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| Royal Mail quality tests 'rigged' | Royal Mail quality tests 'rigged' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The postal watchdog is considering taking action against Royal Mail after finding quality tests had been rigged. | The postal watchdog is considering taking action against Royal Mail after finding quality tests had been rigged. |
| Postcomm, acting on an insider tip-off, found that addresses involved in testing deliveries in some areas had been passed on to staff. | |
| Staff had also learned to recognise test mail and were able to prioritise it to ensure it arrived on time. | Staff had also learned to recognise test mail and were able to prioritise it to ensure it arrived on time. |
| Royal Mail said the matter was a "local issue" and there had been no material impact on its performance figures. | Royal Mail said the matter was a "local issue" and there had been no material impact on its performance figures. |
| Postcomm's preliminary report said it was "minded" to find the company had breached its licence conditions for quality of service since 2006. | Postcomm's preliminary report said it was "minded" to find the company had breached its licence conditions for quality of service since 2006. |
| Royal Mail was obliged to use market research firm Research International to monitor the standard of its service. | Royal Mail was obliged to use market research firm Research International to monitor the standard of its service. |
| Part of this clause also meant Royal Mail should make sure that the panellists used to send mail between each other to test delivery times remained anonymous. | |
| But a 10-month investigation, launched after the tip-off, found test delivery addresses were circulated to Royal Mail workers and senior managers. | But a 10-month investigation, launched after the tip-off, found test delivery addresses were circulated to Royal Mail workers and senior managers. |
| Postcomm was also told by its whistleblower that a microchip used to identify test mail could be felt through the covering of post, allowing staff to search for the relevant items. | Postcomm was also told by its whistleblower that a microchip used to identify test mail could be felt through the covering of post, allowing staff to search for the relevant items. |
| However, the rigging did not make a "material difference" to the firm's published quality of service figures, the watchdog said. | However, the rigging did not make a "material difference" to the firm's published quality of service figures, the watchdog said. |
| Postcomm is expected to make a final decision on whether to take action against Royal Mail in May. | Postcomm is expected to make a final decision on whether to take action against Royal Mail in May. |
| During Royal Mail's own investigation into what had happened a number of staff were suspended, it said. | During Royal Mail's own investigation into what had happened a number of staff were suspended, it said. |
| It also said that the company had co-operated fully with the probe. | It also said that the company had co-operated fully with the probe. |