How to stop mail and reduce identity fraud after a death: the Bereavement Register, DNS and Deceased Preference Service explained

After a death, the deceased's post keeps coming. Marketing letters from charities, statements from banks, renewal notices from companies that have not been told. Each one is a small reminder of someone who is no longer here. Some of it is also a security risk. Identity fraud against deceased people is a real and well-documented pattern. The longer accounts and mailing lists stay active, the wider the surface for someone to exploit.

This guide explains the four free services that work together to stop unwanted mail and protect the deceased's identity, plus the paid Royal Mail option for redirecting genuine post. It sets out how each one differs, in what order to use them, and what none of them can do.

Why this matters

Around 40 million pieces of post are sent to deceased individuals in the UK each year. Some of it is unsolicited marketing. Some of it is from organisations that genuinely do not yet know the person has died. A small but consistent share is fraudulent: criminals using death registry data to target estates with phishing letters, fake debt collection demands, or applications for credit in the deceased's name.

The Crown Prosecution Service, CIFAS and the National Crime Agency all flag identity fraud against the deceased as a recognised category, sometimes called "ghosting" or "impersonation of the deceased" (IOD). It is not common in headline-news terms, but it is consistent enough that the major credit reference agencies and most direct marketing organisations now screen against shared death records as a matter of policy.

The four free services below are the practical infrastructure that lets families opt into that screening. Using them takes about 30 minutes total, and most stop unsolicited mail within six weeks.

The four services and what each does

There are four free services, each covering a slightly different set of senders. There is overlap, but no single service covers everything. We recommend registering with all four.

The Bereavement Register

The Bereavement Register is run by Serco Global Services. It is the most widely used of the four services and is referenced by NHS guidance, Citizens Advice and most funeral directors. Registration is free for the bereaved (direct marketing companies pay to access the database).

When you register a deceased person, their name and address are added to a secure database. Direct marketing companies subscribing to the service check their mailing lists against the register and remove matches before sending. According to The Bereavement Register, you should see a significant reduction in unsolicited mail within six weeks, and virtually no marketing mail within six months.

The Bereavement Register works regardless of when the person died. You can register someone who passed away years ago and still see a reduction in mail.

To register: thebereavementregister.org.uk or 020 7089 6403.

The Deceased Preference Service

The Deceased Preference Service is a separate database that overlaps with but is not identical to the Bereavement Register. It is used by a different set of direct marketing companies and is also free.

The Deceased Preference Service shares deceased details with credit reference agencies and financial institutions to help detect and prevent identity fraud applications. This is the specific service most directly aimed at identity fraud prevention rather than just mail reduction.

To register: deceasedpreferenceservice.co.uk or 0800 068 4433.

Mailing Preference Service

The Mailing Preference Service (MPS) is the UK's official preference service operated by the Data and Marketing Association (DMA). Companies that are members of the DMA are required by law to screen their mailing lists against the MPS.

There is a specific deceased version of the MPS for registering someone who has died. Like the others, it is free.

The MPS deceased registration is a useful cross-check because it covers a slightly different set of senders to the Bereavement Register and DPS. Some companies are members of the DMA without subscribing to the Bereavement Register, and vice versa.

To register: mpsonline.org.uk or 0207 291 3310.

Telephone Preference Service

If the deceased had a landline or registered mobile that is still active, telemarketing calls can be reduced by registering the number with the Telephone Preference Service. The Bereavement Register and DPS will already have removed the deceased from many telemarketing lists, but the TPS adds a separate layer.

To register: tpsonline.org.uk or 0345 070 0707.

Royal Mail Special Circumstances Redirection

This is different from the four services above. The four free services stop unwanted post. Royal Mail Redirection forwards wanted post (statements, official letters, anything addressed to the deceased that needs to be acted on) to a different address, usually the executor's home.

Royal Mail's Special Circumstances Redirection is the version of the service designed for use after a death. It costs a one-off fee (around £36 for three months at the time of writing, with longer periods available) and requires application by post or in person at a Post Office branch. The current price and terms are available at royalmail.com/redirection.

To apply, you need:

• The deceased's name and last address

• The forwarding address

• Proof of your identity

• Either the death certificate, the Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration, or proof you are acting under power of attorney that was active before death

The redirection captures all post addressed to the deceased at their last address and forwards it to wherever you specify. This is particularly useful in two situations: when the deceased's property has been sold or rented out, and when the executor is dealing with the estate from a different city.

A note on what Royal Mail Redirection does not do: it cannot redirect parcels sent through couriers other than Royal Mail or Parcelforce. If the deceased had ongoing deliveries from DPD, Hermes, Evri, Amazon Logistics or any other courier, those have to be managed by contacting the sender directly.

The Death Notification Service is different

The Death Notification Service (DNS) is sometimes mentioned alongside the services above, but it does something different. The DNS is a service operated by Equiniti in collaboration with UK Finance and a number of UK banks, building societies and financial institutions. It allows you to notify multiple banks of a death in one notification.

The DNS is for closing financial accounts, not for stopping mail. It will not affect marketing post, charity mail or telemarketing. Our companion guide on the Death Notification Service covers exactly who is signed up and how to use it.

If you are working through bereavement admin, you will likely use both the DNS (for banks and credit cards) and the Bereavement Register, DPS and MPS (for mail). They are complementary services rather than alternatives.

The order to do this in

You will get the best result by registering with the four free services first, in the same session, and then deciding whether you also need Royal Mail Redirection.

