Q&A for How to Stop Junk Mail by Sending it Back

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I blacked out our name and address with felt tip pen and put in a mail box at the post office and they still ended up being sent back to me! I am so frustrated, what else can I do?

Donagan

Top Answerer

Most mail is sorted by barcode-reading machines these days. In addition to lining out your name and address with ink, completely obliterate the first inch or so of the barcode below your address on (or in) the envelope before returning it to the post office. (Simply crossing out the barcode will not work: the machines can still read it.) If it's first-class mail, be sure to write "Return to sender" on the front of the envelope, too.

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Question

The post office clerk says the mail carriers are not required to pick up " return to sender" mail. What should I do?

Donagan

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Even if that were true -- it's not -- you still have a good option: obscure your address on the envelope, obscure any barcode printed on the envelope or inside the envelope's window, write "return to sender" on the front, and drop it in any mail-collection box.

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Question

If this is so easy, then how do I get to stop unwanted emails I get in Junk and Trash?

Donagan

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Many emails come with an "Unsubscribe" option somewhere in the message. Clicking on "Unsubscribe" may result in your being removed from their mailing list.

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Question

Can I send back a solicitation that doesn’t have pre paid postage? I don’t put my name in return and don’t put postage on it?

Donagan

Top Answerer

If the original solicitation was sent to you via first-class mail, and if you did not open the envelope, you can write "Refused -- Return to sender" on it and send it back for free. If it wasn't sent first-class, it's not returnable. If it was first-class and you opened the envelope, you have to use new postage to send it back. In that case, it might be better just to throw the mail away.

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How to return when there is no return address?

Donagan

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If you don't know the address of the sender, you can't return the mail. Just throw it away.

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Does this apply to unwanted catalogues as well?

Donagan

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Catalogues are mailed at bulk postage rates and therefore are not returnable for free.

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My husband, who has recently been diagnosed with dementia, has been donating money to several charities. Does "return to sender" apply.

Donagan

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Yes, if it's first-class mail. No, if it's bulk-rate mail.

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My mail carrier refuses to return political trash because the USPS site says that the return to sender can only be used on mail that has an incorrect address on it. What should I do?

Donagan

Top Answerer

No one is ever required to accept mail. If it's first-class mail, just write "Refused" prominently on the envelope, obliterate your address and the bar code, and put the mail in your mailbox (or drop it in any collection box). After that, it's not your problem. If it's bulk-rate mail, just throw it away.

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Writing or stamping return to sender does not work. They send it right back. What should I do?

Donagan

Top Answerer

After you've written "Return to sender", obliterate your address and the bar code on the envelope or in its window. Do not open the envelope. Make sure the return address is present and legible.

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I'm totally disgusted with all the charity junk mail I receive. I tried the ' return to sender ' method last year. Found out it was chunked at the post office. A carrier later told me had to stamp it?

Donagan

Top Answerer

If the mail is bulk-rate ("junk"), you do have to pay for return postage. It's better if you just throw it away. If the mail is first-class, "Return to sender" does work, because first-class postage pays for a return trip, should it occur.

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I have been getting solicitation mail from a person who wants to buy my property for 1 year. What's worse, he continues to send his mail in my husband's name who is deceased I've had called & written. What can I do?

Donagan

Top Answerer

Assuming the mail is being sent first-class, write this on the unopened envelope and drop it in any mailbox or collection box: "DEC. Return to sender". ("DEC" means "deceased.") Eventually the solicitor will get tired of paying the return postage and stop bothering you.

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