News archive (2010)
Paper directories came under fire in 2010. The Local Government Association calculated councils are spending millions on disposing of phone books that are as outdated as the Betamax video, and online directory 192.com was busy campaigning for a central opt-in scheme for paper directories.
Royal Mail continued its drive towards becoming a modernised company. In the process a cap on the amount of leaflets postman can deliver was abolished. Towards the end of the year Royal Mail had all but secured Postcomm's approval for a 12% price increase in charges for bulk mail delivered on behalf of competitors.
Junk mail news in 2010
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Postcomm supportive of price increases for junk mail
- Postcomm has said it is "minded to accept Royal Mail's request for additional revenues". If approved, mail houses may face price increases of up to 12 per cent from April 2011.
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Bulk mail may become more expensive
- Royal Mail has asked Postcomm's permission to increase its charges for delivering bulk mail by up to seven per cent above inflation. The company is currently making a loss on mail distributed on behalf of its competitors.
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Virgin told off for misleading junk mail
- The Advertising Standards Authority has upheld a complaint from BSkyB about a leaflet from Virgin Media. Claims made in the leaflet were 'misleading and unfair'.
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Opt-in for phone books 'an interesting idea'
- A central opt-in system for paper directories is "an interesting idea" and would help "reduce the burden on resources and the environmental impact of phone books", government has said.
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Stricter rules on local authority newspapers and magazines
- Local Government secretary Eric Pickles has told the Daily Telegraph that he wants local councils to "spend less time and money on weekly town hall Pravdas that end up in the bin".
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Consumer Focus launches own Junk Buster
- Consumer Focus has set up a website to help people reduce junk mail and cold calling. Via stayprivate.org people can register with the Mailing Preference Service and Telephone Preference Service in one go.
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Charges for Freepost envelopes going through the roof
- Charities are often charged multiple times for using Freepost envelopes. The claim has been made by a charity called 'Through the Roof'.
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HMRC database used by junk mailers
- Taxpayers' personal details may have fallen into the hands of a list broker and sold to junk mailers. The Information Commissioner's Office has said it will investigate the case of 'Margaret Margaret'.
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Postal workers accept pay deal… and more junk mail
- Postal workers and Royal Mail's have reached a deal on the company's modernisation plans. Householders can expect to receive more junk mail from their postie.
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Belgium to introduce opt-in system for phone books
- Phone books will no longer be delivered door-to-door in Belgium. It is the first European country to introduce an opt-in system for paper directories.
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Charities charged for underpaid Freepost envelopes
- Putting a stamp on a Freepost envelope doesn't always save charities money, Royal Mail has warned. Sometimes, it may even cost them money.
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Opt-out schemes for unaddressed mail should be abolished
- Opt-out schemes for unaddressed junk mail are failing and should be replaced by a straightforward sticker system, according to Stop Junk Mail.
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Junk mail recycling rates on the up
- Figures released by the Direct Marketing Association show that the junk mail industry has met its recycling targets. Opt-out schemes for unaddressed junk mail remain unpopular.
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Dutch White and Yellow Pages introduces opt-out scheme
- A campaign for a central opt-out scheme for paper directories has reached it goal after a consumer watchdog programme highlighted the issue.
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12,129 sign 192 petition
- A petition for an opt-in system for paper directories organised by online directory 192.com has attracted 12,129 signatures. At the same time a similar campaign in Holland is gaining momentum.
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Royal Mail to deliver unlimited amounts of leaflets
- Householders can expect to receive more unaddressed junk mail from their postman if a deal about the modernisation of Royal Mail is approved.
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Yellow Pages is shrinking
- Yell has announced it will reduce the size of the Yellow Pages by a quarter. The company says the change will maintain its 'widely acknowledged track record with regard to the environment', but its online competitors remain unconvinced.
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Paper directories 'as outdated as the Betamax video'
- Local councils have started a "war on pointless phone directories" in an effort to reduce waste and save money. "Taxpayers' money could be spent on better things than picking up phone directories", according to the Local Government Association.
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Thomson Local produces 'No Thomson Local' sticker
- Thomson Local has produced a 'No Thomson Local' sticker for householders wanting to cancel the directory. It is unclear if people who have asked Thomson Local to be opted out need to display the sticker on their door.
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OFT relaunches 'Scamnesty' campaign
- The Office of Fair Trading has once again declared February 'Scam Awareness Month'. Although the budget for the campaign has been reduced it will once again run for a full month.
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MPs critical of junk mail industry
- Research by the All Party Group on Junk Mail shows that MPs are critical of the junk mail industry's efforts to 'go green'. The group believes the research shows MPs need to be educated.
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Door-drops drop by 11 per cent
- We are getting less leaflets through the door, according to the Direct Marketing Association. In 2008 'only' 9 billion pieces of unaddressed mail were distributed in the UK.
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More people are opting out
- Research suggests that more than three in four people tick opt-out boxes to prevent junk mail. The Direct Marketing Association has urged marketeers not to 'cold mail' people.