CLEANSING & HYGIENE

Our free-of-charge data audit will define the quality of your data and quantify the number of records that match any of the screenings currently available to UK marketers.

Here is the selection of the suppression screenings we utilise to ensure the ongoing accuracy of our client's databases.

National Suppression File (NSF)

The NSF is fundamental mail suppression.  The file is maintained by several key players in the industry including Royal Mail and allows advertisers to radically improve the accuracy of their postal databases and add value to direct marketing campaigns. 

Mailing Preference Service (MPS)

Since 1983 the MPS has been compiled from individuals who would prefer not to receive unsolicited direct mail. Names are suppressed at household level and remain on the file for five years. To remain on the list after this time consumers must re-register. Un-addressed material is not covered by the MPS. 

Gone Away Suppression (GAS)

Since 1992 the Gone Away Suppression File (GAS) has addressed the problem of targeting people who have moved house. More than 3,200,000 people move house every year, up to 7,000 every day.  Mailing gone aways heavily damage brands and can cost thousands in wastage. It is an accurate, up-to-date and widely used solution for identifying genuine Postal Gone Aways and is now responsible for cleaning over half of all direct mail in the UK.

Telephone Preference Service (TPS)

Since 1999, The Telephone Preference Service (TPS) enabled individuals to register their objection to receiving direct marketing calls. The TPS is the product of legislative change to The Telecommunications (Data Protection and Privacy) Regulations.  The new regulation makes it unlawful to place a direct marketing call to an individual who has objected, either directly to a company or with the TPS.

National Change Of Address (NCOA)

Since 1993, this Royal Mail has managed this service under the Royal Mail Redirection Service.  The file now holds over 11 million records and is one of the most widely used in the industry.  There are two levels of service offered through this suppression, the first suppresses individual’s details when they have moved, and the second option provides the added benefit of providing the new address where available.

Corporate Telephone Preference Service (CTPS)

The Corporate Telephone Preference Service was set up in 2004 following the publication by DTI of the new Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations 2004. The new regulations amend the existing Privacy and Electronic Communications.

The new regulations mean that it is unlawful for someone in business (including charities or other voluntary organisations) to make unsolicited sales and marketing calls to a telephone number allocated to a corporate subscriber if that corporate subscriber has either told that business or organisation that they do not want to receive such calls or has registered the number with the Corporate TPS and that they do not wish to receive such calls from any business or organisation.

Universal Suppression Service (USS)

This Royal Mail managed file was introduced to minimise the brand damage and campaign cost of mailing people who no longer reside where they used to.  Royal Mail estimates that up to 10% of all mailings fail to reach their target.  Repeated ‘goneaway’ information gathered by Royal Mail clearly engenders a greater likelihood the person has moved. Once ‘goneaways’ are added they are cross-referenced against the entire file to create a confidence ranking either by sector or time period.

Fax Preference Service (FPS)

Since 1999 it is unlawful to send an individual an unsolicited sales and marketing fax without prior permission. Businesses have the opportunity to register fax numbers on which they do not wish to receive direct marketing faxes.

The Bereavement Register (TBR)

The aim of TBR is to put an end to the direct mail that the recently deceased would have otherwise received. Since 2000 the REaD Group has managed The Bereavement Register (TBR) to ensure the prompt removal of the deceased person's details from the databases of direct mail companies. 600,000 people die every year in the UK; up to 1,600 every day.

Mailing the dead damages brands and is highly distressing.  It is the biggest complaint received by the Information Commissioner (ICO).  The Bereavement Register is compiled from a number of sources and represents one of the most accurate death registers in the UK.

Mortascreen

Over 170,000 mailings are delivered daily to people who are now deceased.  Not only can Mortascreen provide a means of preventing the unnecessary distress to bereaved families, it can also save organisations considerable sums of money and the possibility of highly damaging, negative PR. Mortascreen, owned by Smee & Ford and marketed exclusively by Millennium plc, contains the name, address and date of death details of over 5 million deceased individuals. Around 40,000 new records are added each month, accounting for around 80% of all deaths within the UK.

As well as being the largest source of deceased data currently available Mortascreen is also the most reliable with data sources including official Government notifications of death, funeral directors, UK insurance companies and the Deceased Preference Service registration service.