Unsolicited letters

[Breezy23]

Do any of you get sick to the back teeth of receiving all this junk mail offering you loans etc from companies that you have never had anything to do with before? Well now the worm has turned! Whenever I get junk that encloses a pre-paid envelope I use the envelope and post it back to them with some other junk bunged inside, just making sure I've not enclosed something with my details on. I write "some unsolicited junk back for you - don't waste trees" on it and they then have paid for the privilege of receiving it. Maybe eventually they will stop bombarding us all and it may help the environment a little.I don't do it to charities however. Anyone else feel similarly?

[smurfchops]

I usually leave my address in the prepaid envelope as well so they know they are wasting their time with me, and can take me off their mailing list. Ever tried these ? :

http://www.mpsonline.org.uk/mpsr/

Also there is a Telephone Preference Service. When they have given you a load of garbage over the phone, get their number and name, tell them you are member of TPS and they will be fined �2,000. You won't hear from them again.

[paddy_36]

My problem is that I get regular letters offering loans from companies I am involved with. It seems to be impossible to stop this kind of junk, although the mps mentioned above is great for unsolicited mail. The bank I have my mortgage with send me loan letters constantly. It's really getting on my nerves.

[Breezy23]

Thanks judiewudie, I knew about the telephone preference one but not about the post. I've registered and now we'll wait and see what happens.

Sort of spoilt my fun now :)

[smurfchops]

paddy even if you are involved with companies, and they keep sending you mail, you can still put it back in the envelope and send it back, saying you are not interested. I love doing that !! Sorry to spoil your fun breezy, but it probably won't stop the mail completely .. !! When I get unsolicited calls, I love telling them I'm a member of TPS and wait for their reaction when I say they will be fined (I'm not even a member !!) Another good thing to do, is tell them to hang on a minute and keep them hanging on for ten minutes, go back and say, won't be long, etc. etc. They are paying for the call hee hee ...

[paddy_36]

Regarding the mps - I moved into my current house just over a year ago, and was constantly getting junk mail for the previous owners. I went on to the mps website and registered their name for this address (perfectly ok to do so) and the mail for them stopped almost immediately. One or two things still slip through occasionally, but loads better than it was. I also did the same for my name at my old address, in case the poor soul who bought my flat was getting loads of stuff, which I suspect he was.

[paddy_36]

judiewudie - think I'll do what you suggest!!

[Greedyfly]

I always right something on the front and send back - same as phone calls yes I would like to take your stupid qeustionairre, on hold they go!

[rabbits]

Ask them for their password when they call you, tell them they cannot speak to you without it. Ask for their date of birth, mother's maiden name. Most of them are from foreign call centres, and it's a hoot because they have a script to work to, and it totally throws them!

[WendyS]

Hi Breezy, Yes I often do the same as you and get a devilish kick out of imagining the disappoinment on the faces of the sales staff when they open the envelopes expecting to get more business and just find either their own junk or somebody else's back.
I did register with the MPS and that has stopped some junk mail but much of it comes from the companies that I do business with in some form of another.

And I love Rabbit's idea of asking unsolicited callers for a password and mother's maiden name. I must try it.

[Breezy23]

Well thanks everybody, both helpful and funny answers. At least I'm not alone on this one. Now all I've got to do is find something to stop the never ending flyers for the local pizza, Indian, burger and every other take away under the sun. Any ideas?

[heathfield]

Ages ago you used to be able to get signs that said 'No Hawkers, No Circulars' for attaching to your letterbox/garden gate, etc. Maybe your local shoe repair/nameplate guy could do one for you! But bear in mind that the people delivering those flyers might have reading difficulties!

I like to return junk mail too, but with the words 'Unsolicited advertising is an invasion of privacy' scrawled across it.

As for companies with whom you have an account, write to your local manager and tell him/her that while you are happy to receive correspondence about the service they are currently providing, you have no interest whatsoever in their other products, now or in future, and he/she will, with immediate effect, please arrange to have your name withdrawn from their mailing list. Watch them splutter!

[smurfchops]

breezy - the only think I can think of as far as pizza flyers etc. Get some cheapie envelopes, write the name of the pizza shop on the front, don't put a stamp on, and just send the junk back to them ! They dont know where it comes from but it will make you feel good, even if you have to buy the envelopes....