Recommended order:

1. The Bereavement Register (largest reach, most direct marketing companies subscribe)

2. The Deceased Preference Service (covers credit and financial firms specifically)

3. Mailing Preference Service Deceased (covers DMA members)

4. Telephone Preference Service if the deceased's phone numbers are still active

Each registration takes a few minutes. None of them require a death certificate (they work on the basis of the registrant's declaration). All four can be done online or by phone.

Royal Mail Redirection is a separate decision. It is worth setting up if the deceased's property is being sold or vacated, or if the executor is not based at the deceased's address.

What none of these services do

Even with all of the above in place, post will keep arriving for some time. There are several reasons.

Pre-printed mailings. Direct marketing campaigns are often printed weeks before they are posted. A campaign already in production at the time of registration will still arrive. This usually settles down within six to eight weeks.

Companies the deceased had a relationship with. The four services above only stop unsolicited marketing. They do not stop post from companies the deceased actually used: utilities, insurers, banks, mortgage providers, charities they donated to. These have to be contacted individually.

Charities not affiliated with the major preference services. Some smaller charities run their own mailing lists and are not members of the DMA or signed up to the Bereavement Register. They will keep mailing until told directly.

Old direct mail lists. Some companies use lists they purchased years ago. They may not refresh them often. Mail from these sources can persist for months despite preference service registrations.

Mail to a property the deceased is no longer at. If the deceased had recently moved or used a previous address, post can keep arriving at the old address. Royal Mail Redirection is the only way to capture this fully.

Council tax, utility and benefit letters. Each of these is from an organisation the deceased had an account with, so they sit outside the preference services. Tell Us Once will handle the council tax and benefits side. Utilities have to be notified individually, as covered in our guide on what happens to bills when someone dies.

Identity fraud prevention beyond mail

Stopping mail is one part of identity fraud prevention. The other parts are:

Closing accounts promptly. The longer an account stays open, the larger the window for fraud. Banks should be notified within four weeks of the death. The Death Notification Service handles many of them in one step.

Cancelling cards. Debit cards, credit cards, store cards and any other card linked to the deceased's name should be cancelled. The card numbers are the most commonly used data point in identity fraud.

Removing the deceased from the electoral register. Tell Us Once handles this for the local authority. If you did not use Tell Us Once, contact the local council directly. The electoral register is a public document and is one of the data sources fraudsters use to check whether an identity is "live".

Notifying credit reference agencies. Equifax, Experian and TransUnion all have processes for adding a deceased flag to a credit file. The Bereavement Register and DPS share data with the credit reference agencies, so registering with those services usually triggers this. If you want to verify it has been done, you can contact each agency directly.

Securing physical documents. Passport, driving licence, NHS card, Blue Badge, library cards. Cancel where possible (the Passport Office and DVLA are notified through Tell Us Once). For the documents not cancelled, store them securely or destroy them if no longer needed.

Watching for suspicious activity. For around six months after the death, watch the deceased's mail for any letter from a bank, lender, utility company or government department that does not match a known account. A letter from a credit card company the deceased did not use, or a debt collection notice for an unfamiliar account, can be the first sign of an attempted fraud. Report any concern to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040.

What to do with mail that keeps arriving

The most useful single action is to write "Deceased, return to sender" on the envelope and put it back in the post. By law, the sender bears the cost of returning post and most reputable companies use these returns to update their records.

A more practical version: open and sort the post once a week. Anything that is from a company the deceased had a relationship with goes into a "to action" pile. Anything that is unsolicited marketing gets the "Deceased, return to sender" treatment. Letters of suspected fraudulent intent (a debt demand for an unfamiliar account, an offer of credit in the deceased's name) should be photographed and reported to Action Fraud.

Most families find the volume of post tapers off significantly within two months and is largely under control within six months.

Common questions

Are these services run by the government? No. The Bereavement Register is run by Serco. The Deceased Preference Service is operated by an independent commercial body. The Mailing Preference Service is run by the DMA. None of them is a government service. They are independent registers that direct marketing companies have agreed to screen against.

Are they free? The four preference services are free for the bereaved. The marketing companies that use the data pay to subscribe, which is what funds the service. Royal Mail Redirection is paid.

How long does it take to see a difference? Six weeks for a noticeable reduction. Six months for the change to be largely complete. Some persistent senders will continue beyond that.

Can someone else register on the deceased's behalf? Yes. Anyone with sufficient knowledge of the deceased can register them. Solicitors, executors, family members and friends can all use the services.

Can these services stop bank statements and bills? No. They only stop direct marketing. Bank statements, utility bills, benefit letters and other operational post require notifying each organisation individually.

Will registering stop post to the deceased's old address as well as their last address? Only if both addresses are entered. If the deceased recently moved, register both addresses to maximise coverage.

Do these services cover Scotland and Northern Ireland? Yes. All four are UK-wide.

What about email and online accounts? The services in this guide are about physical mail. Email accounts, social media profiles and online accounts have their own bereavement processes. Most major platforms (Apple, Google, Facebook, Microsoft) have specific procedures for memorialising or closing the deceased's account.

How Legacy Trail can help

Stopping mail is one part of bereavement administration. Closing accounts, notifying utilities, cancelling subscriptions and dealing with insurers are the others. Legacy Trail handles the full set in one place, including registration with the Bereavement Register and Deceased Preference Service alongside the other notifications.

If you want to handle the rest of it without contacting every organisation individually, Legacy Trail can do the private sector work in one place. We find the accounts, notify the providers, and confirm closures back to you. The visible part of bereavement admin is hard enough. The hidden part does not have to be.

legacytrail.co.uk