A letter addressed to me this morning included the line: "how you can cut your energy bills by around £340 and help prevent climate change." A very noble aspiration in both instances, however I can't help feeling that the sender should have undertaken some research into the likely level of energy billing for my property and others like it.

So far from saving £340 each year, my annual electricity (I do not have gas) only reaches around £380 each year and, whilst a tenner a quarter for the leccy bill would be well-received by myself I have severe doubts about the practicality of an electricity producer retailing at that low a level!

This example may be typical, but far too much direct mail – even personally addressed – makes such inaccurate assumptions that it reflects badly on the sender to such an extent as the recipient will never take seriously what they are promoting. A shame really as the idea of promoting better home insulation and a reduction in energy use is such a sensible idea otherwise.