Is it possible for you to look into the practice of Virgin Media continually sending out letters addressed to “The Occupier” to get around advertising mailing restrictions. My mother is elderly and does not need the extra mail. I have rung Virgin Media three times and it has been aggressive with me, and nothing happens. My mother gets a letter every fortnight.
I would be prepared to say it is beyond inconvenient. It is harassment. SK, Warley, West Midlands
Your mother is not alone in feeling harassed by Virgin Media. We also live in a Virgin Media cable area and get a letter every few weeks – always sent to “The Occupier”. We just chuck ours straight in the recycling bin, but have long felt it is a huge waste of paper. We asked the company about your mother’s experience and why it keeps sending this stuff out so often – and, crucially, what readers can do to stop them.
A spokeswoman confirmed that your mother’s address has been removed from its systems, which should halt the letters. She says others who want to stop all unaddressed mail need to send their name and address details to: Freepost RSTR-YCYS-TGLJ, Royal Mail Door to Door Opt Outs, Kingsmead House, Oxpens Road, Oxford, OX1 1AA. It can take up to six weeks to stop all non-named mail. Virgin didn’t explain why it sends out so many of these letters.
We welcome letters but cannot answer individually. Email us at consumer.champions@theguardian.com or write to Consumer Champions, Money, the Guardian, 90 York Way, London N1 9GU. Please include a daytime phone number
