Forum Topic

Stopping junk mail - Virgin Media

Over the course of nearly 8 years living in Ealing, not a single week has passed without junk mail from Virgin Media landing on my doormat. Every single one gets dumped unopened into the recycling box, but it does seem a ridiculous waste of my knee cartilage bending down to pick them up. Not to mention the hectares of rainforest being felled. Now I've tried to get them to cease and desist by registering with various opt-out schemes, however allegedly they manage to exploit a loophole in these schemes by cunningly addressing the letters 'To the Occupier'. (Seriously, is it that easy? I reckon my cat could have come up with more meaningful legislation than that!)I was reluctant to contact Virgin directly - by all accounts giving them my name and details would only increase the spamming frequency, however I have finally given it a go. I gave up after 10 minutes of ranting at automated correspondents, so no joy there. Has anyone else been suffering from their overly keen marketing? Or even better, know how to get them to stop?

Philip Slater ● 5611d10 Comments

www.myzerowaste.comAt this time of year when ordering things online you must be very careful not to sign up for free catalogues by mistake.  Sometime you tick to opt in and sometimes to opt out. Do it in a rush and you could be repenting at leisure,

Philippa Bond ● 5607d

and the Royal Mail Opt Out Service?

Philippa Bond ● 5607d

Have taken forum advice - am already signed up to MOPS - and have returned Virgin mail to sender

Sara Nathan ● 5607d

Every so often I have had a blitz on the persistent and  irritating ones and sent them back (no postage) with "Unsolicited - Return to Sender" scrawled across the envelope.  Made me feel better anyway! Somebody seems to have lit the touch paper on the West London Waste website. It is full of information on how to reduce your waste including what to do about letters addressed to The Occupier.http://www.westlondonwaste.gov.uk/at-home/junk-mail/

Philippa Bond ● 5608d

I think if you open the envelope carefully and put something weighty inside it and then mail it back, Virgin might have to pay the excess postage.

Allison Franklin ● 5609d

Presume you have already done all that is suggested on herehttp://www.virginmobile.com/vm/genericContent.do?contentId=security.and.privacy.footer.sm010How about sticking a 'no junk mail' sign outside door? Then complain to Royal Mail if you keep getting it?

Editor ● 5610d

Yes, George is right, apparently they can circumvent the MPS by addressing 'To the Occupier'

Philip Slater ● 5610d

AnneMarieI think the dodge is to address the letters to the occupier.I am registered with Mail preference services but that has not stopped the Virgin letters

George Knox ● 5610d

Hi PhilipContact the Direct Marketing Association - info here:http://www.dma.org.uk/information/cps-introduction.aspHope that is of some help (please let us know if it is).Annemarie

Editor ● 5611d

Send it back in a plain envelope unstamped saying " The Occupier is unknown at this address"????

George Knox ● 5611d