Stop Junk Mail

The Science of Junk Busting

News archive (2011)

Adblock Plus now allows 'non-intrusive advertising'

15 December 2011 - Firefox' most popular add-on will no longer block advertisements that are deemed "non-intrusive". That is, unless you opt out of the "fair approach to ad blocking".
Government forces industry to help people reduce junk mail

1 November 2011 - A new deal between the Government and junk mail industry will introduce a wide range of measures to help people cut back on junk mail. Amongst others, the industry will finally introduce an online 'one-point-stop' for opting out of receiving unsolicited mail.
Trade in personal data needs to be more transparent, says Which?

21 October 2011 - Which? has accused marketeers of not being clear about how they use people's personal details. The consumer champion would like to see "simple, truthful and transparent tick boxes for marketing purposes".
List broker collapses after complaints

28 September 2011 - The Direct Marketing Association has expelled list broker Data Providers UK from its membership for repeatedly breaching the Direct Marketing Code of Practice. The company and has ceased trading.
BT breaching Data Protection Act

24 September 2011 - The Information Commissioner's Office has concluded that BT demands an excessive amount of information from people who want to cancel the delivery of the phone book.
Royal Mail postpones plans for 'Delivered by Royal Mail' mark

27 July 2011 - Royal Mail has delayed plans to print 'Delivered by Royal Mail' marks on mail items distributed by the company. It made the decision after the Direct Marketing Association made a formal complaint to Postcomm.
Junk mailers unhappy with new 'Delivered by Royal Mail' mark

22 July 2011 - Royal Mail has announced it will start printing 'Delivered by Royal Mail' marks on all "machinable mail items" from September this year. The Direct Marketing Association is alarmed and concerned.
Yell wants to become 'local eMarketplace leader'

15 July 2011 - Yell has recognised 'online' is the future. The company will set up an 'eMarketplace', and in a couple of years time 75% of its revenue will come from digital services. Investors are not yet convinced.
Royal Mail: scams exist, but there's no such thing as junk mail

4 July 2011 - In a statement ahead of a BBC Panorama programme about junk mail and postal scams Royal Mail has said it does not recognise the term 'junk mail'. The company said it does nowadays do all it can to root out scam mail.
Consumer protection laws poorly enforced

15 June 2011 - The system for enforcing laws protecting people from scams and other unfair trading practices is "fragmented and significantly under–equipped", according to a report published by the National Audit Office.
Mailing Preference Service drops 95%–claim

15 June 2011 - The Mailing Preference Service will no longer claim the opt–out scheme can remove people's names from "up to 95%" of direct mail lists. The Direct Marketing Association has agreed the claim was misleading and could not be substantiated.
Direct Marketing Association to set up one–point–stop for opting out

14 June 2011 - The Direct Marketing Association is to introduce its own one–point–stop for registering with junk mail opt–out schemes. In the process the Mailing Preference Service may become an opt–in / opt–out scheme.
BT: not possible to opt out without giving phone number

3 June 2011 - BT has told householders who cancelled the delivery of the unsolicited phone directory via Junk Buster that their request has not be actioned. The company says people who want to opt out need to give BT their phone number.
Less charity junk mail, more complaints

2 June 2011 - The Fundraising Standards Board has received more complaints about charity fundraising than ever. And although 'direct mail' volumes have dropped, the number of complaints about charity mailings is still on the up.
Seattle's Yellow Pages opt-out not unconstitutional

10 May 2011 - Seattle's opt-out scheme for Yellow Pages directories is not unconstitutional, a federal judge has ruled. "Common sense dictates that the Yellow Pages directories should not receive the highest level of protection afforded by the First Amendment", according to the judge.
Seattle goes ahead with Yellow Pages opt-out

5 May 2011 - The City of Seattle has set up an opt-out scheme for the Yellow Pages. The Local Search Association has filed a lawsuit against the scheme, claiming Seattle's battle against unwanted directories is unconstitutional and unnecessary.
American Yellow Pages launch opt out website

1 February 2011 - The American Yellow Pages Association has finally launched a website allowing people to opt out of receive the directory. The site is, appropriately, named Yellow Pages Opt-Out.
Royal Junk Mail 'to increase five-fold'

31 January 2011 - Royal Mail is seeking a five-fold increase in the amount of unaddressed mail it delivers, according to the Daily Mail. The figure, which the Mail claims comes from a "well-placed insider", is unrealistic, and almost certainly false.
OFT to highlight holiday and ticket scams

28 January 2011 - The Office of Fair Trading's annual Scams Awareness Month will this year consist of three themes: bogus holiday clubs, ticket scams, and 'Scamnesty'. The budget for the campaign has been reduced to £50,000 – down from £400,00 last year.
Stay Private branches out

27 January 2011 - Stay Private, Consumer Focus' one-point-stop for registering with opt-out schemes for junk mail and other types of unsolicited marketing, now covers six opt-out schemes.
Royal Mail and Spring Global help police seize scam letters

25 January 2011 - The Metropolitan Police has intercepted a bulk delivery of scam mail. Royal Mail and Spring Global Mail, who have in the past been criticised for facilitating scams, helped with operation.