Unwanted Direct Mail for the Deceased?

Imagine a family member dies. Let’s call her Aunt Jo. You live with Aunt Jo in the same household. A week after she died, there’s a mail for her in your mailbox. In the next months, you keep getting mails for Aunt Jo. Mostly, it’s from companies selling things. It is difficult enough when a loved one to die, dealing with these unwanted mails adds to your emotional distress.

How can you make these mails stop? Who could you call to inform them that Aunt Jo has died? You know that Aunt Jo was a staunch green activist. She believed in decreasing one’s ecological footprint as much as possible. Aunt Jo would surely be turning in her grave if she knows how much junk mail is still being sent to her. 

This is where the Canadian Bereavement Registry can help. I didn’t know there was such a thing until a friend told me about it. And it made sense to me. The registry make it possible for companies to remove the names and addresses of the deceased from their mailing list. Do you know that a deceased person will continue to receive 100 items of direct mail during the first twelve months following their death? Receiving a phone call for the deceased can be more upsetting than receiving a letter. Although not essential the phone number is used as an additional reference to stop tele-marketers phoning in the first place.

The service that the registry provides is FREE! It’s a compassionate service that allows us to continue caring for the earth even after we die.

To know more about the Canadian Bereavement Registry, you’ll find their FAQ below.

You can visit their website here.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will this information be used for any other purpose?

No. We will only use this information for its original purpose i.e. removing names of the deceased from marketing lists.​

Is there a cost for this?

No. This is a free service to the bereaved. Our income is derived from the marketing companies that use this information to update their existing marketing lists.

Why do you need the date of birth?

The date of birth is needed to accurately match the name and address of the deceased. In some cases it is possible to have a person with the same name in the same town, but it is unlikely that they share the same date of birth.

Why do you request the phone number?

Receiving a phone call for the deceased can be more upsetting than receiving a letter. Although not essential the phone number is used as an additional reference to stop tele-marketers phoning in the first place.

How long does it take?

You should start to notice a reduction in mail and/or phone calls within 2 to 3 weeks.

Can I register by post or email?

Yes. You can submit registrations via the details on our ‘Contact’ page.

What if the mail/calls do not stop?

If you continue to receive letters or marketing calls for the deceased, then please collate the details and forward to us at our address and we will contact these organizations on your behalf, free of charge.