and techniques for getting off junk mail and telemarketing lists.
Tips and techniques for getting off junk mail and telemarketing lists.
Do-It-Yourself (http://www.obviously.com/junkmail/)
"A free guide to reducing unwanted or intrusive advertising."
"A free guide to reducing unwanted or intrusive advertising."
Reduce Junk Mail At Work (http://www.metrokc.gov/dnrp/...)
The National Waste Prevention Coalition's Business Junk Mail Reduction Project. Lots of interesting information for businesses.
The National Waste Prevention Coalition's Business Junk Mail Reduction Project. Lots of interesting information for businesses.
Paid servicesWhile we appreciate the following organizations, we would naturally prefer that you support our efforts in petitioning Congress for change.
41pounds.org (http://www.41pounds.org/)
A non-profit that claims to stop 80-95% of unwanted catalogs and junk mail. A third of their fee is donated to an organization of your choosing.
A non-profit that claims to stop 80-95% of unwanted catalogs and junk mail. A third of their fee is donated to an organization of your choosing.
GreenDimes (http://www.greendimes.com/)
A for-profit business that claims to stop 90% of junk mail for 5 years. Your fee helps support tree-planting operations around the world.
A for-profit business that claims to stop 90% of junk mail for 5 years. Your fee helps support tree-planting operations around the world.
StopTheJunkMail.com (http://stopthejunkmail.com/)
A for-profit business that claims to reduce junk mail by up to 90%. Each new subscription helps plant a tree in North America.
A for-profit business that claims to reduce junk mail by up to 90%. Each new subscription helps plant a tree in North America.
Reference
Rowan V. Post Office (http://supreme.justia.com/us/397/728/)
This landmark Supreme Court case affirms that people have the right to choose what we receive in our mailboxes, and that mailers must abide by that choice.
This landmark Supreme Court case affirms that people have the right to choose what we receive in our mailboxes, and that mailers must abide by that choice.
The Case of Ritchie Hallanan (http://www.usps.com/judicial/2004...)
A postal customer files a prohibitory order against a real estate agent, who then violates the order. The case goes to court, where the complaint against the real estate agent is upheld.
A postal customer files a prohibitory order against a real estate agent, who then violates the order. The case goes to court, where the complaint against the real estate agent is upheld.
Other stuff
Prohibitory Order Form (http://www.usps.com/forms/_pdf/ps1500.pdf)
Postal Form 1500 is a powerful legal tool that can be filed against junk mailers who refuse to voluntarily remove you from their lists. You might want to read more about it here and here.
Postal Form 1500 is a powerful legal tool that can be filed against junk mailers who refuse to voluntarily remove you from their lists. You might want to read more about it here and here.
Junk Mail Gems (http://www.junkmailgems.com/)
Unique gifts handmade from recycled junk mail. It's nice to see someone putting junk mail to positive use.
Unique gifts handmade from recycled junk mail. It's nice to see someone putting junk mail to positive use.
Have we missed a great resource? Please tell us about it.
©2008 Junk Mail Revolt. All rights reserved.