Research'' was a party front during phone polling.

One woman householder traced the call on her caller ID system after questioning a caller from Bermuda Survey Research -- and when she dialled the number she was answered by a voice which said "PLP''.

The woman said: "I do not believe in giving information over the telephone to anyone who calls.

"The surveyor was unable to tell me who the principals of the company were or to give me an address and telephone number.

"And she indicated she had no idea who the survey was being carried out for.'' The woman added the pollster promised to call back with further information -- but after an hour's wait the woman, who asked not to be named, used the number logged in her caller ID system.

She said: "The line was answered by a man who said `PLP' -- I asked if that was the number for Bermuda Survey Research.'' The woman added she told the man she felt it was wrong for the PLP "to be calling under the auspices of a fictitious company'' and that "surveyors should be "prepared to provide information about the survey company and a name of someone to contact.'' But she said: "The man became very evasive and suggested that we had got a crossed line. This was accompanied by clicking sounds on the telephone which he said confirmed the crossed line.'' The woman hung up and tried the number again -- and the call was again answered "PLP''. "This time I was handed to another gentleman who confirmed that Bermuda Survey Research and the PLP were one and the same.

"When I expressed my concern at their lack of honesty to the people they were polling, he had no answer, but suggested it was my problem.'' When The Royal Gazette called the number provided by the woman, a man said: "Good evening, PLP headquarters.'' The official spokesman for the PLP did not return a call from The Royal Gazette yesterday.

The UBP's polling has been carried out for years by the New York-based firm of Penn & Schoen and the firm's name is well-known across the Island. A spokesman for the UBP said yesterday that the firm did announce itself as Penn & Schoen.