The trials of being greener.

I feel it is my civic and human duty to share the experience I had to attempt to remove just ONE companies junk mail (for credit cards of all vile things) from my mailbox.

The Criminal: Citibank

Citibank has sent me dozens of mail items to entice me into opening credit cards with them that I do not want nor need. Rather than allow them to continue, I today upon receiving the mail decided that enough was indeed enough.

Step 1: Research..

I browsed through the internet briefly doing google (and bing) searches for citi bank junk mail opt out ...stop citi junk mail...citibank junk mail...etc. etc. Never did I turn up a phone number to address mailings or marketing opt outs. Sooo... I dialed the only thing I could really come up with that might be close ...the Enrollment number 1-800-374-9700.

Step 2: Action

After speaking incoherently to the automated system and punching wrong numbers in with my face...I finally reached a human being. I let him know my goal to save some trees/save the planet and he said sure and directed me towards 1-800-950-5114 where a lady with a pleasant voice offered to help me. I informed her again of my goal but she informed me that there was nothing she or Citi could do to remove my information from their systems. She informed me that I would have to contact my bank to have me eliminate 3rd party sharing. I directly asked her if I did that, would I not receive future mail from Citi, she assured me that I would not. Back to more research...

Step 3: More Research

Back on the internet to try and hunt down a phone number for USBank. Once again, no discernible contact information on opting out of marketing was available so I contacted the straightforward 24hr help line for St. Louis 314-425-2000.

Step 4: More Action

I jumped through NUMEROUS menus at this number and eventually settled on account information. I punched in my social security information and ended up choosing option 0 to speak with a specialist. I waited on hold somewhere in the neighborhood of 10 to 15 minutes, not great, not terrible (watched some eco trip as I waited...highly recommend it). Finally a very nice (and possibly cute) woman assisted me and somewhat chuckled at my plight. She said that she removed me from any further mail or phone marketing and said that she would think Citi would be able to remove me from their system as well. I asked her if she knew that my actions with her would eliminate future mailings from Citi...she said she was unsure. (at least she was honest).

Step 5: Wait, See, Share

Total time invested in this project (including time spent typing this): 1.5hrs

1.5 hours to ATTEMPT to remove just ONE piece of junk-mail from my mailbox. At this point all I can do is wait and see what happens when I get the next piece of Citi mail ...which I'm near certain I still will. I'm sharing this with you to hopefully educate you on how absolutely corrupt and ridiculous our simple day to day lives are. What ELSE could the resources (paper...transportation..etc. etc.) that are used in this junk mail be used for? The lives we live are designed to keep us trapped and helpless. You can say/think I'm being dramatic, but I challenge you to start looking at how difficult it is to change the things you think should change... Try to do something about it.

I am.