Today my hubby got junk mail from Wells Fargo

[tavalon]

I've never seen anyone so happy to receive junk mail. He stuffed it all in the postage paid return envelope and he added a Guy Fawkes mask with Bank Transfer Day on it. Gleeful, he was. Message Wall Sheet.

[Fire Walk With Me]

1. Now that's just cruel. I love it.

[spartan61]

2. Today I received junk mail from B of A.

I used a felt marker and wrote in large print "OWS" and sent it back in their postage paid envelope.

[tavalon]

3. yep, this is communication

It may not be communication they care to have but it is communication.

[Deep13]

49. B of A? Oh yes, Bastards of America. nt

[joeunderdog]

79. Bunch of Assholes. nt

[Epiphany4z]

65. haha so did I!

I wrote OWS all over the credit app and sent it back.

[newfie11]

4. I did that today with a discover card ad.

Never had them and don't want them and LOVED sending it back marked OWS.

edit:spelling as usual

[Lasher]

66. Does Discover have a more sinister record than other credit card companies?

Honest question.

[quakerboy]

70. I am curious if anyone has an answer to this

They seem to be a separate entity, and of the cards I have dealt with seem to be the most reasonable.

They and US Bank seem to be more humane in their dealings with me, and with others I have known. And I have not heard them lumped into the group of Bad actors, Citi, BOA, Wells Fargo, Chase. If they are just as dirty, it would make me sad, but I would like to know.

[newfie11]

72. I really don't know

It was the only mail of that type I had to send back.

[TK421]

74. well, according to several people I know who hold the card, no they don't

if anything, these people have not had any negative experiences from them. I suppose you could, given the right situation though.

[tavalon]

5. He didn't actually come up with the idea himself......

This guy did:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JlxbKtBkGM&sns=fb

But it can't go viral until a lot of people do it.

[Major Nikon]

7. I've been doing this for years

I generally just cram the postage-paid envelopes with as much of my other junk mail as I can stuff into them, then tape the shit out of it so it jams up the automated machines that open them.

[appleannie1]

14. Me too and the message "Throw your own junk away"

[tavalon]

18. I have five phrases I've printed and I put them on a wood shim

1. YOU ARE ROBBER BARONS!

2. WE ARE NOT THE PEONS YOU ARE LOOKING FOR.

3. OWS, IT'S NOT JUST FOR BREAKFAST ANYMORE.

4. REMEMBER, REMEMBER, THE 5TH OF NOVEMBER - BANK TRANSFER DAY.

5. OCCUPY JUNK MAIL.

[EnviroBat]

45. Mine says, "If I was stupid enough to want to borrow money from theives, I'd come to you".

But fortunately, I'm not that stupid.

[kestrel91316]

47. "Occupy Junk Mail" = WIN

[tavalon]

12. I've been getting an uptick in credit card mailers

I have no intention of getting any credit from any of these jackals. If I can't pay for it with cash, I don't need it.

So, I guess it's time to print up some good slogans.

[nc4bo]

26. Oh this is such an easy and effective idea!

**Sharing**

Thanks!

[Obamanaut]

28. Andy Rooney (60 Minutes) did a bit on sending back junk mail several years ago. nt

[otohara]

40. He Stole My Idea 10/4

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=439&topic_id=2053357&mesg_id=20533

[Nevernose]

57. It was Abby Hoffman in his book

Steal This Book.

[BadgerKid]

6. I've thought the code they place on the return envelope

could lead back to the original recipient. Any idea if that's true?

[tavalon]

8. Dunno

I decline to be afraid of my corporate overlords, so that won't stop me. But I guess blacking that out would be extra protection.

[Major Nikon]

9. Not true

And even if it were, they haven't caught up to me yet and I've been doing this for the last 20 years or so. The worst thing that could happen is they would take you off their junk mail send list, which is really the best thing that could happen.

[tavalon]

10. I would be sad if they stopped

This is getting fun.

[piratefish08]

19. i doubt it and who CARES! they gave you he envelope and free postage to use - no crime in using it

[formercia]

24. What could the Banks do?

Take you off their mailing list? :rofl:

[2pooped2pop]

25. not positive but

I know the code on the original envelope will lead back to the receiver. But I think the code on the return envelope is a code for it to return to them.

[cyglet]

54. It's barcoded

with the address it's going to. Not your name and address. It's for our (USPS) sorting machines.

[2pooped2pop]

59. yes, but I think the ones returning with postage paid

is barcoded to return to them not be redelivered to us.

[Shagbark Hickory]

30. Who cares? I just send back a shitload of them with the orignal letter with my name on it.

Keep in mind I had about a dozen from the same assholes. Shitibank and Chase. They can go fuck themselves.
I have no issues with them knowing that I sent that shit back. Maybe they'll leave me alone and stop flooding my mailbox and respect my privacy with regards to my credit.

