Mail guides
Using sender forms
Choose the right form and check what it actually asks you to submit.
Shorten a mail-removal request for a small form
Some contact forms cap messages at a few hundred characters. A mail-removal request still has to name the sender, your address, and what you want done. Everything else can wait.
Recognize a form that only unsubscribes email
A sender's unsubscribe form may cover only email. If it never asks for your street address, it probably does not touch your postal mailing record. Check the labels before you submit.
Ask for an accessible way to request less mail
A sender's online opt-out form may be hard or impossible for you to use. Some senders accept requests by phone or email instead, and asking directly is a reasonable first move.
Handle an address the opt-out form cannot find
An "address not found" error often means what you typed does not match the format in the sender's database. It does not prove you are unlisted. Adjusting the format may be all it takes.
Use a sender form with a CAPTCHA
Senders add CAPTCHAs to opt-out forms to block automated submissions. Most take a moment to complete, and many offer an alternative format if the standard one does not work for you.
Troubleshoot a form that will not submit
When an opt-out form will not submit, the page often knows why but does not say so clearly. A few quick checks usually find the cause.
Find a customer ID requested by an opt-out form
A sender's opt-out form may ask for a customer ID or account number. If your mailing piece has one, it is usually printed on the piece itself, so look there first.
Enter a label's old address in a sender form
Mail forwarded from a previous address is still tied to that address in the sender's records. To remove it, enter the address printed on the label, not your current one, unless the form asks for both.
Handle an opt-out form that asks for an account
A sender that asks you to create an account before removing your address puts you in an awkward spot, because registering can mean handing over more personal information. Check for another route first.
Check whether a web form accepted your request
Clicking a submit button does not guarantee the sender received your request. Confirmation may arrive as a page change, an on-screen message, or an email, so know what to look for.