Frequently Asked Questions - Stop Phone Books
I need help making my opt-out requests on the website.
Please submit questions about how to use the website to Catalog Choice by using the “Contact Us” link at the bottom of their website.
You can also email questions to Catalog Choice at team@catalogchoice.org, or you can call them at (510) 868-4327 (please note that the phone number is long distance).
I need translation/interpretation assistance.
For translation and interpretation assistance, call the City’s customer service phone line at (206) 684-3000 from 7:30am-6:00pm, Monday-Friday. Press 4 for “Garbage, Recycling or Food & Yard Waste Service,” and then Press 3 for “All Other Solid Waste Services” to speak with a representative.
What is the City of Seattle’s “Stop Phone Books” service?
Seattle’s “Stop Phone Books” service is a free service that allows Seattle residents and businesses to easily opt out of receiving yellow pages phone books, choosing only those phone books they want to receive.
Why is the City of Seattle sponsoring this phone book opt-out service?
Every year, Seattle homes and businesses receive an estimated 17,500 tons of unwanted paper in the form of junk mail and yellow pages phone books. That’s about 100 pounds per household.
A yellow pages opt-out service benefits the City of Seattle by:
- saving money on waste disposal costs;
- protecting our environment by conserving natural resources and reducing greenhouse gas emissions; and
- protecting the privacy of our customers by preventing unwanted waste from ending up on their doorsteps.
Is the phone books service free to Seattle businesses and residents?
Yes.
Will this service eliminate all phone books I receive?
Seattle’s service allows you to opt out of the following five yellow pages phone books distributed in Seattle:
- DEX Seattle Metro
- DEX Seattle Metro Plus
- Greater Seattle Yellowbook
- Seattle – Superpages
- SnoKing-Seattle
If you are receiving additional phone books, such as those distributed as part of a membership in an organization, then you will need to contact that organization to make your opt-out request.
Who’s paying for this service?
The companies that publish phone books fund this service through a $0.14 fee paid to the City of Seattle for every yellow pages phone book delivered in Seattle.
Who is Catalog Choice?
The City of Seattle has contracted with Catalog Choice to manage the phone book opt-out service. Catalog Choice is a non-profit organization that has been running a nation-wide mail opt-out service since 2007. Residents and businesses can also use the Catalog Choice website to opt out of many sources of junk mail.
How do I submit my phone book preferences?
Choose any one of these easy methods:
- Go to the City’s Stop Phone Books website for instructions on how to submit your phone book preferences online.
- From a touch-tone phone, call the City’s automated opt-out phone line at (206) 504-3066.
- A mail-in form will be sent to Seattle households in July 2011. Just fill it out and mail it back.
To request mail-in forms in Spanish, Vietnamese, Chinese, Tagalog, Somali or Korean, call the City’s customer service phone line at (206) 684-3000 from 7:30am-6:00pm, Monday-Friday. Press 4 for “Garbage, Recycling or Food & Yard Waste Service,” and then Press 3 for “All Other Solid Waste Services” to speak with a representative.
Does everyone in my household need to opt out to stop receiving phone books?
No. Only one member of your household needs to make the request for your address.
I just moved in and want to receive a phone book. What do I do?
Visit the Catalog Choice website and create a free account to manage which phone books you want to receive at your new address.
Can I opt out my entire apartment/condo complex?
No. Only the resident who occupies a specific address or unit can opt themselves out of receiving phone books.
However, you can educate your tenants or neighbors about Seattle’s Stop Phone Books service and hand out mail-in forms. Forms are available in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Chinese, Tagalog, Somali and Korean. To request mail-in forms, call the City’s customer service phone line at (206) 684-3000 from 7:30am-6:00pm, Monday-Friday. Press 4 for “Garbage, Recycling or Food & Yard Waste Service,” and then Press 3 for “All Other Solid Waste Services” to speak with a representative.
Can I use the opt-out service for my business?
Yes. A business can set up an account to submit phone book preferences, or an individual can add a business address to their personal account.
Businesses with multiple addresses can use a single account to make requests for each address.
Does everyone in my business need to opt out to stop receiving phone books?
No. A single employee can opt out a business address, though businesses will want to authorize this action.
Can I opt out all the businesses in the building I own or manage?
No. Only the business occupying a specific address or suite can opt themselves out of receiving phone books.
However, you can educate your tenants about Seattle’s Stop Phone Books service and hand out mail-in forms. Forms are available in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Chinese, Tagalog, Somali and Korean. To request mail-in forms, call the City’s customer service phone line at (206) 684-3000 from 7:30am-6:00pm, Monday-Friday. Press 4 for “Garbage, Recycling or Food & Yard Waste Service,” and then Press 3 for “All Other Solid Waste Services” to speak with a representative.