[jeff47]

53. And?

Just what nefarious deed would you expect them to do?

They gave you an envelope. You are not required to put anything specific in it. They can just be happy taping the envelope to a brick doesn't work.

[sandyj999]

69. I don't care if they trace it. I am just trying to keep the post office in business. nt

[quakerboy]

71. Not generally

The numerical codes they do do not, as they are the same code for different people at different addresses

The ones with a small barcode on the back of the flap, I am less sure about. I just use a sharpie and black that out when I send those back.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

11. I did that too with a Citi application!

[Bozita]

13. Tape the prepaid postage envelope to a tinfoil covered brick.

USPS will deliver it, or so I'm told.

Shitty Bank has targeted my mailbox for almost daily deliveries announcing their products/services. I think I need to get a cinder block for them.

[66 dmhlt]

29. Postal Code Says USPS Will NOT Mail It

"9.4.6 Intentions of the Permit Holder
BRM (Business Reply Mail) may not be used for any purpose other than that intended by the permit holder, even when postage is affixed. In cases where a BRM card or letter is used improperly as a label, the USPS treats the item as waste."

http://pe.usps.com/text/dmm300/507.htm#1044635

[Shagbark Hickory]

31. I bet that rule cost the banksters a pretty penny.

Then again it isn't too difficult to talk the usps out of making money.

[Vincardog]

52. They intended that we send it back. We can chose to send it back anyway we want

[66 dmhlt]

78. Damn right you can. And the USPS has no - repeat, NO - obligation to forward it!

Read the damn Postal Code.

Feel free to stuff the envelope so it'll cost more to mail at corporations' expense (I do that), but USPS will NOT mail BRM envelopes cut out and attached to a brick.

Why do you want to be such a dick to postal workers, putting bricks in the maildrop?

[Vincardog]

83. I don't want to tape them to bricks. I did not see I was down thread from that suggestion

[Blue_In_AK]

15. We're starting to collect our junk mail, too.

That was such a great idea ... I can't wait to do it.

[2pooped2pop]

27. It will only make it back to them if it is

prepaid postage. Although you could use their envelopes without stamps, (if they send you one that requires postage) send it back with no stamp and no indication of who it is coming from, drop it in the local mailboxes, and they will be charged for it when it arrives.

Anything marked standard or bulk will not be returned to them. The price they pay does not include forwarding or return services. It will be destroyed.

[Shagbark Hickory]

32. I wonder tho if it will really be returned if the return address is really far away.

I can see it happening if it originated from the same general area but I dunno.

It seems like it would be really easy because you can get those blank labels used to print postage from postage meters and cover up the postage then put it in a mailbox. I don't know if that's legal or not but if it does get returned, it will probably just have a stamp on it that says "postage due" with an amount written on it. They wouldn't have to pay that unless they wanted the letter to actually go through.

[2pooped2pop]

34. If it has postage, it will be delivered

They have an account, so all the mail with their little label is collected and charged to them. They could perhaps refuse to pay it but that would become a problem with them getting the ones they want through.

[Shagbark Hickory]

35. Right but originally you said to send it back with no stamp.

So if it's marked bulk rate or standard presort or whatever, just cover that bit up with a label.
That way it goes back to the sender. (at no cost to either the recipient or the sender)

The problems that I can see with this method...

1.) Standard mail often doesn't have a return address or at least not in a conspicuous place. Credit card offers normally do though.

2.) I don't know if it's technically legal to do since you're intending to send the piece without postage.

3.) If it's standard mail or something like that and the return address is far away, the USPS may just end up redelivering it to you instead of the sender.

Then again, if all you want is to return to sender, why not just write or stamp "return to sender" on the mailpiece and get rid of it that way? I did this recently with the hope they will stop flooding my mailbox with shit that I don't recognize and is an unreasonable burden on my resources for disposing of it.

[Blue_In_AK]

44. That's my plan. n/t

[ribrepin]

16. Here's my message to the unwanted credit card offers

Hit up the rich who keep the economy going. We in the 99% per cent can’t afford your bonuses. OWS


I couldn't get the picture to post, but there's picture of a fat cat banker at the bottom

[tavalon]

17. To all who are interested in this, read and watch the youtube listed in reply 5

[SmileyRose]

20. Next time put some of your own garbage in there too.

My brother has been known to tape the postage paid envelope to a 20 lb box full solid packed shredded paper along with a note


"how many trees did you kill to send this shit to me? Recycle this you jackweeds."

[Shagbark Hickory]

37. Per reply #29, those will end up in the dumpster behind your local USPS slash Fedex

[quakerboy]

73. Which is why you should instead

fill each one with a smaller, reasonable amount of shredding, say just over an ounce, that fits in the self sealing envelope.

