Junk mail

[xyzzy@bok]

it is suggested by those who hate junkmail that instead of binning this stuff, you mail it back 'return to sender', they have to pay, and that the more people who do this the bigger headache they get. Anyone confirm? :-)

[whiskygalore]

I don't think they have to pay, because I've posted things and had them returned to me with no charge. If you've got the time and inclination though, one thing you can do is use freepost envelopes to post things like bricks - then they have to pay for the postage.
Can I just say though, I don't understand why people get worked up about junk mail, just pop it in the bin / recycling bag.

[Janetex]

I often do this, the main reason being that there are quite cheap deals thru the postal service for companies to bombard us with advertising. However, the more junk mail we "return to sender" via post, the more prohibitive will become the cost.

[WaldoMcFroog]

Have you used the Mailing Preference Society? They do cut down on some of the junk mail one gets sent.

[Roxy]

send them some poo in a plastic bag in a freepost envelope- that'd teach them, but you might get sued or something

[d+dwidow]

For about a year after our lodger left we were plagued by his mail - he owed lots of money and never bothered to change his address. I initially just forwarded it on to him, but was told that if I did that, the firms would still think he was living in our house and we could get black listed. Now anything we get I just write not at this address, return to sender on it and stick it back in the post. We don't get charged for it either.

[woodpam]

I normally recycle them, but came back from holiday once practically unable to get in the door because of the junk mail. On this occasion I put the whole lot into each others prepaid envelopes (The double glazing people got the dolphin showers letter and so on - you get the picture) and posted them all off. It made no difference whatsoever to the amount of mail I receive but temporarily made me feel a bit better.