Royal Mail accused on Survey

THE Royal Mail has been accused of trying to con millions of customers into giving it confidential information which it can then sell on.

It has sent them a questionnaire which it claims is designed to help cut down on junk mail.

But critics say the real purpose of the initiative, which includes a survey of personal information more detailed than the national census, is to compile a database of the families, lifestyles and spending habits of millions of Britons.

Such information could be worth millions when sold to firms to help them target marketing of their products or to organisations such as the police and the Inland Revenue.

The consumer group Postwatch said it was extremely concerned at the initiative.

Its north of England chairman Judith Donovan, an expert in direct marketing, said: ‘The involvement of the Royal Mail is very suspect.

‘This survey comes with a promise to cut down on junk mail that people don’t want. But they cannot deliver on that promise.

‘That would only be possible if every direct marketing company in the country agreed to buy mailing lists at a commercial rate from this organisation. This is purely a commercial venture dressed up as a promise to reduce junk mail. That misleads the consumer.’ The campaigning group Liberty said: ‘People should think very carefully before they hand over this level of very personal data.’ The questionnaire asks for information ranging from mobile phone numbers and e.mail addresses to income and credit card details.

It demands the dates of birth of everyone in the house including children and even asks women whether they are pregnant and the due date of their baby.

The questionnaire-goes into the health of householders, asking whether they would be interested in information about stress, eczema, asthma and diabetes.

The official-looking 21-page form comes from the Postal Preference Service, a private company which is partly owned by the Royal Mail and uses its official logo.

An accompanying letter tells recipients: ‘Your participation is important.

Please answer in the next 14 days.’ It also includes a ‘mission statement’ that claims: ‘Our goal is to make sure you get more of what you want and less of what you don’t in your letterbox.’ But other literature admits that, ‘unfortunately’, completing the survey will not stop unwanted junk mail.

A spokesman for the National Consumer Council said: ‘We have heard of consumers who thought this was an official document and were worried what would happen if they did not fill it in.’ A spokesman for Consignia, parent company of the Royal Mail, said: ‘This is all about helping people make choices about the type of mail they receive. It is about better targeting.

‘If people have particular interests or hobbies this will help ensure they receive relevant information.

‘This is not an official compulsory survey. No one has to answer these questions.’ [email protected]