I am ready to scream. My sister was a member of a book club. It was the kind of deal where you buy 10 books for--let's say, a dollar and you order tem more books over the next few years and then you don't have to buy any more. She was a member for 20 years--probably bought more books than most book stores! She died of breast cancer 6 (six) years ago.

Well, here's my problem. I still get letters from them-with "cute" little sayings on them such as "Ms.___ ,we will do anything to get you back! "Ms.__ we have looked the world over and can't seem to find you". Ms.___ what will it take to get you back!"

I started out just writing "deceased" on them and sending them back, then I wrote four (4) nice letters telling them that "she had died and please take her name off the list." I started throwing them away--one after the other and last month I wrote a letter to the "subscription editor" telling them --she had been dead for 6- YES six years and that I didn't want any more letters. Today, I get a letter from them stating and I quote"

I will process cancellation of your account as requested but first I'll need your book club account number. You will find the number on your member reply form or on any of your invoices. When you locate the number , just note it below and return it in the enclosed envelope. Also please verify your current address. If you have moved recently, please include your former address." end of quote!

I don't have these invoices and don't have any idea what her book club number was! The envelope is not postage paid! That means I have to spend more money on this mess..

Any ideas will be greatly appreciated!

-- Debbie T in N.C. (rdtyner@mindspring.com), September 04, 2001

Answers

Why not just write return to sender on everything they send. That way you won't have to pay postage as long as you don't open it. Maybe they will get the message then. If not, just keep filing it in the trash. :-)

-- Wendy (weiskids@yahoo.com), September 04, 2001.

Something that was passed around the internet some months ago, is what me and my sister do with this type of junk mail. We put the BMG free music trash mail into the Book of the month clubs enevelopes, the Book of the month clubs trash mail into the low interest Visa Card envelopes, and on and on until everyones trash is in each others envelopes and put them into the mail to each other. I have no idea if this makes any kind of an impact, probably not, but it is sure damn funny to do! Much more fun than trashing it week after week! Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), September 04, 2001.

lol, I do the same thing basically. Tear up and put everything they send me in their handy postage paid envelopes and send it right back. It's usually a daily routine when I go out to the mailbox.

-- Dave (something@somewhere.com), September 04, 2001.

Debbie, look for a phone number and call them up. Don't let them get off the phone until you get it resolved. I wouldn't think it'd be that hard for them to locate the account by name.

-- Dave (something@somewhere.com), September 04, 2001.

I also enjoy sending junk back in postage paid envelopes.Lets them know how it feels to get tons of junk mail.DH just smiles and puts them in the mail box. Bettie

-- Bettie Ferguson (jobett@dixie-net.com), September 05, 2001.

Someone on the forum said they wrapped a building brick in paper, then taped the return envelope to the brick. After three of these, they received a call asking them to stop. They replied they have been trying for a year or something to get them to stop sending them their literature, so when they stop, they will also. (Be sure to cut out and paste your address block in the return address area so they know specificially who you are.)

For more suggestions go to the Misc. category in Older Messages and look at the item I have in there on how to stop junk mail. Just do a Control and F at the same time and type junk in the lookup box.

-- Ken S. in WC TN (scharabo@aol.com), September 05, 2001.

Fill out a change of address card and the post office. They have the option of putting deceased for an address.

-- Gary (gws@redbird.net), September 05, 2001.

Debbie, they never "get it". My mother died of cancer fourteen years ago and she still gets catalogs from a wig company (Paula Young) that she ordered from once. Now, you'd think if you are a wig company that you'd realize that a good share of their business is from chemotherapy patients, and if it's a one time only order they either got better and don't use wigs anymore, or died and don't need them. Well, not Paula Young! Nope, they keep coming back for you. I'll admit, they've petered out pretty thin in the last few years, but I still get about one a year. They probably figure it's cheap advertising.

-- Jennifer L. (Northern NYS) (jlance@nospammail.com), September 05, 2001.

I sure like the brick idea!! Would a big rock work too (they are handier than bricks)? Too bad ya can't do that with spammers!!!!!!

-- Alison in N.S. (aproteau@istar.ca), September 05, 2001.

My father died in 1971. Mom was still getting junk mail in his name up until her death in 1995. Since I then had her mail forwarded to me to deal with any bills, etc., I am still getting junk mail in her name usually with a non-existant address. I am only person in this area with my last name, so anything with my last name in the address comes here. At least no junk mail in Dads name anymore. I also get bunch of junk in my ex's name and we've been divorced 6years. I sent some of it back marked wrong address. It was from some credit card company trying to track her down. Mailman left a note telling me to have her fill out a change of address form if she no longer lives here. Good gosh, six years and they havent figured it out yet. For sure she's going to fill out a change of address form at this point... I just round file anything not addressed to me anymore. Now if I could just convince the junkmail people to only use easily burnable materials. Some of this colorful clay coated stuff quickly fills my burn barrel only looking scorched.

-- Hermit John (hermit@hilltop_homestead.zzn.com), September 05, 2001.

On the brick thing, if you put a note inside the envelope first telling them to take you off of their mailing list, be sure to write "Correspondence Enclosed" on the outside of the envelope as it will cost them even more. Prepaid postage is a lot more expensive than regular mail.

I suspect a box of rocks would work just as well. As far as I know the post office cannot refuse it as the postage has been guaranteed.

-- Ken S. in WC TN (scharabo@aol.com), September 05, 2001.

I don't mind gettng junk mail. I figure I am so strongly against getting phone solicitations that I have to leave some avenue for businesses to tell me about their stuff. It's easy for me to quickly sift through that mail and toss what I don't want.

