1. I have registered with MPS and have allowed 4 months for my registration to become fully effective. Why am I still receiving personally addressed unsolicited sales and marketing mailings through my door?

Registration with MPS reduces personally addressed unsolicited sales and marketing direct mailings by about 95%. If after 4 months you are still receiving this type of correspondence to the address you have registered with MPS, you can take advantage of our free complaint handling service. Please click on the 'complaint' option on the left hand side menu for further details. Remember, registering with MPS will not stop mail from companies who you are a customer of nor if you have requested their mailings.

2. I submitted a complaint to MPS regarding an unsolicited direct marketing mailing I have received despite being registered on MPS for more than 4 months. What action have you taken?

All complaints received will be acknowledged and processed by our complaint's team. We will write to the company involved asking for an explanation of why they have sent unsolicited mailings to an MPS registered address and ask that they remove the address from their mailing lists.

If we do not receive a response from an organisation that we are investigating or we have received an unsatisfactory response, we will pass these complaints over to the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), who can issue sanctions against such companies. In this case the ASA will make contact with the complainants themselves. The ASA's details can be found under the useful links section of the website.

3. I am receiving unsolicited direct marketing mail in somebody else's name. Can MPS reduce this?

Yes, you can register a previous occupant's name at your current address on the MPS and this will reduce unsolicited direct marketing mailings to your address under their name. Please allow 4 months for the registration to take affect.

4. Why can it take up to 4 months for the service to become fully effective?

Companies prepare their mailings months in advance, therefore it can take up to four months for the service to become fully effective. Screening usually takes place early on in the mailing process, which can take several months. Upon registering with the MPS you should notice a gradual reduction of unsolicited mailings but please allow 4 months for the service to become fully effective.

5. I have been informed that MPS have passed my details on to 3rd parties for the purpose of sending me unsolicited direct marketing mailings. Is this true?

No, absolutely not. MPS will only send out subscriber's details on to 3rd parties under licence for the purpose of suppression, so direct mailers know whom not to mail. MPS is not a mailing house and we do not send out unsolicited mailings.

6. Can MPS stop mailings from overseas?

We do make the file available to overseas based companies under licence for the purpose of suppression so they know whom not to mail but many companies who mail the UK from overseas do so to avoid legal and self regulatory restrictions. We would advise caution in responding to unsolicited mail posted from overseas especially if they are asking you to send them money. If you are receiving unsolicited mailings sent from overseas, you should contact the company who sent the unsolicited mailing directly and ask to be removed from their mailing lists or send a copy of the mailing to the Office of Fair Trading at: OFT, European Enforcement, Flexibank House, 2-6 Salisbury Sq, London, EC4Y 8JX

7. Can MPS stop mailings addressed to the occupier/homeowner?

MPS will not be able to reduce mailings addressed to either the Occupant or Homeowner. The service works by companies suppressing their mailing lists at surname and postcode level. If you are receiving mailings addressed to the occupier or homeowner you must contact the company who sent the mailing directly and ask to be removed from their delivery lists.

8. Can MPS stop mailings addressed to a business name?

No, MPS is for UK residential addresses only. If you are receiving mailings addressed to a business name (this includes sole trader, partnership, limited company or publicly limited company), you should contact the sender directly and ask to be removed from its mailing list.

9. What happens if my address details change?

If you move home and do not wish to receive unsolicited direct mailings at your new home, you will need to register your name and your new address onto the MPS. You can also register your name at a previous address or the previous occupant of your new home.

10. How do I de-register my name and address from the MPS?