Mailing Preference Service

The Mailing Preference Service (MPS) is a free, industry-funded scheme that lets UK residents opt out of receiving personally addressed unsolicited direct mail. It is the equivalent of the Telephone Preference Service for postal marketing and is honoured by most members of the Direct Marketing Association. [source: mps/home-2026-04-29.html]

Registration takes between two and four months to take full effect, because direct-mail campaigns are prepared weeks in advance and existing campaigns continue to land before the suppression takes hold. Effects appear gradually rather than as a clean cut-off. The service does not stop mail from companies the deceased had a prior business relationship with, charities they previously donated to, or small local businesses; those need to be notified individually. [source: mps/home-2026-04-29.html]

Registering with MPS in addition to the Bereavement Register is the recommended belt-and-braces approach. The two services overlap but use different industry lists, and registering with both catches a wider set of senders. [source: mps/home-2026-04-29.html]

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Last verified: 29 April 2026 against mpsonline.org.uk.