FED up that your mailbox is being clogged up with fast-food coupons, supermarket promotions and furniture catalogues that you have no use for?

Well, you may not know it, but you can opt not to get these items, known as admail.

Only 4 per cent of the people who told us they disliked getting admail knew of such an option.

Admail is unaddressed advertising mail and can come in the form of promotional offers, savings coupons or free magazines and catalogues.

It is a service provided by postal companies, including SingPost here.

The New Paper had earlier randomly asked 100 people if they found admail useful or saw it as a nuisance.

The results were split right down the middle. Half said they like receiving admail while the other half didn't.

But only two out of the 50 people who found admail annoying knew that SingPost offers recipients an opt-out option.

To opt out, a person can call SingPost at 6845 6210 or send an e-mail to singpost@singpost.com.

A SingPost spokesman said the contact details are printed at the top of mailboxes at every HDB block.

CALLS UNANSWERED

Freelance salesman Mr Seezer Paulose, 50, who finds admail a turn-off, claimed he had called the admail number to ask if he could stop receiving such mail, but his calls were not answered.

He said: '(The sign) is not clear. The number just states 'Admail' and doesn't say there's an opt-out option.

'Why must it be opt-out anyway? Shouldn't it be an opt-in? That way, you don't waste paper. And you get the right audience.'

Responding to our queries, the SingPost spokesman explained that being a mail service provider, SingPost is obliged to deliver all mail, addressed and unaddressed, as instructed by the senders.

'Admail delivery is a service provided by postal service providers worldwide,' she said.

'The opt-out service is a practice adopted by postal administrations everywhere.'

Admail sent by SingPost have to meet certain criteria: The mail must be a minimum A6 size and printed in at least two colours. Photocopied admail is not accepted.

The spokesman could not reveal the revenue they make from admail or the advertising rates they charge as it is business-sensitive information.

Mr Paulose, however, wasn't happy. 'We used to receive a lot of junk mail and we would throw them away.

'Then there came the option to lock our mailbox. But now, we're still getting things we don't want. They don't even ask if we want the mail,' he said.

'If you look into the rubbish bins next to the letterboxes, you will see they are filled with admail. It's such an irony, especially since saving the earth is a hot topic these days.'

But there are people who find admail useful. Sales executive Ms Catherine Chua, 31, is one of them.

'I like the discount vouchers, especially those for fast food restaurants and household essentials like gas. With rising costs, such coupons help me save money,' she said.

The SingPost spokesman said some of their clients find admail effective in reaching out to potential customers.

She added: '(They) include Ikea, KFC, McDonald's and Carrefour. (For example) Ikea sends out its annual catalogue via the admail service.'

Some netizens have voiced concerns on Internet forums about missing out on mass-mailed Government advisories if they opt out.

But SingPost said those who opt out will still receive government mail and those from government agencies.

Vivien Chan, newsroom intern

This story was first published in The New Paper on July 25, 2008