Do not mail list?

[SeansMom]

We are having an issue with my parents getting TONS of charity requests, probably because they've given a lot over the years. Now, they are not in a good place financially but my step-dad keeps treating these charity requests as bills.

SO, has anybody found a really good way to stop these? I'm trying to call as they come in, but trust me when I say there seem to be hundreds, and it's a bit overwhelming.

Thanks!

 

[furb & dez]

Since your parents have an existing business relationship with the companies, a "do not mail" list would do nothing. You'll simply have to call and ask not to be sent anything else.

It probably won't work, to be honest. Once you send money, you're pegged as a donor and likely will never escape a deluge of requests (even after one dies).

 

[azdizzymom]

I've tried to get off simple catalog and other lists and they never remove my name. I have asked Gymboree to remove me for years---my boys are teenagers. I still get ads and coupons from them...but then I share those here.

I used to work for an insurance company and all the time we'd get please remove from mailing list calls --- sometimes you could get removed and sometimes you couldn't. Lots of things have numbers that mean things to the company so I always use the prepaid envelope and mark please remove from mailing list.

American Express is also bad--- I sign up for the freebie magazines in my cat's name. This way I can track if places buy names. Well about 3 years ago my kitty was pre-approved for an American Express Black Card--- I have phone 4-5 times to get off list explaining this is a cat. They still send approval 3-4 times a year. I also filled out application and said he was exterminator, etc. No rejection letter but still the pre-approvals come.

Arizona is really bad--the state sends jury duty notices to deceased people. I went round and round with them after I had lived out of state for 15+ YEARS. They sent jury notice to my parents. I called and said I was out of state and they said I had to send in request---I asked why still on list since no license or voting there for years. They said they don't purge lists----this was 3 years ago so it never changes.

In all honesty I just don't think most places care anymore. They will send out especially if you have given money. Maybe if they used prepaid envelope and tried asking for removal of list---or just don't even open and shred.

 

[bumbershoot]

American Express is also bad--- I sign up for the freebie magazines in my cat's name. This way I can track if places buy names. Well about 3 years ago my kitty was pre-approved for an American Express Black Card--- I have phone 4-5 times to get off list explaining this is a cat. They still send approval 3-4 times a year.

What a pain! Hilarious, but a serious pain.



OP, can you change the address for the solicitations so they come to you? We had to do this for my MIL for different reasons, and it's made everyone's life easier.

Does your stepdad really think they are bills? My MIL, nearly 10 years ago, overpaid the water bill. Because English is a second language to her, and she's never figured out the written language much at all, and she never had beyond a 5th grade education, she just didn't understand the water bills that kept coming, in increasing amounts, until quite a few bills later when she brought it to our attention. Of course, the numbers were *negative*, but she didn't understand that and just kept paying the number on the bills. We were so glad when she finally asked one of her kids what was going on!

 

[SeansMom]

.

Does your stepdad really think they are bills?

Yep. He was angry because I had taken some of his "bills" (money he'd agreed to send to different charities). And if not apparent having memory/functioning issues. Not reassuring to hear they'll keep on coming even after he is dead. Great.

There are some online companies, I guess I haven't found a disser who has used them, darn it. Can you tell our level of desperation

 

[SeansMom]

Since your parents have an existing business relationship with the companies, a "do not mail" list would do nothing. You'll simply have to call and ask not to be sent anything else.

The real scammers, of which they seem to be getting plenty, have NO number to contact them. And yes, he's sending money to them too. I have called many, many to have them removed, but the mail just keep pouring in.

 

[rock_doctor]

How much are you willing to pay to do this??? You could get them a post office box and have all mail forwarded to the PO box. Then every couple days go pick it up and trash anything that isn't personal or a bill. You can't get removed for anything now a days. I get 4 calls a day looking for somebody who is not part of my family. I have told them so, called them back and told them so and they keep calling. Labor is cheap and so is phone service. Labor is cheap and so are mass mailings...they only pay a couple pennies for each item mailed... Now you know why you pay more for stamps each year. Just think of all of millions of tons of junk mail they send for a fraction of what it would cost you to send it....