Junk letters help pay for your post, claims Royal Mail
ROYAL Mail has defended pushing more junk mail on households by claiming it is “an important part” of paying for ordinary postal services, which are in steep decline.
It comes after news that it told firms to get around new junk mail laws by sending letters unaddressed. The legislation only covers junk mail that is addressed to the recipient. A Royal Mail spokesman told The Daily Telegraph: “Door to door mailings are a very important means of paying for the universal service … as the number of letters we handle continues to decline.”
Over the past five years, the proportion of unaddressed letters has risen from a fifth to a quarter, Royal Mail accounts show. Post has declined 22 per cent over the same period, but unaddressed letters remain constant.
Last night MPS and charities said a loophole that allowed firms to send unaddressed junk mail must be closed. Pressure is mounting on the Government to protect people from unaddressed mail ahead of an increase which is expected after Royal Mail issued the advice to businesses.
The Mail Preference Service, used by 6.5 million people, lets households opt out of addressed junk mail, but it does not stop unaddressed post.
Last night MPS called on the Government and regulators to protect households and the environment against the rise in unwanted and “irresponsible” mail. Mary Creagh MP, who chairs the Environmental Audit Committee, said: “Ministers need to do more to stop this unwanted and wasteful nuisance. Junk mail is an irresponsible waste of paper, plastic and people’s time.”
Julian Knight, a Conservative MP, said: “People need to let Royal Mail know that this is unacceptable. The Information Commissioner’s Office needs to investigate Royal Mail and close the loophole. It could be that the 1983 Mail Preference Services rules need to be extended to unaddressed mail.”
On Wednesday, it emerged that Royal Mail urged businesses to send unaddressed mail as a way around data protection laws due to come in on May 25.
Royal Mail makes about £184million a year posting unaddressed marketing leaflets. But it appears some people are hitting back. The Telegraph has been contacted by readers who say they simply drop unwanted unaddressed letters into their local red post boxes. Others complain the Mail Preference Service is unfit for purpose, saying it is difficult to sign up to, with members not fully protected from junk mail.
Gillian Guy, chief executive of Citizens Advice, said: “People need a consistent and straightforward process for opting out of junk mail.”
A Royal Mail spokesman said: “We comply with relevant advertising laws and regulations. Our opt-out scheme is an effective way for householders to stop receiving unaddressed mail.”