Stop Junk Mail has today introduced an improved version of its 'Junk Buster' widget. Junk Buster V2 should prevent further attempts by the Direct Marketing Assocation to block the service.

Junk Buster remains a one-point-stop for contacting opt-out services. Via the widget, people can still contact up to six free opt-out schemes (Royal Mail's Door-to-Door Opt-Out, the Your Choice Preference Scheme for Unaddressed Mail and the Mailing Preference Service, as well as opt-outs for the three main paper directories delivered door-to-door in the UK: the Yellow Pages, Thomson Local and BT Telephone Book).

The main change is that Junk Buster V2 provides information about all six opt-out schemes that can be contacted. Stop Junk Mail hopes that this change will meet alleged concerns of the Direct Marketing Association, which operates both the Mailing Preference Service and Your Choice scheme.

'Inappropriate'

Shortly after the launch of Junk Buster in March this year the representative of junk mail industry told Stop Junk Mail that it would be "inappropriate" for the Mailing Preference Service and Your Choice to deal with e-mails sent via Junk Buster. Its main objection to Junk Buster is that people may not be making an "informed decision" about reducing the amount of advertisements that come through the door.

Robert Rijkhoff, co-ordinator of Stop Junk Mail, commented: "Although I do feel that it is rather condescending to argue that people who reduce junk mail don't know what they are doing, the Direct Marketing Association's criticism has led to an improvement. Junk Buster is now not only the first one-point-stop for contacting opt-out schemes; it is also the first widget that provides information about all the services available to the public."

E-mail addresses

Another change that has been introduced is that people can now only contact opt-out services via Junk Buster if they provide their e-mail address. Mr Rijkhoff explained: "Because of the difficulties I have had with the Direct Marketing Association, I feel it is important I can contact people who use our service should new problems arise. Hopefully I will never have to contact anyone, but if needed I will now be able to explain the situation and give appropriate advice.

"It is unfortunate that this change was necessary, but it is the only way we can ensure that people wanting to reduce junk mail are not ignored."

Links

• Junk Buster (junkbuster.org.uk)