THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Wednesday, February 7, 1996            TAG: 9602070595
SECTION: BUSINESS                 PAGE: D6   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS 
                                             LENGTH: Short :   44 lines

SERVICE REMOVES YOUR NAME FROM JUNK MAIL LISTS

The Direct Marketing Association, an industry group representing about 3,600 companies that advertise by mail and telephone, offers a way to reduce junk mail and telemarketing calls.

At consumers' request, the DMA will ask its members not to solicit from a particular name or phone number. The DMA's ``preference service'' list for phone and mail consumers is updated four times a year.

Retailers, including many small local firms, that are not DMA members are not affected by the preference services.

The organization estimates the mail preference service will cut junk mail by 60 percent to 70 percent for most customers.

The DMA suggests consumers wait a few months after signing up with the service and then complain directly to companies that continue to send unwanted mailings.

Consumers must register by mail for both mail and telephone preference services. ILLUSTRATION: Graphic

TO CALL

For the mail preference service write to:

Mail Preference Service

Direct Marketing Association

P.O. Box 9008

Farmingdale, N.Y. 11735

For the telemarketing preference service write to:

Telephone Preference Service

Direct Marketing Association

P.O. Box 9014

Farmingdale, N.Y. 11735

KEYWORDS: JUNK MAIL TELEMARKETING by CNB