Stopping Junk Mail FAQ
At 41pounds.org, the question we most frequently ask is, “Who likes junk mail?!” Our second favorite is, “Why should we let these companies waste precious trees, water, energy, money — and our time?” Our third favorite is, “What’s for lunch?!”
We’re always happy to answer your questions! Click on any question below. If the information here does not answer your question, please call us at 866.417.4141 or email us.
Testimonials
What kinds of junk mail does 41pounds.org stop?
What does 41pounds.org do to stop my junk mail?
Is there anything I have to do?
Can I add other people in my household to my service?
What if there is a catalog I still want to receive?
How much does the service cost?
How long does my service last?
How does 41pounds.org protect my identity?
What information does 41pounds.org gather from me?
How long does it take for the junk mail to stop?
Why can you only eliminate 80 to 95% of bulk mail — why not all of it?
What happens if I move?
Can I do this myself?
I already signed up for 41pounds.org; how do I add more catalogs I want to eliminate?
What organizations does 41pounds.org donate money to?
Does 41pounds.org plant trees?
What about mail solicitations from non-profit organizations?
What are people saying about 41pounds.org?
What kinds of junk mail does 41pounds.org stop?
Our service stops most common junk mail such as credit card offers, coupon mailers, sweepstakes entries, magazine offers and insurance promotions, as well as any catalogs you specify. You will see a noticeable improvement within 6-8 weeks. After four months, your junk mail should be eliminated by 80 to 95%. Please keep in mind that some companies print their mailing labels months in advance, so it may take a while for these to stop coming.
What does 41pounds.org do to stop my junk mail?
Based on the information you provide, we contact 20 to 35 direct marketing companies and catalog companies and instruct them to remove your name from their distribution lists. This includes almost all credit card offers, coupon mailers, sweepstakes entries, magazine offers and insurance promotions, as well as any catalogs you specify. Because some direct marketing companies require your original signature on the unsubscribe request, we send you several stamped, pre-addressed postcards that you sign and mail.
Is there anything I have to do?
All you have to do is fill out our online sign-up form or call us toll-free (866.417.4141) and provide us with your address, the catalogs you want to stop receiving and any other names of people receiving junk mail at your address. Also, 41pounds.org will stop the majority of credit card offers from appearing in your mailbox. But one organization has started to require personal information (social security number, birthdates, etc…) that we do not feel comfortable collecting from our customers. To stop these credit card and insurance mailings we highly recommend that you contact www.optoutprescreen.com OR call 888.567.8688. The whole sign-up process takes less than four minutes! That’s less time than the average person spends dealing with junk mail in a single week!
Can I add other people in my household to my service?
Yes — at no additional charge. When you sign up you can add roommates, husbands, wives, etc.... We’ll stop their junk mail, too!
What if there is a catalog I still want to receive?
With 41pounds.org, you’re in charge of which catalogs you want to receive and which ones you eliminate from your mailbox. When you sign up for our service, you tell us which catalogs you don’t want to receive, and we contact them on your behalf. Your favorite catalogs will continue to arrive. Please remember that many catalog companies print their mailing labels months in advance, so it may take a while for these to stop coming.
How much does the service cost?
41pounds.org stops your junk mail for five years for only $41, which is $8.20 a year or less than 70 cents a month. The service covers your entire household for five years. And, 41pounds.org donates more than 1/3 of each new subscriber’s fee to an environmental or community organization of their choice. If, for whatever reason, your name gets back on these bulk mailing lists within five years, you can contact us any time and we will go through our entire process again — at no cost to you.
How long does my service last?
41pounds.org stops your junk mail for five years for only $41, which is less than 70 cents a month. The service covers your entire household for five years, even if you move, get married or change your name. If, for whatever reason, your name gets back on these bulk mailing lists within five years, you can contact us and we will go through our entire process again — at no cost to you.
How does 41pounds.org protect my identity?
One of the ways that thieves steal identities is from mailboxes and “dumpster diving” in trash bins for pre-approved credit card applications and loan applications. If you’re not receiving credit card offers and other junk mail, identify thieves can’t steal them from your mailbox or recycling bin. With the 41pounds.org service, you won’t have to spend your time cutting up promotional credit cards or shredding applications.
