Post Watchdog Likely to Uphold Research Cheat Claims

Postal watchdog Postcomm is considering action against Royal Mail following an investigation into claims that it cheated in research to test its service quality, reports The UK Press Association.

The allegations surfaced in June last year when an insider tipped off the watchdog that some managers at Royal Mail had circulated lists of the customers to be involved in a mystery shopping programme run by Research International. These deliveries, supposedly representative of the postal service as a whole, could then be given special attention to ensure they were on time. The allegations said staff also learned to recognise test mail, and prioritise it.

In Postcomm's preliminary report, published in February in the Daily Telegraph newspaper, the body said it was 'minded to' find that Royal Mail had breached licence conditions, since July 2006; and that during a 10-month probe it found Royal Mail's own systems to ensure testing was independent, had failed. However, it said the cheating had not made a 'material difference' to the firm's published quality of service figures.

A final decision on whether or not to take action is expected in May.

Web sites: www.royalmail.com .

All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas, 2024- by Nick Thomas, unless otherwise stated.

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