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Royal Mail has delisted my address from their database

This year I have found from doing my usual internet search for the cheapest car insurance that my house number is no longer on anyones database! It is really frustrating because if you try and edit it it crashes or just simply does not not accept it. I have had to make do with a neighbours address then ring them up later on when everything has been processed to get things rectified. To my knowledge it has not had any repercussions YET.

Anyone know what I can do as I am sure I am going to suffer some repercussions soon? I have contacted Royal Mail, they have updated their database and apologised and they say that it will take a while for the list to filter out to all the companies/organisations that prescribe from it...Is that really fair though for them to say that? I was on their database for the last 7 years no problems.

Comments

  • custardy
    custardy Posts: 38,365 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    perrina wrote: »
    This year I have found from doing my usual internet search for the cheapest car insurance that my house number is no longer on anyones database! It is really frustrating because if you try and edit it it crashes or just simply does not not accept it. I have had to make do with a neighbours address then ring them up later on when everything has been processed to get things rectified. To my knowledge it has not had any repercussions YET.

    Anyone know what I can do as I am sure I am going to suffer some repercussions soon? I have contacted Royal Mail, they have updated their database and apologised and they say that it will take a while for the list to filter out to all the companies/organisations that prescribe from it...Is that really fair though for them to say that? I was on their database for the last 7 years no problems.


    how would you have them force companies to update their databases?
    its an error,human error
  • SuzyWuzy_2
    SuzyWuzy_2 Posts: 659 Forumite
    That sounds like a right pain!

    Have you checked that its back on the database yourself? Royalmail.com has a search feature for all addresses. Where I work, we have to see that an actual address exsists before creating on the database system.

    I don't see what else you can do other than accept their apology.
  • DVardysShadow
    DVardysShadow Posts: 18,949 Forumite
    SuzyWuzy wrote: »

    I don't see what else you can do other than accept their apology.

    Take it to the Information Commissioner's Office. People are being disavantaged by this data error.
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  • perrina
    perrina Posts: 15 Forumite
    custardy wrote: »
    how would you have them force companies to update their databases?
    its an error,human error

    Well, an insurance company that topped the list on a comparison site has lost my business as when i called them up to sort it out their system was just not having it at all and the lady said there was nothing she could do, I was forced to go to the next car insurer at £48 extra.

    Companies pay Royal Mail for the database. Companies therefore have a contract with the royal mail and then surely the companies have an interest to have a full and correct database, otherwise as in this case they will loose money. What happens when I apply for credit card, as far as my credit rating goes is m address and my biggest attribute gone?
  • wealdroam
    wealdroam Posts: 19,180 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    perrina wrote: »
    Well, an insurance company that topped the list on a comparison site has lost my business as when i called them up to sort it out their system was just not having it at all and the lady said there was nothing she could do, I was forced to go to the next car insurer at £48 extra.
    You could ask Royal Mail for the £48.
    perrina wrote: »
    What happens when I apply for credit card, as far as my credit rating goes is m address and my biggest attribute gone?
    Looks like it doesn't it?
  • custardy
    custardy Posts: 38,365 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    perrina wrote: »
    Well, an insurance company that topped the list on a comparison site has lost my business as when i called them up to sort it out their system was just not having it at all and the lady said there was nothing she could do, I was forced to go to the next car insurer at £48 extra.

    Companies pay Royal Mail for the database. Companies therefore have a contract with the royal mail and then surely the companies have an interest to have a full and correct database, otherwise as in this case they will loose money. What happens when I apply for credit card, as far as my credit rating goes is m address and my biggest attribute gone?

    and how many times are these errors made?
    look around the forum/google
    its not a regular occurrence and these things happen
    all it takes is for the wrong info to be passed on or inputted

    a separate issue is classing your credit rating as your biggest attribute
  • perrina
    perrina Posts: 15 Forumite
    custardy wrote: »
    and how many times are these errors made?
    look around the forum/google
    its not a regular occurrence and these things happen
    all it takes is for the wrong info to be passed on or inputted

    a separate issue is classing your credit rating as your biggest attribute


    You are right its doesn't seem common when one searches the forums and google. I am sure these things happen and it was simple human error, but does that mean I should just sit back and accept it?

    Damn the system for getting so technical whereas these databases need to be even used and so exactly. Why cant I see the address not recognised and input manually button? Maybe that has something to do with fraudsters? I don't care really about the odd insurance company loosing my business, Im just worried this will have some further and more damaging consequences.

    Would you, if you weren't an ex postie, just sit back and accept it?
  • perrina
    perrina Posts: 15 Forumite
    custardy wrote: »

    a separate issue is classing your credit rating as your biggest attribute

    I meant to mean that my address is the biggest attribute in a good credit rating.
  • custardy
    custardy Posts: 38,365 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    perrina wrote: »
    You are right its doesn't seem common when one searches the forums and google. I am sure these things happen and it was simple human error, but does that mean I should just sit back and accept it?

    Damn the system for getting so technical whereas these databases need to be even used and so exactly. Why cant I see the address not recognised and input manually button? Maybe that has something to do with fraudsters? I don't care really about the odd insurance company loosing my business, Im just worried this will have some further and more damaging consequences.

    Would you, if you weren't an ex postie, just sit back and accept it?

    my past job has no bearing on being realistic
    its a massive database thats ever changing,and requires human input to update it
    it requires updating via every delivery office in the UK on a regular basis,new builds,conversions,business to residential,demolition etc
    so you have many people making the changes and many people supplying that info
    what would you propose RM didnt do that you can make them do now?
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