“Harassment” over partnership with health insurance companies: Postal workers looking at customers’ letters

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You can change your health insurance until the end of November. This usually happens by registered letter at the post office counter. The yellow giant is now turning this into a business: According to CH Media, postal employees at two branches in the Zurich and Bern regions are said to have involved customers who sent cancellation letters in a sales discussion. The Post Office has been working with health insurers Sympany and Assura since last year.

The counter employee at the branch in the Bern region explained the procedure, saying that the postal service needed new sources of income due to the decrease in the number of letters sent. This contradicts the promise made by the post office at the beginning of the cooperation. He wrote that in the summer of 2022, two insurance companies will establish their own consultancy centers in some branches. Additionally, postal workers would schedule appointments for “interested customers.” This is the case if the customer is experiencing a “specific life event” or shows interest in the offer, such as “moving,” “marriage and family” or “long trips abroad,” as spokeswoman Jacqueline Bühlmann confirmed.

Partnerships should be expanded

But no mention is made of the fact that postal staff now cater to customers who have neither experienced such a life event nor expressed interest in health insurance. Apparently the post office accepts this without seeing a problem with mail privacy. Bühlmann told CH Media newspapers that addressing customers about the health insurance offer did not violate this, as no information on mail traffic was disclosed.

Moreover, the post office itself would not conclude any contracts, but would only forward them. The cooperation is going well: Assura’s consulting services were expanded from 140 to 220 branches in September. Another health insurance company, Groupe Mutuel, has been with the company since September. With such partnerships, the post office wants to turn branches into regional service centers, Bühlmann says. They aim to help make the postal branch network more profitable again. Even consumer protection is not against it. However, when spoken directly at the register, the foundation mentions “harassment.”

Even if they act as brokers for other companies, those working behind the counter no longer receive salaries. There are also no bonuses, commissions or special payments. Hiring clients is an added burden rather than an asset for staff. (Snap)

Source :Blick