Kokua Line June Watanabe

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Unsolicited mail can mean a free gift

Question: How do I get rid of address labels from charitable organizations? Can I send them back? How do I get them to stop them from sending them to me?

Answer: The Better Business Bureau of Hawaii is a good source of information on charities and other nonprofit organizations, not only to check them out, but also for tips on how to deal with their unwanted solicitations.

One of its "advisories" deals with "Handling Unwanted Direct Mail from Charities and Other Nonprofit Soliciting Organizations."

Among the tips it passed on to "Kokua Line":

» Write to each organization to request that your name be deleted from their mailing list or that your name not be on any list that is exchanged or "rented."

» When writing to request a name removal, include the address label that appears on the outside of the envelope and/or return card. If you are receiving duplicate mailings, send all the different address labels.

» If you continue to receive solicitations despite repeated requests to have your name removed from a list, contact the BBB of Hawaii for help. Call 536-6956 or e-mail info@hawaii.bbb.org.

» You can also write to the Direct Marketing Association to request that your name be deleted from the mailing lists of certain direct mail marketers, including some nonprofit organizations. Send your request to Mail Preference Service, DMA, P.O. Box 643, Carmel, NY 10512.

By writing to the DMA, you can get your name removed only from the lists of businesses and organizations that subscribe to the association's service.

The BBB points out that, by law, you have no obligation to return anything to the sender of unsolicited merchandise.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Postal Service allows you to deal with unsolicited merchandise in three ways:

» If you have not opened the package, mark it "Return to Sender," and the Postal Service will return it with no postage charged to you.

» If you open the package and don't like what you find, you may throw it away.

» If you open the package and like what you find, you may keep it for free.

Mahalo

To Jesse Greg (spelling?), who found and turned in my check card. I had lost it some time during the Honolulu Festival weekend, possibly at the Hawai'i Convention Center. When I called my bank, they said that a Jesse Greg had called to report it found. I don't know who you are, but thank you, thank you, thank you! I will do 10 good deeds in return. -- Stewart

Mahalo

To Mr. Kamemoto, who lives on East Manoa Road. I was in Manoa looking for Paradise Park on Saturday, March 25. I saw Mr. Kamemoto in his yard and told him I was lost. He told me to wait, then got in his car and said to follow him. We went way up to a turning point, and he told me where to go from there. I am grateful for his time and act of kindness. -- Yoshi