To think the postman should not be shoving handfuls of marketing crap through my letterbox?

[KatieMiddIeton]

We are registered with the mail preference service because we don't want loads of unsolicited crap through the post and I always tick the no marketing by post box on any paperwork too. But my postie has been shoving handfuls of leaflets through my door on behalf of Royal Mail, on behalf of their paying clients. These are not even letters most of the time!

Today I had a parcel delivery and when I signed he handed me a handful of leaflets that were mine too. Apparently. These included an Abel & Cole flyer, Direct Line pretend cheque book and three other leaflets.

I now have to dispose of this rubbish. I get enough to fill a whole supermarket carrier each week.

AIBU to think Royal Mail should cease and desist? If not they run the very real risk of me shoving their unwanted leaflets in one of their letter boxes because it's a slightly shorter walk than to the recycling

You can opt out of the Royal Mail Direct Marketing scheme (which is what this is).

To register, you first need to ask Royal Mail to send you an 'Opt-Out Confirmation Form' by sending and e-mail with your name and full address to [email protected] and then return the form to them.

It only lasts about 6 months so you need to renew it then, and is completely separate to the MPS which only covers things directly addressed to you. The Royal Mail scheme covers unaddressed mail (including stuff addressed To The Occupier)

Katie, sorry, I do realise that you were using the postman more metonymically in terms of the annoyingness generally.

It did initially sound as though the postman was copping too much of the flak for this, especially in posts from others about chasing him down the road.

I've never thought twice about the crap that gets delivered, if it's not the postie doing it it's people from the businesses themselves, to be fair.

Hurrah for Flisspaps! That's just what I need. I'll do that. Thank you! I reckon you'll give me back about 7.5 working days per year!

TP isn't the Post Office separate to Royal Mail? I think they provide a valuable service and need protecting by the State. The other stuff? Banking via direct deposit at branch. Perhaps via post office?? Or electronic transfer. Letters can be emailed as attachments. I deal with HMRC via online payment and phone. Very, very rarely do I mail them (I have one employee).

The only Royal Mail service which is good value for money IMO is sending letters that are not by bulk mail. Other companies offer similar deals on cost for bulk mail and couriers are often cheaper for large items.

It is a shame but unless they do something drastic I can't see them lasting the next 25 years.

Thanks Flisspaps!!

brill, thanks Fliss

YANBU at all! I will do as Flisspaps advises but annoyed you have to go to the effort of opting out

We've signed up for MPS and the Royal Mail Opt out and still get stuff through the door.

I think the Royal Mail Opt out is supposed to last for 2 years (and we've only lived here a few months) but it relies on the postman (who gets paid extra for delivering this stuff) remembering where not to put leaflets through.

They still have to deliver anything with a name on it - even if that name is "The Occupier" and they warn you that you could miss stuff (election leaflet things?) if you opt out.

I just recycle the stuff we get, since I'm recycling the envelopes from the genuine post anyway. If it really annoys you then you can put it back in the post box (which will cost RM to sort out and they won't know it's you that's annoyed by it) or you could try to catch your postman and have a (polite) word.

I've got a reply. This bit made me laugh:

Opting out means no one at the address will receive unaddressed mail items - is this acceptable to everyone living at the property?

Now while I'm sure the toddler will be pissed off there are less things to put in envelopes I think I can live with that.

They also gave details for opt-out from "deliveries from other unaddressed mail distributors, who are member of the Direct Marketing Association, you may
wish to register with the Your Choice Preference Scheme run by the Direct
Marketing Association. The contacts details are:

Your Choice Preference Scheme
Direct Marketing Association (UK) Ltd
DMA House
70, Margaret Street,
London W1W 8SS
Telephone: 020 7291 3300
Fax: 020 7323 4165
Email: [email protected]

I post it all back in the post box at the end of the road. Slightly more effort than putting it in the recycling box, but I'm making a point!

I expect they have a good revenue from agreeing to distribute these leaflets. I'm guessing postage prices would rise if they didn't deliver this useless stuff.

Even when you register with Royal Mail, they still have a fairly manual method of knowing who should not receive the mail. So if you had a replacement postie whilst yours was on holiday, you'd probably receive the unaddressed nonsense.

Well it costs me over £500 a year in lost income dealing will all the guff (half an hour a week of sorting and sifting and then taking to the post box at a day rate of £150).

I will be glad to see the back of it!