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Junk mail 'tops postal concerns' Junk mail 'tops postal concerns'
(about 8 hours later)
Customers are less satisfied with postal services than with banks, mobile phone firms and broadband providers, a consumer group's survey suggests.Customers are less satisfied with postal services than with banks, mobile phone firms and broadband providers, a consumer group's survey suggests.
Junk mail was the top concern, with post office closures and lost post among other gripes recorded by Which?.Junk mail was the top concern, with post office closures and lost post among other gripes recorded by Which?.
Of the 1,029 surveyed, 16% said they were "very satisfied" with Royal Mail; for Post Office services it was 28%.Of the 1,029 surveyed, 16% said they were "very satisfied" with Royal Mail; for Post Office services it was 28%.
Royal Mail said its own research consistently found around 92% of people satisfied with its services. Royal Mail said its own research consistently found about 92% of people satisfied with its services.
A previous Which? survey has suggested 46% of people are "very satisfied" with their current bank account.A previous Which? survey has suggested 46% of people are "very satisfied" with their current bank account.
Which has also found that 37% of respondents are very satisfied with their broadband providers and 33% gave the same response about mobile phone services. Which? has also found that 37% of respondents are very satisfied with their broadband providers and 33% gave the same response about mobile phone services.
Which? said long queues were among the other main complaints about the Post Office.Which? said long queues were among the other main complaints about the Post Office.
The consumer group added that the large number of post office closures in recent years could cause long queues in those still open.The consumer group added that the large number of post office closures in recent years could cause long queues in those still open.
'Lack of choice''Lack of choice'
Which? Editor Neil Fowler said: "In most cases, if you are unhappy with a service provider you can easily switch to another one, but postal services are the exception to this rule with a real lack of choice available." Which? editor Neil Fowler said: "In most cases, if you are unhappy with a service provider you can easily switch to another one, but postal services are the exception to this rule with a real lack of choice available."
Which? advises people to register with the Mail Preference Service in order to reduce junk mail.Which? advises people to register with the Mail Preference Service in order to reduce junk mail.
The consumer group carried out its online survey last September, three months before the government announced that around 2,500 post offices are expected to close by 2009 because of rising losses and a fall in the number of people using the network.The consumer group carried out its online survey last September, three months before the government announced that around 2,500 post offices are expected to close by 2009 because of rising losses and a fall in the number of people using the network.
Royal Mail said Which?'s findings did not match its own.Royal Mail said Which?'s findings did not match its own.
A Royal Mail spokesman said: "The facts are that our own monthly market research has consistently shown that around 92% of people are satisfied with Royal Mail and around 89% for the Post Office.A Royal Mail spokesman said: "The facts are that our own monthly market research has consistently shown that around 92% of people are satisfied with Royal Mail and around 89% for the Post Office.
"And it has been acknowledged by Postcomm and Postwatch that we are delivering the best quality of service on record. We have been doing so for the last 18 months.""And it has been acknowledged by Postcomm and Postwatch that we are delivering the best quality of service on record. We have been doing so for the last 18 months."