There are some steps you can take to stop receiving spam.
There is no single organization you can register with; it is best to perform all the actions listed here.
put a sign on your door or mailbox
put a “no spam” sign on your door to help stop spam.
you can make a sign yourself – write “no business brochures”. you can also type “no free newspapers” or “yes free newspapers” depending on whether you still want free newspapers.
It’s not a good idea to rely on signs alone, as some delivery drivers may ignore them.
contact real mail
You can tell royal mail to stop sending brochures and flyers to your address.
You must download this form from the royal mail website (pdf). fill it out and send it to the address on the form.
royal mail will send you a copy of the form if you are unable to print it yourself. you can call them on the phone or send them an email:
royal mail door to door opt out
phone: 03457 740 740
email: optout@royalmail.com
You will stop receiving addressless spam within 6 weeks of Royal Mail receiving your form. they will stop sending you mail without an address for 2 years; then you will need to fill out another form.
sign up for ‘your choice’ scheme
signing up for the direct marketing association’s “your choice” scheme will help reduce the amount of marketing spam you receive.
contact dma and ask them to send you an opt-out form.
direct marketing associationdma house70 margaret streetlondonw1w 8ss
phone: 020 7291 3300
yourchoice@dma.org.uk
You will begin to receive less spam in about 12 weeks. after 2 years you will need to fill out another form.
sign up for mail preference service
sign up with the mail preference service (mps): this will stop advertising material directed to you personally.
You can register online at the mps website, or you can contact them by phone or email.
You cannot register if you have a PO Box or business address, or if you live in Ireland.
You should start noticing a difference shortly after signing up – it can take up to 4 months for the service to be fully effective. your data will remain on the service once you have registered; you must inform mps if your details change or you move.
stop charity marketing mail
You can contact the Fundraising Preference Service if you wish to stop receiving marketing emails from a charity registered in England, Wales or Northern Ireland. they will be asked to delete their contact details within 28 days. the best way to do this is to register on their website. you can register by phone if you prefer.
preferential fundraising service
phone: 0300 3033 517
Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 12 noon
You will need to have your contact details and charity name or registration number to hand.
You can contact the Scottish Fundraising Standards Panel if you wish to stop receiving marketing emails from a Scottish registered charity. you can get more information on their website.
contact your voter registration office
You can look up your local voter registration office on gov.uk.
ask them to remove your data from the “open registry” – this is a list of people and addresses that can be bought and used to send spam.
contact the sender directly
If you want to stop receiving mail from a particular sender, please contact them directly. include:
- your full name and address
- the date
- this sentence: “stop processing my personal data for direct marketing purposes in accordance with article 21 of the general data protection regulations.”
- a reasonable date you want the organization to stop sending you mail, article 21 says they must do so within 1 month
return to sender
If you receive spam with a return address on the envelope, you should:
- write “spam, return to sender” on the envelope.
- mail it, you don’t have to pay.
This does not guarantee that you will not receive any more spam, but it is a way of letting the company know that you do not want to receive any more mail.
how to avoid spam
In the future, you should check any form you fill out for boxes that say something like “I give permission for third parties to contact me” or “I give you permission to contact me.” checking (or unchecking) the boxes will prevent you from receiving spam from that company.
If you provide your contact details over the phone, be sure to tell them not to send you marketing emails or give your details to anyone else.