Putting a stamp on Freepost envelopes does not save charities money. It will help Royal Mail though; the company will get paid twice for delivering such items.

Nearly a third of all complaints about charity fundraising relate to 'direct mail'. The Fundraising Standards Board had expected face to face fundraising would attract most complaints.

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.

In its first adjudication, the Fundraising Standards Board has rejected a complaint about mailings from Cancer Research UK, although the compainant 'had grounds for being annoyed'.

Research by the Fundraising Standards Board has found the public has strong views on mailings from charities. In particular gifts and incentives enclosed with appeals do not go down well.