Registering with the Mailing Preference Service will prevent personally addressed junk mail from organisations that are a member of the Direct Marketing Association. I recommend you register with the opt-out scheme via Consumer Focus' Stay Private website. This is because Stay Private allows you to register with a number of other opt-out schemes at the same time, and because Stay Private gives you the option to automatically renew registrations when they expire (the Direct Marketing Association simply assumes people no longer want to be opted out when this happens).

Alternatively, you can register via mpsonline.org.uk or by phoning 0845 703 4599 (note this an automated registration line - prepare to chat with a computer).

The Mailing Preference Service can also be contacted via e-mail - the address is mps@dma.org.uk. However, you can't register or request a registration form via e-mail. The Mailing Preference Service claims it has stopped providing this service because - believe it or not - it wants to save paper.

If you write to the Mailing Preference Service you will get a registration form in the post:

Mailing Preference Service
Freepost 29
LON 20771
LONDON W1E 0ZT

Your local council is by law required to sell an edited version of the Electoral Register to anyone prepared to pay a small fee, and the date on this Edited Electoral Register may be used for any purpose. It's important you opt-out of being included on the Edited Register; there's no advantage whatsoever of having your personal details (ab)used in this way.

There's no central opt-out scheme for the Edited Electoral Register. To opt out you need to contact your local elections office. You can do so at any time of the year.

Registering with the Baby Mailing Preference Service will reduce baby-related marketing. As with the 'normal' Mailing Preference Service I again recommend registering with the scheme via Consumer Focus' Stay Private website.

Alternatively, you register via mpsonline.org.uk/bmpsr or by phoning 020 7291 3310.

The Baby Mailing Preference Service can be contacted by e-mail (bmps@dma.org.uk) or by writing to:

Baby Mailing Preference Service
Freepost 29
LON 20771
LONDON W1E 0ZT

The Bereavement Register is a commercial opt-out scheme that can help reduce the amount of mail sent to the deceased. You can register via the-bereavement-register.org.uk. If you want to reduce the amount of junk mail sent to someone who has died you also want to register the person's details with the Deceased Preference Service; go to deceasedpreferenceservice.co.uk or phone 0800 068 44 33.

As an aside, you can register the details of someone who has died with the Mailing Preference Service.

Registering with the Door-to-Door Opt-Out will stop all unaddressed mail items distributed by Royal Mail. You can't register online, but you can request an opt-out form via Junk Buster or by sending an e-mail with your name and address to optout@royalmail.com.

If you contact Royal Mail via Junk Buster or e-mail you will receive the opt-out attached to an e-mail. If you don't have a printer you can get the form send to you in the post by phoning the team dealing with opt-out requests on 01865 796 964.

Or, if you prefer you could write to:

Door to Door Opt Outs
Royal Mail
Kingsmead House
Oxpens Road
OXFORD
OX1 1RX

'Your Choice' is an opt-out scheme that apparently stops unaddressed mail items distributed by leaflet distribution companies that are members of the Direct Marketing Assocation. It's a bit of a dummy scheme, as I've tried to explain in the Guide.

As with the Door-to-Door Opt-Out it's not possible to register online. You need to first request an opt-out pack: send an e-mail with your name and address to yourchoice@dma.org.uk or phone 020 7291 3300. Alternatively, you can write to:

Or, if you prefer you could write to:

Your Choice Preference Scheme
Direct Marketing Association
DMA House
70 Margaret Street
London W1W 8SS

This is also the address your completed registration form needs to be sent to. If you want to save yourself a stamp, your form will probably also arrive if you post it to the freepost address the Direct Marketing Association uses for its other opt-out schemes:

Freepost 29
LON 20771
LONDON W1E 0ZT

Yell, Thomson Local and BT run an opt-out schemes for the directories they produce. You can cancel of the three directories via Junk Buster. Alternatively, you can contact them individually:

• Yellow Pages: Phone 0800 671 444 or use this online contact form
• Thomson Local: Send an e-mail to distribution@thomsonlocal.com or phone 01252 555 555.
• BT Phone Book: Phone 0800 833 400 and choose option 2.