UK MPs calling for a reduction in junk mail have singled out the practice of offering loans and financing plans through unsolicited mail for special criticism, calling for tighter regulation of the practice.
Liberal Democrat MP Norman Baker was quoted by This is Money as saying: Junk mail selling washing powder is irritating and wasteful. But junk mail that encourages people to make decisions that can lead to losing their houses is altogether more serious.
This is Money said that Mr Norman was speaking after the Financial Mail highlighted a campaign by Capital One in which approximately one million fake GBP100,000 cheques were sent to homeowners in order to encourage them to take out large loans which are then secured against their home, even if the homeowner has a mortgage.
The Royal Mail recently launched an opt-out service for junk mail, but warned that homeowners who chose not to receive direct mail might also not receive important communications from the government, a ‘catch-22’ situation that caused anger among some consumers.