If you missed the last deadline to get in on the city’s new “opt-out” program for stopping phone-book deliveries, Seattle Public Utilities reminds you today that another deadline looms – September 23rd is the last day to “opt-out” before the next major round of deliveries. SPU’s “At Your Service” site explains how you can do that, online or by phone.
We opted out earlier and still got the books. In fact we watched the delivery van go down the street with about 4 delivery guys. No one is checking a list for where not to deliver. They just put one at every house.
People were coming out of their houses and tossing the books back in the open van.
This opt-out system will only work if people REPORT violations to the city. The phone companies will have to pay fines if they deliver books after you’ve opted out. If you don’t report it, though, there will be no consequences for them.
From the city’s opt-out page:
“If yellow pages books are still delivered to your home and you opted out by the deadline, log in to your CatalogChoice account and file a complaint. By the way, your opt-out choices are permanent and will apply to all future deliveries.
CatalogChoice will track complaints for the City and yellow pages publishers will be held accountable, and even fined, if they fail to honor timely opt-out requests from Seattle residents and businesses.
CatalogChoice, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, operates the Phone Books Opt-Out Registry and provides some stop junk mail services for the City of Seattle under contract. The Phone Books Opt-Out Registry is funded by a fee charged to yellow pages publishers.”
You should have to sign up to get a phone book not the other way around.
Thank you for the reminder. When I receive phonebooks after I have opted out I usually just take them to one of the qwest buildings located throughout seattle and leave it on their doorstep.
You can also use those handy return post-paid envelopes that other junk mailers use and tape it to a cardboard box filled with catalogs and junk mail. You get rid of junk mail and save federal employee jobs at the same time! Its a win-win. Corporate America subsidizing federal pension plans, what’s not to like?
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