And, rest assured that we absolutely will NOT ever trade, sell, lease or distribute any of your personal information. This is our bedrock policy. For billing purposes, we need your credit card information, but we keep that information only long enough to complete the billing process — then we permanently delete that information from our records.
What information does 41pounds.org gather from me?
We only collect the information we need to remove you from direct mail lists and to contact you in case of a question comes up while we’re working for you (which rarely happens!). We simply ask for your name and address, as well as your phone number and email address. We do NOT ask for your birth date, social security number or other sensitive information.
We absolutely will NOT ever trade, sell, lease or distribute any of your personal information. For billing purposes, we need your credit card information, but we keep that information only long enough to complete the billing process — then we permanently delete that information from our records.
How long does it take for the junk mail to stop?
You will see a noticeable improvement within two months. After four months, your junk mail should be eliminated by 80 to 95%. Please keep in mind that many catalog companies print their mailing labels months in advance, so it may take a while for these to stop coming.
Why can you only eliminate 80 to 95% of bulk mail — why not all of it?
Some direct mail companies completely ignore people’s requests to unsubscribe. 41pounds.org works continually to ensure that our requests are being honored. On the rare occasion that a direct mail company does not honor our request, we can provide you with a form legally requiring them to stop sending you unsolicited mail.
What happens if I move?
No problem! And no additional charge! If you move to a different address within four years of subscribing, simply email us at support@41pounds.org and tell us your new address and your old address, and we will contact the direct mail companies again on your behalf, with your new address.
Can I do this myself? Are there other options?
You could do all the leg-work yourself to remove yourself from all the direct mail and catalog lists out there. But, it will take you quite awhile. You could spend as much time getting yourself off these lists as you currently spend sorting through all your junk mail!
There are some other companies that sound similar to 41pounds.org, but if you read the fine print, you’ll find out they don’t stop mail from catalog companies or other bulk mailers who are not members of the Direct Marketing Association (including most credit card offers). And, they don’t stop mail addressed to “Occupant” or “Resident” (including Penny Savers, ValPak, etc.), which are responsible for a lot of the junk mail you are trying to eliminate.
41pounds.org works to remove you from all these lists — for five years — for less than 70 cents a month. Our customers tell us it’s worth every cent!
I already signed up for 41pounds.org; how do I add more catalogs I want to eliminate?
Easy. Just send us an email and tell us the additional catalogs you want to eliminate. Be sure to include your name and address.
What organizations does 41pounds.org donate money to?
41pounds.org donates more than 1/3 of each new subscriber’s fee to an environmental or community organization of their choice. As part of the sign up process, each new subscriber selects an organization to receive this donation. Our current partners include Trees for the Future, American Forests, Friends of the Urban Forest, WildWest Institute, Center for the New American Dream and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
Does 41pounds.org plant trees?
When you sign up for the 41pounds.org service and choose one of our tree-planting partners to receive your donation, they will plant 15 — 150 trees on your behalf. These organizations are: American Forests, Trees for the Future and Friends of the Urban Forest.
What about mail solicitations from non-profit organizations?
41pounds.org does not interfere with non-profit organizations who may contact you by mail. You may, of course, contact these organizations directly to let them know your preferences.
What are people saying about 41pounds.org?
41Pounds.org does exactly what they say they
are going to do and that’s eliminate 90% of my junk mail. It just
works; and that’s the best endorsement I can give.
K. Pasternak — Carlsbad, California
Thank you so much for your service. I used to go to the mailbox and walk immediately to the kitchen garbage pail to discard almost everything I had received. A lot of days every single piece of mail went straight to the trash. Now there is very little to throw away. And it feels great. Good luck to you and your company.
D. Regan — Clarkston, Michigan
41Pounds.org eliminated my junk mail to nearly nothing. No more shredding personal information like credit card applications and a lot less trash. It was worth every penny.
K. Koliba — Macomb, Michigan
I signed my parents up for this service for security reasons and after seeing a significant reduction in their direct mail I happily added my name to the list of satisfied customers.
C. Asmus — Rochester, Michigan
I want to take a second and thank you for your service. I was a bit
skeptic at first, but after about a month I noticed a drastic change in my
mail. I went from getting on average 10 – 15 pieces of mail a
day to about 6-8. The mail that I do receive now is mail that I am
interested in. Your service absolutely works, and works well. Thank
you so much. Please keep up the good work.
G. Davis — Parkesburg, Pennsylvania
