How to stop junk mail in the UK
Junk mail arrives through two completely separate routes, which is why stopping it usually fails: addressed mail comes from marketing lists holding your name, and unaddressed leaflets are delivered by Royal Mail to every door. You have to opt out of both.
What UK junk mail (MPS, Royal Mail & the Bereavement Register) exposes
Step by step
- 1
Register with the Mailing Preference Service
Free at mpsonline.org.uk. This removes your name and address from the marketing lists used by most UK direct-mail companies, stopping addressed junk mail.
- 2
Opt out of Royal Mail’s door-to-door leaflets
The MPS does not touch unaddressed leaflets — those come via Royal Mail. Email optout@royalmail.com asking to opt out of the Door to Door service, giving your full address and postcode. It lasts two years, then needs renewing.
- 3
Opt out of credit-reference marketing
Experian, Equifax and TransUnion each sell a marketing version of their data. Opt out with each separately — this is a different thing from your credit file and does not affect your score.
- 4
Use the Bereavement Register if the mail is for someone who has died
Free at thebereavementregister.org.uk. It removes the person’s name from marketing databases, which stops the distressing addressed mail that otherwise continues for years.
- 5
Return the stubborn ones to sender
For mail that keeps coming, write “return to sender — no longer at this address / remove from your database” and post it back unstamped. Companies pay for returns, so it gets actioned.
If that doesn’t work
- Register with the MPS by phone on 020 7291 3310 if you prefer not to use the website.
What removing yourself from UK junk mail (MPS, Royal Mail & the Bereavement Register) won't do
Most guides skip this part.
- The MPS is voluntary. It binds members of the Data & Marketing Association, so a non-member can legally keep posting to you.
- The Royal Mail opt-out expires after two years and is not renewed automatically — most people forget and the leaflets quietly return.
- Neither stops mail from companies you already deal with, because that is not classed as unsolicited marketing.
- None of it removes your name and address from the underlying data brokers and directories — you are suppressing the symptom, and the source keeps selling you to new companies.
Your data is on more than just UK junk mail (MPS, Royal Mail & the Bereavement Register)
We track 360+ sites across the US and UK. Run a free exposure check to see everywhere you appear — then let us send the removal requests for you and keep monitoring.
FAQ
Is the Mailing Preference Service free?
Yes. So is the Royal Mail door-to-door opt-out and the Bereavement Register. None of these should ever cost you anything.
How long does it take to stop junk mail?
Allow four to six weeks for addressed mail once you have registered with the MPS, because companies work from list refreshes rather than in real time.
Why am I still getting leaflets after registering with the MPS?
Because unaddressed leaflets are not covered by the MPS at all — they are delivered by your postie under Royal Mail’s Door to Door service, and that needs a separate opt-out by email.
Does opting out of credit-reference marketing affect my credit score?
No. The marketing database is separate from your credit file. Opting out stops your data being sold for marketing and has no effect on lending decisions.
How do I stop junk mail for someone who has died?
Register them with the Bereavement Register, which is free. It removes the name from marketing databases and stops most addressed mail within about six weeks.
Other removal guides
Last updated 26 July 2026