What do I do with all this stuff??

Now that you have decided to deal with the excess, what do you do with all the stuff? How do you reduce the influx of new stuff you receive daily? These pages will help you with that task.

Everyone needs to think about keeping items out of the landfill for as long as possible. An item reused or recycled is one less item in the trash. Start by putting an end to all the unwanted catalogs and junk mail you receive. The resources on these pages will show you how.

Then decide what to do with all the stuff you have accumulated over the years. Here are your choices:

try to sell it yourself
have someone else sell it for you
donate it to a charity
recycle it
give it away or dump it

We have listed several organizations in Douglas County that can help you once you have decided what to do. Our goal is to help you eliminate waste in your life!

How do I list my phone # on the Do Not Call Registry?

You can register your phone number (including your cell phone number) for free, and it will remain on the national do-not-call list for five years. You may re-enter your number on the list when the five years have passed, and you may remove your number from the list at any time.

The Do-Not-Call registry does not prevent all unwanted calls. It does not cover the following:

calls from organizations with which you have established a business relationship
calls for which you have given prior written permission
calls which are not commercial or do not include unsolicited advertisements
calls by or on behalf of tax-exempt non-profit organizations

To register by phone call 1-888-392-1222. For TTY, call 1-866-290-4236. You must call from the phone you wish to register. You may also register by Internet – www.donotcall.gov.

How do I get my name removed from mailing lists?

Reduce the amount of junk mail you receive by writing and asking that your name be eliminated from mailing lists. Be sure to include the following information:

Your full name and any variation that may be used
The date
Your mailing address
Your signature
The following statement: “Please remove my name and address from your mailing list”

Register for the Mail Preference Service by mail. Send a letter plus a $1 check or money order to:

Mail Preference Service
Direct Marketing Association
PO Box 643
Carmel, NY 10512

Click here for our simple mail-in form www.privacyrights.org/Letters/jm1a.htm.

When you register, your name and address are placed in a "do not mail" file which is updated monthly. DMA members are required to update their lists at least quarterly, and some do it monthly. Businesses who are not members of the DMA may also take advantage of this "do not mail" list, so registering with the DMA will reduce much of your junk mail.

Register online. You may also sign up online at the DMA's website. There is no fee for online registration. Visit:: https://www.dmachoice.org/dma/member/regist.action DMA says this option is quicker than by postal mail.

or go to: http://www.obviously.com/junkmail for some great tips and more detailed information.

How do I stop receiving credit card offers?

To stop receiving credit card offers in the mail: Call 888-5 OPT OUT (1-888-567-8688)
One call reaches these agencies: Equifax, Trans Union, Experian, and Innovis

How do I reduce unwanted catalog mailings?

To stop receiving unwanted catalog mailings:
Send your full name, including middle initial, and your current address to:

Abacus
P.O. Box 1478
Broomfield, CO 80038

OR e-mail your information to:
optout@abacus-direct.com

How do I receive my free annual credit report?

To receive your free annual credit report go to:

www.annualcreditreport.com
OR call 1-877-322-8228

How do I report Identity Theft?

To report Identity Theft:

Call the Federal Trade Commission at 1-877-ID THEFT (1-877-438-4338)

OR write them at:
ID Theft Clearinghouse, FTC
600 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington, DC 20580

OR access their website at www.consumer.gov/idtheft

OR Call the Social Security Fraud Hotline at 1-800-269-0271

OR access their website at www.ssa.gov

Call each of the three credit bureaus listed below and request a “fraud alert” be placed on your account.

Credit Bureau	To obtain a Credit Report	To Report Fraud
Equifax www.equifax.com	Call: 1-800-685-1111 Write: PO Box 740241 Atlanta, GA 30374-0241	Call: 1-800-525-6285 AND Write: address at left
Experian www.experian.com	Call: 1-888-EXPERIAN (1-888-397-3742) Write: PO Box 2104 Allen, TX 19022	Call: 1-888-397-3742 Or Write: address at left
TransUnion www.tuc.com	Call: 1-800-916-8800 Write: PO Box 1000 Chester, PA 19022	Call: 1-800-680-7289 AND Write: Fraud Victims Asst Div PO Box 6790 Fullerton, CA 92634

What documents should I shred?

Always shred junk mail and old papers that list your social security number, birth date, signature, account numbers, passwords or PINS.
Also shred deposit slips and ATM and credit card receipts immediately after you get your monthly statements. Shred old ID cards such as expired ID’s, insurance cards and passports.
Shred paycheck stubs at the end of the year after you have received your W-2 or other tax forms.
Shred monthly retirement and investment statements after you get the annual statement for the year.
DO NOT ever shred items such as original Social Security cards, birth certificates, mortgage paperwork, deeds or wills

How long should I keep records?

Type of Record	Length of time to keep
Tax Returns / Records for tax deductions taken / Canceled checks / receipts	Seven Years
IRA Contributions	Permanently
Retirement / savings plan statements	From one year to permanently
Bank Records	From one year to permanently
Brokerage Statements	Until you sell the securities
Bills	From one year to permanently
Credit card receipts and statements	From 45 days to seven years
Paycheck Stubs	One year
House Records	From six years to permanently

Are permanent records really kept forever?

Not always. Permanent records are permanent only for the person or asset concerned, but may not be relevant after the person or asset has expired. In some cases, permanent records for a person may be kept with family heirs forever. Permanent records for an asset are filed with taxes when sold or passed to a new owner. When the asset eventually expires, in practice, the file should be removed to check warranty information, replacement costs, or to make an insurance claim in the case of damage or theft. For this reason, there is no need to purse permanent files.

*The listings above are recommendations only. Always confirm with your tax consultant or legal advisor before destroying documents.