Junk mail is actually the result of direct marketing campaigns designed to get you to buy a product or service. When you purchase a product or service and give the company your name and address, the chances are you are being added to one or more mailing lists used for direct marketing. This is true when you buy a car or a house, use a shopping card, sign up for a credit card, subscribe to a magazine, buy something from a catalog, give money to a charity, or fill out a product registration form.

Your name, address, and other contact information, as well as the type of product or service, is entered into a computer data base. The business that collected the information will use it to solicit more business from you. They might also rent their list to other businesses so they can send you advertisements. Lists are valuable, and renting lists is big business.How can I get off these lists? Here are just three of them.

1. Mailing lists of the major national marketers

If you want off as many national mailing lists as possible, your first step is to contact the Direct Marketing Association's (DMA) Mail Preference Service (MPS). You must re-register after five years. While you can register by mail, the fastest way is online at www.dmaconsumers.org.

When you register, your name and address are placed in a "do not mail" file which is updated monthly and distributed to DMA members quarterly. DMA members are required to update their lists at least quarterly, and some do it monthly. Businesses who are not members of the DMA also take advantage of this "do not mail" list, so registering with the DMA will reduce much of your junk mail.

You can also register the names of deceased loved ones with their Deceased Do Not Contact list (DDNC).

2. Catalogs, mail order lists and magazines

When you buy something from a mail order catalog, your transaction is likely to be reported to Abacus, owned by DoubleClick Digital Advertising. Members of the Abacus Alliance, mostly catalog companies and publishing companies, contribute and exchange information about their customers. Your name may also be sold to other catalog and publishing companies. The quickest way to opt out of the Abacus database is at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Companies that do not participate in the DMA and Abacus opt-out programs must be contacted directly. This includes magazines, charities and many professional associations. It may take some hunting, but you can usually find a toll-free customer service number and/or address on the advertising piece. Let them know you not only want to be off their list, but you don't want them providing your contact information to other companies.

3. Pre-approved offers of credit

Many of the companies you do business with provide data to credit bureaus about how much you owe and how promptly you pay your bills. The four credit bureaus are Equifax, Experian, TransUnion, and Innovis. In turn, the credit bureaus rent lists of people that fit a particular profile, i.e., make over $40,000 annually, use credit cards, and pay their bills on time. No financial information is released.(888) 5OPTOUT (888-567-8688) is a single number you can call to opt-out of Innovis and the three major credit bureaus. It is available in English and Spanish.

Your information is also picked up from the supermarket loyalty cards, product registration cards, consumer survey, sweepstakes, etc. Always look for privacy options or opt-out options when giving your personal information. Most companies realize that privacy is good business.

For lots more information on getting off lists, see Privacy Rights Clearinghouse website www.privacyrights.org/fs/fs4-junk.htm#4, The Privacy Rights Clearinghouse is filled with Fact Sheets on all areas regarding privacy issues.