Can I request more than one phone book for my business?
Yes. You can indicate the number of phone books you want as part of your request when using the Catalog Choice website.
You cannot use the opt-out phone line or mail-in form to request multiple copies of phone books.
Can I submit an opt-out request without creating an account on the website?
No. The website requires users to create an account in order to submit opt-out requests. Only your name, address and phone number, if entered, will be forwarded to the yellow pages publishers. E-mail and other information are kept confidential under Catalog Choice’s privacy policies.
You can also submit requests by calling the City’s automated opt-out phone line at (206) 504-3066.
Why does the website ask for my e-mail address?
The website uses your e-mail address as your account number in order to:
- prevent fraudulent use of the opt-out system; and
- allow you to later use the website to submit a complaint if a book was delivered incorrectly after opting out.
Why do the mail-in form and opt-out phone line ask for my phone number?
The mail-in form and phone line use your phone number as your account number in order to:
- prevent fraudulent use of the opt-out system; and
- allow you to later use the automated opt-out phone line at (206) 504-3066 to submit a complaint if a book was delivered incorrectly after opting out.
Is my personal information kept private?
Yes. The City of Seattle has contracted with Catalog Choice to manage the phone book opt-out service. Catalog Choice is required by contract to never rent, sell, or release your name and personal information for any purpose other than fulfilling your specific opt-out requests.
When are phone books delivered in Seattle?
The following is a list of estimated 2011 delivery dates:
June 17 to July 31: DEX Seattle Metro and DEX Seattle Metro Plus
Oct 24 to Dec 5: Seattle - Superpages and SnoKing-Seattle
Nov 10 to Jan 5: Greater Seattle Yellowbook
Once I opt-out, how long will it take to stop receiving phone books?
Phone book companies are required to honor all opt-out requests submitted 30 or more days prior to the first day of the company’s annual delivery cycle in Seattle. If you submit a request after the deadline, then you won't stop receiving that brand of phone book until the following year.
How long do my opt-out selections last? Will I need to opt out again in the future?
You only need to submit your opt-out requests once per address. They do not expire.
If you move to a new address, you will need to submit new opt-out preferences for that address to replace the previous occupants’ preferences. (There is a security check on this activity.)
I received a phone book after opting out. What do I do?
You can file a complaint if you received a phone book incorrectly after opting out. In order to submit a complaint, you must have opted out 30 or more days prior to the first day of the company’s annual delivery cycle in Seattle.
The following is a list of deadlines for opting out if you want to stop phone book delivery in 2011:
May 16, 2011: DEX Seattle Metro and DEX Seattle Metro Plus
September 23, 2011: Greater Seattle Yellowbook
October 9, 2011: Seattle - Superpages and SnoKing-Seattle
If you submitted your opt-out request by the deadline but still received a book, log on to the Catalog Choice website, go to “Your Choices” and click on the “Details” button for the offending company. This will bring you to the Activity Statement where you will see a record of your requests and find the “File a Complaint” button.
If you submitted your opt-out request by phone or mail, call our automated phone line at (206) 504-3066 to submit a complaint.
If you didn’t make your opt-out requests in time, you may continue to receive phone books this year. However, your opt-out requests will not expire and you can submit complaints in future years if a book is delivered incorrectly.
What happens when I submit a complaint that a phone book was delivered after I opted out?
Seattle’s system tracks complaints when opt-out requests are not honored by the phone book companies. The City of Seattle collects this information and may fine the companies that fail to honor requests.
How is Seattle’s opt-out service different from other phone book opt-out services?
Many Seattle customers have complained that they still received phone books after opting out through other methods. Seattle’s phone book opt-out service is the only one that tracks complaints when opt-out requests are not honored, and may lead to fines for the companies that don’t honor the requests.
I already opted out through another phone book opt-out service. Do I need to opt out again through Seattle’s service?
If your previous requests are not being honored, you may wish to use Seattle’s service to opt out. You may also use Seattle’s service to track requests submitted through the City’s site, and submit complaints.
I don’t remember if I already opted out of receiving phone books. Can I submit a new request through Seattle’s service?
Yes. Your latest request will override any previous requests submitted through other opt-out services and websites.
How do I properly dispose of the phone books that I currently have, but don’t want anymore?
Seattle businesses and residents can recycle their unwanted phone books in their residential curbside or commercial collection recycling bins. Businesses and apartments with a lot of books to discard should avoid filling the recycling bin with too many books at one time.