20.May.2010 75 million directories for only 6 million users – the numbers don’t add up!
Today BT became the second major directory in the UK to announce it will reduce the size of its phonebooks. Another victory for the ‘Say No To Phonebooks’ campaign? Of course! But there is more to this announcement.
The article goes on to explain that 6 million people in the UK don’t have access to the internet. Is that who we’re producing 75 million phonebooks a year for?
Alongside producing this shiny new format, that will fit through letter boxes and only serve to infuriate people who have expressly requested not to receive junk mail even more, couldn’t BT invest to communicating it’s opt-out facility (which independent research shows is only known about by 30% of people – compared to almost 60% for the MPS). Given that both BT & Yell have reduced the size of its directories this year to ’save paper’ and that 70% of Brits would support an opt-out for phonebooks, shouldn’t we just take the next logical step and setup a centralised opt-in system for phonebooks? Come on, do the environmental a real favour!
In the meantime, if you wish to opt-out of the phonebook,
- For BT call 0800 833400 then press option 5 then option 1
- For Yellow Pages call 0800 671 444
- For Thomson Local email info@thomsonlocal.com or call 01252 555 555
Wouldn’t a centralised opt-out system for phonebooks be easier than calling all 3 directory publishers?
