The Read Group Plc has accused the charity sector of mailing millions of people who have either moved or died. Charities are 'abusing the trust of its donors', according to the company.

Precision Marketing, a business magazine for marketers, reports that a study by the Read Group has revealed that charities hardly use suppression files before they send out mailings.

Read Group Plc is the company behind the Bereavement Register. Set up in 2000 the register aims to reduce the amount of mail send to the deceased by ensuring that the names of people who have died are removed from databases and mailing lists. However, despite a general consensus that direct mail needs to be better targeted than it presently is, many companies and organisations do not buy the 'suppression file' produced by the company.

Its research suggests that overall use of suppression files has increased by 42% between 2006 and 2007 - saving an estimated 16 million pieces of junk mail. However, in the same year the charity sector saw a decrease in the use of suppression.

Read Group Plc chief executive Mark Roy commented: "It is encouraging that the use of suppression is significantly up over the previous year. This is almost certainly due to environmental pressure as well as demands for increased efficiency in a tightening market. Our research shows that many companies are still failing to suppress and are wasting more than £50m a year.

"Most industry sectors are now showing a healthy appreciation of the benefits of suppression, but we do have to stand back and take a sharp intake of breath at the performance of the charity sector. It is, in effect, abusing the trust of its donors by wasting funds through mismanagement of data."