How to stop a particular piece of junk mail depends on whether it's addressed or unaddressed, who delivered it, and whether or not you have (usually unknowingly) given the sender permission to send you advertisements. This guide aims to give you all the information you need to stop all these different types of junk mail. It also includes handy tools, such as Junk Buster.

If you're reading this guide because you want to stop a specific type of junk mail the best place to start is the Wishing Tree. By answering a few questions about the junk mail you want to stop the Wishing Tree will be able to give you detailed advice on how to go about stopping the junk mail. Alternatively, you can consult Dr Junk Buster or contact me with any specific queries.

I've divided the tips for stopping junk mail into three categories: unaddressed junk mail; addressed junk mail; and junk mail prevention.

1. Unaddressed junk mail

   • Door-to-Door Opt-Out

     Royal Mail distributes between 25 and 50% of all unaddressed junk mail (depending on how you define 'unaddressed mail'). To stop leaflets delivered by the postman you can register with Royal Mail's (free) Door-to-Door Opt-Out. Signing up to the scheme will stop all unaddressed mail items distributed via Royal Mail's 'door-to-door scheme'.

     To register you first need to request an opt-out form. You can do so via Junk Buster, by sending an e-mail with your name and address to optout@royalmail.com or by phoning 01865 796 988. » Read more

   • Your Choice Preference Scheme

     There's a second opt-out service for unaddressed junk mail: the Your Choice Preference Scheme for Unaddressed Mail. It's a service that's unlikely to stop more than a handful of leaflets per year… Still, registering is free and can't hurt.

     As is the case with the Door-to-Door Opt-Out you need to order an opt-out / propaganda pack before you can register. You can get the pack by sending an e-mail with your name and address to yourchoice@dma.org.uk or via Junk Buster. » Read more

   • Letterbox stickers

     Putting a 'No Junk Mail' sign on your door is the only way to stop junk mail delivered by local businesses. You can make your own sign or buy one from the Sticker shop. » Read more

2. Addressed junk mail

   • Mailing Preference Service

     The Mailing Preference Service is a free service that can reduce addressed junk mail from organisations with whom you have never had any contact. You can also use the service to register a previous occupants' name at your current address.

     The scheme is not as effective as it claims to be. It can only stop addressed advertisements from organisations that are members of the Direct Marketing Association, and the scheme doesn't allow you to stop mailing addressed 'To the Occupier'. Still, registering is recommended. If you do so via stayprivate.org you can at the same time sign up to a number of other opt-out schemes for unsolicited marketing, such as the Telephone Preference Service. » Read more

   • Return to sender

     Any addressed junk mail with a return address can be returned to the sender. Simply cross out your address, write 'Unsolicited mail, please return to sender' on the envelope and put it back in the post, unstamped. Senders aren't legally obliged to take your details off their mailing lists but decent junk mailers will get the message (and stop sending you junk mail). » Read more

   • Contact the sender

     You can also ask junk mailers to stop sending you junk mail by contacting them directly. You can do so informally via telephone or e-mail, or you can make a formal request by sending a so-called data protection notice.

     A data protection notice is a legally binding demand made with reference to Article 11 of the Data Protection Act 1998. Any organisation based in the UK has to stop sending you (addressed) junk mail if you send them such a notice. However, your request will only be legally binding if it follows a number of guidelines set out by the Information Commissioner's Office. » Read more

3. Junk mail prevention

   • Edited electoral register

     Believe it or not, your local Council is selling your personal details to anyone prepared to pay a small fee (covering admin cost only). What's more, companies that buy the so-called 'edited' version of the electoral roll can do with the data what they want. Needless to say junk mailers are at the front of the queue every time the new electoral roll is published.

     You can opt out of having your personal details included on the edited electoral register by ticking an opt-out box on your annual electoral registration form or by contacting your local elections office. You can contact your elections office at any time of the year - don't wait until you get a new registration form. » Read more

   • Tick boxes

     An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure! Whenever you give your name and address to an organisation, for instance when you buy a product or service, look in the small print and tick the box to say that you don't want any further information about 'other products and services'.

     Often a second tick box will ask you if your personal details may be shared with other 'carefully selected' companies. Never agree with this; your name and address will be added to numerous mailing lists, resulting in heaps of junk mail. » Read more