Although I really like the brick idea.

Here's an idea: if you have a bunch of junk you would otherwise have to take to the dump, put it in a box and send that instead of the brick. After all - a brick can be useful.

-- Paul Wheaton (paul@javaranch.com), September 05, 2001.

My husband finally had to get on the phone and ask to speak to someone's supervisor. This was AFTER all else had failed. He let them know that he was going to do whatever it took against the company to get the harrassment stopped. It stopped immediately.

Someone else was sent a bill for $0.00!!! After not paying the bill, they were finally turned over to a collection agency which finally threatened legal action!!!!! They were able to stop the nonsense only by sending in a check for $0.00!!

-- Cathy N. (keeper8@attcanada.ca), September 05, 2001.

As a former mail carrier I can tell you that if you go to the post office and ask your carrier to only deliver mail addressed a certain way and then give all names, nicknames, etc. that you will recieve mail as, he/she can take care of the rest. I have done this for one of my customers who did not want any mail that was misspelled, or improperly addressed as he was fairly famous and did not enjoy unsolicited correspondence.

-- Patricia Ramsey (woolspin@aol.com), September 05, 2001.

I had something similar happen to me not long ago (phone calls). This company kept calling & asking for my husband. They wouldn't talk to me at first, just kept hanging up on me (rudely) when they couldn't talk to my husband (who was at work). I even reconized one voice in particular on 4 separate calls (the ruddest one of all). They wouldn't even tell me if they were calling to eiher to get my business or to collect on a bill. Finally on the 8th call (got that same rude woman again), I asked for a supervizer. When he came on the phone I first asked whats the reason they keep calling me, & why couldn't they talk to me (the wife) instead of my husband. They were offering a credit card & the supervizer had no quams about talking to me instead of hubby. I informed him that this was the 8th call, the rudeness (especially of the person I last talked to) & lack of info on at least their name if nothing else. (personally I hope that rude woman at least got docked pay if not fired.) I told him we weren't interested in any more credit cards, & would they stop calling. I however, wasn't that calm in explaining things (but I did apoligize (sp) after). Needless to say, they didn't call again.

Sometimes an angry phone call can solve some things. But I also like the brick idea.

animalfarms

-- animalfarms (jawjlewis@netzero.net), September 05, 2001.

If you can't take care of it on the phone with a supervisor, tell them you are going to report them to the Better Business Bureau. Most companies will do about anything not to get reported.

-- debra in ks (windfish@toto.net), September 05, 2001.

Debbie, Lots of good suggestions here. I am still receiving mail for my mom. She died 3 years ago. I still get her magazines and I want to continue to receive them. I always tell them that she died but 'I' want to renew the subscription. They still come in her name. We get lots and lots of calls wanting to 'give' us a trip to Branson, MO. I always ask them if THEY have ever been to Branson. They always say no. I tell them I want them to have MY trip. I have been to Branson lots of times over the last 50 years and have no plans to ever go back. THEY hang up on me.

-- Belle (gardenbelle@terraworld.net), September 05, 2001.

I really, really, really like the brick idea!

-- Anybody (123@abc.com), September 05, 2001.

Better Business Bureau: When I see this emblem on a biz, I usually stay away. My impression is that the BBB is not concerned about designating good companies. They are instead interested in getting any company to give them $200 per year so they can be members. If somebody files a complaint, I'm sure they really do file it, but they won't let that stand in the way of their getting the $200 the next year.

Just my impression - I could be wrong.

-- Paul Wheaton (paul@javaranch.com), September 06, 2001.

I'd comply with the request and send them the new address. The cemetary.

-- paul (treewizard@buffalo.com), September 06, 2001.

Thank you, everyone! Since I have none of the information requested, I filled it out as well as I could:

filled in her name--- put the name of the cemetary as her address-- accout # I wrote "I have no idea!"--- In large red letters I printed "She is dead" on the bottom.--And lastly, I put the cemetary address as her return address and ask that all future letters be sent to the new address!

Oh,well at least it made me feel better to know that I am not alone! Thanks again!

-- Debbie T in N.C. (rdtyner@mindspring.com), September 07, 2001.

Debbie -

I hope it works. My husband's first wife has been dead for 15 years but she had a better credit rating then we did. She kept getting credit card offers at our address until we moved last year. I suppose the present owner of that house is getting them now & wondering who the heck Jean is!

-- Bonnie (stichart@plix.com), September 07, 2001.

Hi,,,when I had that problem,,I just wrote "refuse" on the parcel, or envelope, or magazine,,and took to Post Office and gave to clerk,,each time til it finally stopped. Don't have to pay anything. I don't think you should have all that worry. No need to put time and money into calling and writing anymore,,seems you have made it plain. What part of 'NO' don't that so-called intelligent company understand? ,,,,,I had to laugh out loud at Ken's Post..great idea,,,they got some of their own medicine,,,Here's hoping you can "refuse" the stress...Take care

-- Patsy, MT (cozyhollow-gal@care2.com), September 07, 2001.

Send a brick, rocks, large HEAVY package. YES send them often.

We had a similar problem, My wife finally called them and kept holding until you reached corporate headquarters. After a 15 minute tirade the VP of Marketing CANCELED her Dads account. AND apologized. 3 weeks later My wife received a Complimentary membership and 3 free books as part of the apology. (Hmmm can you say marketing ploy?) She kept the 3 books BUT returned 3 she didn't like out of our library. She explained that if any other books came She would gladly Play the exchange game.

We haven't heard anymore from them in over 6 months. :o)

-- Kenneth in N.C. (wizardsplace13@hotmail.com), September 08, 2001.