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How do I get my name off of catalog mailing lists?

I get several catalogs a week and they are driving me nuts. I just want them to stop. How do I do that? Isnt sending unsolicited catalogs illegal? Forget those websites and companies that remove you from the lists. they are worthless. I have used 6 of them, some of which I had to pay for, and none worked, including the one that "Clarity" suggested below.

Public Comments

1. This link will tell help you remove your name from the catalog/junk mail lists: http://www.dmaconsumers.org/consumerassistance.html
2. Update: Dont waste your ttime with those websites that offer to take you off of mailing lists. First, they can only take you off of lists that they serve, not every list. Second, you will still be placed in new lists when you use your credit card again, and third, some of those list removal companies are either scams or they are actually list sales companies (especially the non-profit ones) that will sell your information to another company. Take it from an industry insider, the list removal companies dont work. Mailing lists are like cockroaches, no matter what you do to get rid of them there will anways be another one you missed. Having worked for a catalog that direct mails to customer let me fill you in on a few facts and clear up the myths that most people have about this issue. First, it is not illegal to send anyone catalogs in the mail. It is illegal to spam by email, it is illegal to telemarket after being told to be put on the “do not call” list, it is NOT illegal to send print catalogs even if you ask to be taken off the mailing list. I would hear all the time “I’m going to sue you for sending these catalogs”. Yeah well, knock yourself out pal, it’s not illegal…get over it. Fact: You can get off of a company’s list by calling them. If they know you aren’t going to buy from them they aren’t going to waste money by sending you another catalog. Fiction: That will get you off of all lists. Not gonna happen, and contacting the list distributors isn’t going to do it either. Your information will be bought by another company and the list services aren’t going to throw money away. Also, don’t bother to ask to be taken off the rent/sell list, you wont be. Those individual companies sell your information and they too are not going to throw money away. How did I get on the lists? If you bought something from a store with a credit card you are now on a mailing list, period. Your credit card company might have said they wont sell your information but the stores you buy from do. Ever shop at Pottery Barn? Your on a list. Pier 1? Your on a list. How do I get off the lists? Stop using your credit cards. What, cant stop using your cards? Then you need to except mailing lists as a fact of life and get over it. The best way to deal with catalogs and mail is to toss it in the garbage. If you don’t order from the catalog they will stop coming because they don’t want to waste their money on someone who wont buy. “But I keep getting catalogs from the same company and I don’t ever buy anything!” You keep being put on new lists because you are using your credit cards. So what’s the bottom line? First, stop crying that you are getting catalogs in the mail. The companies you call don’t care and if you are so negatively affected by receiving a paper booklet in the mail then you either need a life or a great deal of therapy. Second, just throw it away, it is the most effective remedy. Or third, lobby your congressman to make mailings illegal. Otherwise, you will receive catalogs and there is NOTHING you can do about it!