How to stop deceased mail: the Bereavement Register and Deceased Preference Service explained

How do you stop mail addressed to someone who has died?

You stop mail addressed to someone who has died by registering them with four free preference services, then dealing with genuine senders individually. The four registers stop unsolicited marketing mail. Post from organisations the deceased actually used, such as banks and utilities, only stops when each organisation is told directly. Our guide on who to notify when someone dies covers those direct notifications.

• The Bereavement Register: removes the deceased from direct marketing mailing lists. Free. Register at thebereavementregister.org.uk or on 020 7089 6403.

• Deceased Preference Service: removes the deceased from a separate set of mailing lists and shares data with credit reference agencies. Free. Register at deceasedpreferenceservice.co.uk or on 0800 068 4433.

• Mailing Preference Service (deceased): screens mailing lists of Data and Marketing Association members. Free. Register at mpsonline.org.uk or on 0207 291 3310.

• Telephone Preference Service: reduces telemarketing calls to the deceased's active phone numbers. Free. Register at tpsonline.org.uk or on 0345 070 0707.

• Royal Mail Special Circumstances Redirection: forwards all post addressed to the deceased to another address. From £45 for 3 months (royalmail.com). Apply by post or at a Post Office branch.

There is overlap between the four free registers, but no single one covers every sender. Registering with all four in the same session gives the widest coverage. Each registration takes a few minutes, online or by phone.

What is the Bereavement Register?

The Bereavement Register is a free service, run by Serco Global Services, that removes a deceased person's name and address from direct marketing mailing lists. It is the most widely used of the UK's deceased mail services and is referenced by NHS guidance, Citizens Advice and most funeral directors. Registration is free for the bereaved because 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 that subscribe to the service check their mailing lists against the register and remove matches before sending.

The Bereavement Register works regardless of when the person died, so you can register someone who died years ago and still see a reduction in mail. Registration does not require a death certificate.

How long does the Bereavement Register take to work?

According to The Bereavement Register, you should see a significant reduction in unsolicited mail within 6 weeks of registering, and virtually no marketing mail within 6 months. Direct marketing campaigns are often printed weeks before they are posted, so a campaign already in production at the time of registration will still arrive. This usually settles down within 6 to 8 weeks.

Most families find the volume of post tapers off significantly within 2 months and is largely under control within 6 months. Some persistent senders, particularly companies using mailing lists purchased years ago, continue beyond that until told directly.

What is the difference between the Bereavement Register and Deceased Preference Service?

The Bereavement Register and the Deceased Preference Service are separate databases used by different sets of direct marketing companies, so registering with both gives wider coverage than either alone. Both are free.

The Deceased Preference Service has one extra role. The Deceased Preference Service shares deceased details with credit reference agencies and financial institutions to help detect and prevent fraudulent credit applications in the deceased's name. That makes it the service most directly aimed at identity fraud prevention rather than just mail reduction.

The Mailing Preference Service adds a third layer. The Mailing Preference Service is operated by the Data and Marketing Association (DMA), and DMA members are required by law to screen their mailing lists against it. It has a specific deceased registration, and it catches companies that are DMA members but do not subscribe to the Bereavement Register. If the deceased's landline or mobile is still active, the Telephone Preference Service reduces telemarketing calls as a fourth layer.

Can you redirect mail for a deceased person?

Yes, you can redirect mail for a deceased person using Royal Mail's Special Circumstances Redirection, which forwards everything addressed to the deceased at their last address to an address you choose, usually the executor's home. This is the opposite job to the free registers. The registers stop unwanted post; the redirection forwards wanted post, such as statements and official letters that need action.

Post redirection after death costs from £45 for 3 months, with 6 and 12-month periods also available (royalmail.com). You apply by post or in person at a Post Office branch. 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, letters of administration, or proof you were acting under a power of attorney that was active before the death. Our guide on how many death certificates you need covers ordering extra copies

Redirection is most useful when the deceased's property is being sold, rented out or vacated, or when the executor lives in a different city. Royal Mail Redirection cannot redirect parcels sent through couriers other than Royal Mail or Parcelforce. Deliveries from DPD, Evri, Amazon Logistics or any other courier have to be stopped by contacting the sender directly.

Is the Death Notification Service the same as the Bereavement Register?

No. The Death Notification Service is for telling banks about a death, not for stopping mail. The Death Notification Service is operated by Equiniti in collaboration with UK Finance, and it lets you notify multiple banks, building societies and financial institutions of a death in one submission. It will not affect marketing post, charity mail or telemarketing.

Most families use both. The Death Notification Service closes down the financial side, and the Bereavement Register, Deceased Preference Service and Mailing Preference Service deal with the mail. They are complementary services, not alternatives. Our guide on the Death Notification Service covers which banks are signed up and how to use it.

Why does deceased mail matter for identity fraud?

Deceased mail matters because The Bereavement Register estimates around 64 million pieces of unwanted direct mail are sent to deceased people in the UK each year. A small but consistent share of that mail supports fraud. Criminals use death registry data to target estates with phishing letters, fake debt collection demands, and applications for credit in the deceased's name. The Crown Prosecution Service, CIFAS and the National Crime Agency all recognise identity fraud against the deceased, sometimes called "ghosting" or "impersonation of the deceased", as a distinct category.

Stopping the mail shrinks the target, but four other steps close the gap further:

• Close accounts promptly. Banks should be notified within 4 weeks of the death. The longer an account stays open, the larger the window for fraud.

• Cancel every card. Debit, credit and store card numbers are the most commonly used data points in identity fraud.

• Remove the deceased from the electoral register. Tell Us Once handles this for the local authority; if you did not use it, contact the council directly. The electoral register is public, and fraudsters use it to check whether an identity is "live".

• Check the credit reference agencies. Equifax, Experian and TransUnion can all add a deceased flag to a credit file. The Bereavement Register and the Deceased Preference Service share data with the credit reference agencies, so registering usually triggers this.

For around 6 months after the death, watch the post for any letter from a lender, utility or government department that does not match a known account. A debt demand for an unfamiliar account can be the first sign of attempted fraud. Report any concern to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040.

What should you shred, return or keep?

Sort the deceased's post once a week into three piles: action, return and shred. Anything from an organisation the deceased had a relationship with goes in the action pile, to be dealt with when you notify that organisation. Unsolicited marketing gets "Deceased, return to sender" written on the envelope and goes back in the post; the sender bears the cost of the return, and most reputable companies use returns to update their records.

Shred anything you are discarding that carries the deceased's personal details: old statements, pre-approved offers, anything showing account numbers or dates of birth. Do not shred a letter you suspect is fraudulent. Photograph it and report it to Action Fraud first.

Secure the physical documents too. The passport and driving licence are cancelled through Tell Us Once, and anything not cancelled should be stored securely or destroyed once no longer needed.

What will the services not stop?

The four free registers only stop unsolicited marketing, so post from organisations the deceased actually used keeps coming until each one is told. That includes bank statements, insurance renewals, council tax letters and utility bills. Tell Us Once handles council tax after a death and benefits; utilities and other companies have to be notified individually, as covered in our guide on what happens to bills when someone dies.

Some smaller charities run their own mailing lists and are not members of the DMA or signed up to the Bereavement Register, so they keep mailing until told directly. If the deceased recently moved, register both their last address and the previous one, because the services only screen the addresses you enter.