Carrying on from yesterday's venture into the evils of unsolicited credit card applications, the Poorhouse feels it right to alert the citizens of the UK to the Mailing Preference Service.

This is a free service (funded by the direct mail industry - which might have some bearing on some of the lies on the site about how virtuous and thoughtful all these companies are - but it is supported by Royal Mail) that allows you to make it known to all and sundry that you do not want to come home to a letterbox full of unwanted and random envelopes tempting you into, say, applying for a credit card you can't afford. Simply sign up with your name and address and in a few months apparently you will see approximately a 95% reduction in "personally addressed unsolicited sales and marketing direct mailings". The Poorhouse has taken advantage of this service and, whilst 95% might be pushing it a bit, there does actually seem to be some sort of reduction. The security of the site is a bit minimal, so if your enemies just love junk mail then why not play a mean trick and sign them up to prevent them taking advantage of all those "great offers" too?

If you're liking the idea, you can also sign up to the Baby Mailing Preference Service (specifically avoid baby related mailings), the Fax Preference Service (avoids faxes) and the Telephone Preference Service (guess what that avoids). Be aware that you might have to plough through some pages about just how much your life might be ruined by not receiving phone calls offering you ridiculously expensive timeshare apartments.

There is also help on the site regarding how to complain if and when half the companies ignore your wishes and deluge you anyway.