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From Green Needham
This just in: Tired of getting those fat yellow page directories you don't use? You can opt out. Go to yellowpagesgoesgreen.org and click on "opt out."
Take these five steps to cutting down on paper.
Step 1: Stop the source of junk mail!
How does your name get sold? Every time you join or donate to an organization, order from a catalog, subscribe to a magazine, get a credit card, or even fill out a warranty card, it is likely your name will be given or sold to other organizations or businesses. There’s only one way to stop this: Call the companies and organizations where you are a customer or member and ask them to flag your name so it won’t be rented or shared. Whenever you join or subscribe for the first time, be sure to tell them to tell them the same thing. (Don't bother contacting the organization that sends the unsolicited mail. You're probably not on their permanent data base.) Consider stopping paper catalogs and looking online instead. Don’t fill out warranty cards unless they are required. Instead, save your receipt as proof of purchase. See www.mass.gov(type “junk mail” in Search box - and click on Consumer Guide to Stopping Junk Mail. Note that the website for the Direct Marketing Association is incorrect. The correct one is listed below.)
Step 2: Get off national mailing lists.
To remove your name and address from most national mailing lists, contact: Direct Marketing Association To opt-out of various types of unsolicited mail, go on-line at www.dmachoice.org. (Be prepared to read about the benefits of unsolicited mail!)
Or call 212.768.7277, ext. 1888 to get a mailing address You should begin to see results a few months after writing.
Step 3: Tired of all those pre-screened credit card offers? You can opt-out!
Credit reporting agencies allow businesses to prescreen your credit report to determine if they want to send you a credit card offer. You have the right to not have your credit report prescreened by other companies. The national credit bureaus have set up a toll-free number so that you may opt out of pre-approved credit card offers with just one phone call. Call 1-888-5OPT-OUT (1-888-567-8688) for more information.
Step 4: Set up paperless billing and statements when possible.
Many companies offer this: NStar, Comcast, Verizon, cell phone companies, banks, and many others.
Step 5: Customize!
Many catalog companies will honor a request to send fewer catalogs. You can also ask organizations to send only membership renewals and not donation appeals. You can send an extra gift when you renew rather than getting the extra appeals.
