MAIL PREFERENCE SERVICE

        Who Sponsors the Mail Preference Service?

The Mail Preference Service (MPS) is a free consumer service sponsored by The Direct Marketing Association (The DMA).  Unfortunately the DMA goes out of their way to make signing up for this service as difficult as possible.  Their web site does not allow you to process your request on line.  Rather you have to print out a form and mail it in.  I am certain that this is an effort to reduce the number of mailing list exclusion requests they get.

Established in 1917, The DMA is the oldest and largest national trade association serving the direct marketing industry.  Members of The DMA market goods and services directly to consumers using such media as direct mail and catalogs, telephone, magazine and newspaper ads, and broadcast advertising.

The DMA does not market mailing lists.  The DMA is not the source of mailing lists, and is not a clearinghouse for mailing lists.  The DMA has no control over how each company uses its own mailing list or how it uses a list rented from another company.

        What Is the Purpose of MPS?

The DMA claims that most people enjoy receiving information in the mail about subjects that interest them or products and services they may need or want.  Yeah right!  Show me just one who likes to receive junk mail.  Most consumers, however, would like to receive less advertising mail (junk mail) at home.  MPS is designed to assist those consumers in decreasing the amount of unsolicited mail they receive at home from companies that market nation-wide.

        How Do I Register With MPS?

You may register with this name-removal file by writing to:
 

                        Mail Preference Service
                        The Direct Marketing Association
                        P.O. Box  9008
                        Farmingdale, NY  11735-9008
 

Please include your name, home address, and signature.  Names remain on the file for five years, after which time you may register again.  Consumers must register their names with MPS directly; second party requests and bulk requests cannot be processed

        What Happens After I Request Name-Removal?

When you register with MPS, your name is placed on a name-removal file.  This "delete" file is made available four times a year-January, April, July, and October-to the companies which choose to use it to remove these names from their mailing lists.  Registrants typically notice a decrease in the amount of advertising mail approximately three months after their names are entered into the quarterly file (January, April, July or October).  I have made requests on several occasions and I have yet to see a reduction.

        Can I Request Deletion From Specific Lists Through MPS?

No.  Name removal through MPS is general in nature.  You may reduce the number of direct marketing solicitations you receive from a specific company by writing directly to that company to request name-removal.

        Can Consumers Who Like to Shop by Mail Limit Their Mail Quantity?

Yes.  Inform your favorite catalogs, charities, magazine subscriptions and credit card providers that you do not want your name to be "rented" for use to other direct marketers.

        Will Registration With MPS End All Advertising Mail?

No.  MPS registrants will continue to receive mail from companies with which they do business and from organizations or companies which do not use MPS to "purge" their mailing lists.  In addition, registrants may continue to receive mail from local businesses, professional and alumni associations, and political candidates and office holders.

Mail of a business-to-business nature received at your business address will also not be affected by registration with MPS.  Business names and addresses are not placed on the file, and companies that send mail of a business-to-business nature do not use the MPS file.
Registering with MPS helps reduce the unwanted third-class mail addressed with your name and address.  Advertising mail sent to everyone in your zip code which is addressed only to "RESIDENT" or "OCCUPANT" at your address (without your name) usually does not stop.
In any of the above instances, write directly to the company to request name-removal or address removal from that company's mailing list.