Tired Of Getting Junk Mail? Here’s How You Can Opt-Out

Is your mailbox overflowing with “You’re Approved!” letters, prescreened credit card offers, and stacks of unwanted catalogs? Junk mail is more than an annoyance—it wastes time, clutters your home, uses up natural resources, and can even pose a privacy risk.

Here’s the good news: you have the right to stop many of these mailings. By taking a few simple steps, you can reduce paper clutter, help out the environment, and protect your personal information - thus reducing your exposure to identity theft.

Why Prescreened Offers Are a Problem

Credit card issuers and insurance companies often use information from your consumer credit file to “prescreen” you for offers. While that may sound harmless, it means your credit profile is being accessed and your name and address are being circulated—creating a risk if that mail falls into the wrong hands.

How to Opt Out of Prescreened Credit and Insurance Offers

You can choose to limit or completely stop these mailings:

1. Opt Out for Five Years

• Call toll-free 1-888-5-OPT-OUT (1-888-567-8688) or

• Visit OptOutPrescreen.com, the official site authorized by the major credit bureaus.

2. Opt Out Permanently

• Start the process at OptOutPrescreen.com.

• You’ll receive a Permanent Opt-Out Election form—sign and return it to complete your request.

(And don’t worry—if you ever change your mind, you can opt back in at any time.)

Other Ways to Cut Down Junk Mail

Beyond prescreened offers, here are additional resources:

• Catalog Choice – Free service that lets you stop individual catalogs one by one.

• DMAchoice (DMAChoice.org) – Run by the Association of National Advertisers, it removes your name from broader direct-mail lists ( $2 fee).

• Yellow Pages Opt-Out (YellowPagesOptOut.com) – Stop automatic delivery of phone books, which remain a surprising source of wasted paper.

• Electronic Statements – Switch to e-delivery for your bank, credit card, and utility statements to cut down on unnecessary paper mail.

The Environmental Impact of Junk Mail

According to the New York Times, the U.S. Postal Service delivered over 77 billion pieces of marketing mail in one year—much of it unwanted. Producing and transporting that volume of paper has a real cost in terms of trees, water, and energy.

While efforts to create a national “Do Not Mail” registry have stalled, your individual actions matter. Each opt-out request reduces waste, protects resources, and sends a message that consumers want more sustainable practices.

The Bottom Line

Unwanted mail doesn’t have to be a fact of life. By exercising your opt-out rights and using tools like Catalog Choice, DMAChoice, and OptOutPrescreen, you can save time, help the planet, and protect your privacy. A cleaner mailbox means more peace of mind—and less waste in our recycling bins.