Every Door Direct Mail (EDDM)
What is EDDM?
Every Door Direct Mail (EDDM) is an advertising division of the United States Postal Service (USPS) in partnership with Taradel and the DMA. Mail pieces from this program may also be delivered with the ECRW or ECRWSS code. ECRWSS stands for Enhanced Carrier Route Walk Sequence Saturation It usually appears above the “address” line as: ECRWSSEDDM. Instead of your actual name and address, it will simply say “Postal Customer” or “Residential Customer” where the address line would be.
Why can’t I unsubscribe from EDDM / ECRW advertising mail?
The original opt-out mechanisms are now defunct and never worked in the first place, leaving no known way to unsubscribe or opt-out. Here is an actual explanation from a representative of the DMA (the direct marketing group partnered with the USPS on this program:
“The problem that we had was getting the Postal Service to promote the removal service to the local businesses that send out that type of mail to the local addresses.
Since the Postal service did not encourage the local advertisers to utilize the removal service against their mailing lists (to remove the addresses) the service was ineffective and had to be discontinued.”
–DMA Representative
We are trying to change this by compelling the USPS to offer an opt-out method. Please voice your choice:
SIGN THE PETITION at Change.org
Copy This Link To Share
https://www.change.org/zerojunkmail
Statements from EDDM Stakeholders
I have tried to track down and keep up with the various invested parties behind the Every Door Direct Mail program (partners, distributors, advertisers, etc.). Below is some correspondence wherein I ask how to opt-out of EDDM.
Emailed statement from the United States Postal Service (USPS) about EDDM
I am trying to find a way to opt-out of EDDM “saturation mailings.”
Sometimes the mailings include my address. Sometimes they just say “Postal Customer” with no address listed.
I look forward to your team’s response to this issue.
Thank you!
Good afternoon XXX XXXX,
I will still follow up with you via phone to make sure you have received this information.
I have an address as well as a phone number.
1 888 567 8688
Or write to:
Mail Preference Svc
PO Box 643
Carmel, NY 10512-0643
I hope that helps.
We invite your to visit www.usps.com where most transactions that you do in the post office are also available online – including reserving a Post Office Box, preparing and shipping packages and managing your mail and package deliveries.
Please accept our sincere apology for any inconvenience this matter may have caused you. For further questions or information regarding this matter please contact the Post Office at [Provide Local Post Office Phone Number Here].
Sincerely,
Arthur L. Bowens Jr.
Your privacy is important to us. If you would like additional information on our privacy policy, please visit us online at: usps.com
Arthur L. Bowens Jr.
(A)MCSO MPOO Area 0 Birmingham
351 24th St N,
Birmingham, AL 35203
Office: 205-521-0203
Fax: 205-521-0267
Cell: 404-964-XXXX
Statement from Taradel
Hello,
Please tell me what steps to take to opt-out of your Every Door Direct Mail® (EDDM) or “saturation mail” at my residence.
I look forward to your prompt response.
Thank you,
Mr. XXXX
Postal Customer
Birmingham, AL
Mr. XXXX,
You would need to contact your local post office to opt-out of receive this type of mail.
Thank you,
Kelsey Gamble
Sales Manager
kelsey@taradel.com
tel (804) 298-3657 | fax (888) 241-3023
Statement from the DMA
Consumer Affairs [consumer@thedma.org]
Mr. XX,
Here is the reason why we cannot help. We tried to get ahead of the curve when created Every Door Direct Mail (EDDM) (in conjunction with the US Postal Service) about three or so years ago.
The problem that we had was getting the Postal Service to promote the removal service to the local businesses that send out that type of mail to the local addresses.
Since the Postal service did not encourage the local advertisers to utilize the removal service against their mailing lists (to remove the addresses) the service was ineffective and had to be discontinued.
You will have to go back to the Postal Service to get them to contact those local businesses to ask them take care of your removal request directly.
Sorry that we could not be of direct assistance to you.
Angela Tyree
Consumer Relations Manager
Data and Marketing Association
Letter statement from the USPS regarding EDDM junk mail
Dear Mr. XXXXXX:
This is in response to your letter to the Office of the Consumer Advocate, with regard to your request to be provided instruction on how to have your name removed from the Every Door Direct Mail (EDDM) mailing list. The Alabama District Consumer and Industry Contact Office was asked to investigate the matter and provide a response to you.
We regret you did not receive a response to the certified letter you mailed to the Mail Preference Service, also known as Direct Marketing Association (DMA). To obtain more information about the service they provide we called the Consumer Creditor’s Reporting Industry at 1-888-567-8688. This is an automated line that gives customers the choice of having their names and addresses removed from pre-approved mailing lists for up to 5 years. It advises customers to go online to
www.optoutprescreen.com and choose to opt-out or opt-in of the mailing list programs.
Another resource advised customers can visit http://www.dmachoice.org to request their names be removed from EDDM mailing lists.
Additionally, it was suggested you may want to write to the credit bureaus listed below.
Equifax Information Services
P.O. box 740123
Atlanta, GA 30374-0123
Experian Consumer Services
901 West Bond Street
Lincoln, NE 68521-3667
Transunion Name Removal Option
P.O. Box 505
Woodlyn, PA 19094-0505
As information, the Postal Service has no control over the selling of mailing lists, and we cannot require a mailer to remove names from their lists. However, we do wish to help customers by providing the information listed above.
Since management at the Green Springs Carrier Facility is responsible for finalizing delivery of EDDM in your delivery zone, they have been asked to share your request not to receive EDDM mail with the carriers on your route. Although we cannot guarantee you will not receive some unwanted mail, this will serve as a notice to delivery personnel EDDM mail should not be delivered to your address.
I hope this response is helpful to you. If further assistance is needed, please contact Inez Burden, Complaints and Inquiry Clerk, at 205-521-0374.
Sincerely,
April M. Wiliams
Manager, Consumer and Industry Contact
PO BOX 395
BIRMINGHAM, AL 35201-0395
(205) 521-0822
FAX: (205) 521-0871
What Can You Do?
Send a Certified Mail letter to this address asking about what you can do to opt-out of EDDM:
United States Postal Service
Office of the Consumer Advocate
475 L’Enfant Plaza, SW
Washington, D.C. 20260-2200
Defunct pages:
Examples of harmful, and/or potentially offensive mail pieces from the EDDM program:
Cigarette advertisements delivered to your home
Cigarette advertisements delivered to your home
Religious tracts in your mailbox
