By Seven Weaver Producer
Consumer Reports
Did you know that more than 53,000,000 trees are used each year to produce paper catalogs alone? Factor in junk mail and unsolicited credit-card offers, and the waste keeps growing. Consumer Reports
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Stumble It!What few people realize is that you can opt out and choose not to receive catalogs in the mail. You can even end those seemingly endless credit-card solicitations. Consumer Reports' www.GreenerChoices.org says stopping the mailbox deluge is easier than you might think.
The Direct Marketing Association, which includes companies that send you catalogs, must take you off of their mailing list if you sign up for their "mail preference service." That includes subscription offers sent by companies such as Consumer Reports.
All it takes is $1 and a click of a mouse. You can go to www.DMAConsumers.org, then click on "remove my name from those lists." There, you'll find the one-page form you need to fill out to cut off the flow. And if you want to stop those preapproved credit-card offers, one call does it all: 888-567-8688.
A few years ago, consumers started realizing they could get telemarketers to stop invading their dinner hour by signing up for "do not call" lists. Today they're taking it to the next level and saying "stop invading my mailbox," too.
The nonprofit group The World Privacy Forum says it can often take at least one month for the "opt out" to take effect, so be patient. They also have several other suggestions to get your name and contact information off marketing lists. To find out more, go to www.WorldPrivacyForum.org.
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Copyright © 2003-2007 Consumers Union of U.S., Inc.
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