[SmileyRose]

82. So far all of his have been delivered

Dear brother puts his "junk" email contact in the box and every single time he's gotten an email from customer relations letting him know how to opt out

[sarge43]

21. Now that's just mean. I like it.

:thumbsup:

[tavalon]

22. But very reasonable

My Freeway blogging, OTOH. is not reasonable, but it is thought provoking. Funny, though, because it's killing my brain cells so it isn't my thoughts that are being provoked.

Damn, I could never be a paint sniffer. My head hurts.

The Message: YOU ARE THE 99%, writ large enough to cover a whole highway crosswalk.

[sarge43]

23. No argument.

I've done the same with NRA and Republican junk mail.

[Doctor_J]

33. stuff it with pennies

it costs more to mail that way

[Shagbark Hickory]

36. LOL. Yeah, it costs YOU more to mail. Good idea.

:silly:

[Doctor_J]

41. Uh, the envelope is postage paid by Citibank

and USPS gets some of the cost.

[Shagbark Hickory]

42. Great but who provides the pennies?

[GETPLANING]

38. Support your local Post Office

Shift a little capital from the banks to the Post Office by using those paid postage envelopes.

[Pacifist Patriot]

39. I am so disappointed!

I was excited to see two Citibank application solicitations in my mail box yesterday. I was all set to send them back with OWS emblazoned across the forms. Until I noticed they were addressed to the people who lived at my address before me. So I threw them away. But the next ones.....

[Shagbark Hickory]

43. Nice that they're still sending applications to someone who doesn't live there.

How responsible of them.

[obxhead]

46. You can still use their envelope.

Just stuff if full of random junk mail etc. It doesn't matter what you send back to them really.

[Pacifist Patriot]

84. I'm much happier today. I got to return a Chase solicitation today and....

Citibank's is headed back to them tomorrow.

[RebelOne]

48. I also do that. Each time, I receive a pre-approved

credit application, I tear it up into little pieces and stuff it back into the postage-paid envelope.

[crim son]

50. I've been waiting to receive that sort of junk mail so I can do exactly that.

Good for your hubby!

[arikara]

51. They will probably do what they've started doing here

in Canada, mailing them out without return envelopes and expecting you to go online to register for their usury. I've been sending them back for years with pithy remarks and I guess lots of others have too.

Edit to add: in that case I often go online to find a mailing address then stuff an envelope full and send it to them unstamped with no return address. That way they get charged double postage.

[LittleGirl]

55. This week, I had had it with all of these preapprovals

for credit cards! We have received at least 10-15 a week for months now. This week, I've sent back the postage paid envelopes with part of the enclosures scribbled in large letters saying

We are the 99%.

No return address or who it comes from. I'm sick of it.

[MasonJar]

56. How clever. I think we should all follow suit from now on, whatever kind of corporate junk mail

we receive. Let them pay the Post Office for the return postage. The Post Office needs our support.

[defendandprotect]

58. "KEEP WALL STREET OCCUPIED" -- My daughter just sent me this YouTube video -- !!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JlxbKtBkGM&sns=em

[MissDeeds]

60. I got junk mail from them too

Thank god I don't shred it on a daily basis. I'm going to follow your husband's example.

K&R!

[gtar100]

61. Thank you for the great idea.

Now I know what to do with that junk mail.

[kcass1954]

62. If I don't get 3 offers from Chase and 2 from Discover every week,

I feel like they don't love me any more.

I'll scour my junk mail and share with them. Heck, the folks who open the mail may need my unused grocery coupons.

[doublethink]

63. ........

[Marazinia]

64. *Grin*

[DeSwiss]

67. K&R

:D

[sandyj999]

68. I did the same today. One to Citi and one to Wells Fargo nt

[TK421]

75. I don't get any more offers from credit cards like I used to..Crapital One took me to court

and had a judgement issued against me

I guess thats OK, since I won't be getting any more fucking junk mail!

[NAO]

76. Help the US Postal Service generate badly needed revenue!!

There is a double blessing here. The money gets transfered from greedy private hands (the banks) into a public service (the USPS) The USPS is in deep fiscal trouble. And those envelopes generate money for them. They charge the banks more if they are heavy, even more if they are rigid. And you can put in all kinds of polite information too!

[sarcasmo]

77. Excellent!

[seabeyond]

80. you op keeps poppin up and i keep reading hubby.... junk.

my eye draws back to the thread and it is like.... ya, that is right, junk mail.

sigh

[CoffeeCat]

81. I got mail from Citibank and Bank of America...

...today, asking me to sign up for their credit cards.

I pulled some heavy cardboard out of our recycling basket, cut it into envelope
size, placed an OWS message inside and sent it off. I think one of the things I
sent was the front side to a box of Totino's Pizza Rolls. Snack up, banksters!

I've never been so happy to send a piece of mail in my life!

Seriously. Mail from both of these sharks in one day. Are they desperate?