Reducing junk mail takes thought and effort

You are outside on your deck this summer, under your three shade trees enjoying an iced tea, reading your favorite author with your faithful dog at your feet and melodic music floating in the background.

Take careful notice, because next year things will change. The Junk Mail Police arrive and announce that the trees will be removed over the next three years. Shocked, you ask why.

One tree per year is necessary to provide your family with the junk mail received by the average American family.

The chief of the Junk Mail Police tells you that if you reduce the junk mail you receive, your trees can be saved. The chief explains some of the steps that can be taken to reduce junk mail.

The first step is preventing junk mail from starting. What we call junk mail is actually the result of direct marketing campaigns designed to get you to buy a product or service. It’s called direct marketing because it attempts to match you and your buying preferences with offers that are likely to make you buy a product or service.

Your name, address, and buying habits are a commodity that is regularly sold, rented or traded on the open market.

These days, virtually all the organizations you deal with sell your name unless you specifically ask them to stop. Whenever you donate money, order a product or service or fill out a warranty card, write in large letters, “Please do not sell my name or address.” Most organizations will properly mark your name in the computer.

Your credit card company probably sells your name most often. Call them and ask them to stop.

“Contests” where you fill in a little entry blank are almost always fishing expeditions for names. Avoid them. Select a false middle name or initial for each charity or business you deal with. Keep track of which letter goes with which organization.

You also can select a false road designator, “avenue, place, circle, street, highway, parkway, etc.” This step can be very revealing. Some guides recommend changing the spelling of your name, but this can lead to duplicate mailings.

Some specific methods of getting rid of junk mail are:

. First class mail: Cross out the address and bar code, circle the first class postage and write “refused, return to sender.” Drop in any mail box, it will be returned to the sender.

. Bulk mail: The post office throws away bulk mail it can’t deliver, so returning it does no good. Bulk mail is the hardest to deal with because the USPS actively provides addresses, support and encouragement to mailers. However, if “address correction requested” is written on the label, circle “address correction requested” and treat it like first class mail.

. Catalogs: Call the customer service or order number and ask to have your name removed. Have the address label on the catalog available at the time of the call.

Web sites to prevent junk mail and give you more information include:

. http://www.privacyrights.org/fs/fs4-junk.htm. It lists a number of types of junk mail, such as credit card offers, catalogs, local merchant fliers and many others.

. http://www.privacyrights.org/fs/fs4-junk.htm. Fact sheet on junk mail.

. http://www.privacyrights.org/fs/fs4-junk.htm. Do-it-yourself. Stop junk mail, e-mail and phone calls. A free guide to reducing unwanted or intrusive advertising.