Royal Mail - Not a Valid Address

Hodge4ever

I refunded an item that got lost in transit, completed the compensation form and expected the standard reply (I've done this on average about once a year or less) that RM handle thousands of packages, occasionally they get lost, here's a cheque. However on this occasion they state that the address (which is verified in PayPal) is not valid according to their records. After a bit of Googling I found the address checker on the RM website and yes they are quite right, the address I sent to isn't listed there.

So, has anyone been in a similar situation? It's only a small amount £7ish but I'd rather re-coup it if I can.

Do any of the private sellers on here use Royal Mail's address finder before posting items? The reason I say private sellers is because it's limited to 15 searches a day. If you don't, it may be a good idea to start?!

Linky . . .

zerog

Yes I always check the address so I can reformat it to something acceptable to the post office! If you sell 100s of items a day then obviously you won't have time for that.

Why doesn't the PO validate addresses before giving POP? If RM won't refund because the address is invalid, getting POP is pretty useless.

theonlywayisup

zerog wrote: »

Yes I always check the address so I can reformat it to something acceptable to the post office! If you sell 100s of items a day then obviously you won't have time for that.

Why doesn't the PO validate addresses before giving POP?

Royal Mail software with label printer for businesses (DMO) does it for you.

custardy

zerog wrote: »

Yes I always check the address so I can reformat it to something acceptable to the post office! If you sell 100s of items a day then obviously you won't have time for that.

Why doesn't the PO validate addresses before giving POP? If RM won't refund because the address is invalid, getting POP is pretty useless.

because everyone moaned it took too much time

LadyMorticia

Is it possible it's a new-build? Even though RM allocate postcodes, it sometimes takes a while for the system to be updated. It took about 4 or 5 months for our's to be.

PudseyDB

I sometimes do a quick google search - ie if the address seems odd in some way. type in the postcode and see if the street matches up etc

custardy

LadyMorticia wrote: »

Is it possible it's a new-build? Even though RM allocate postcodes, it sometimes takes a while for the system to be updated. It took about 4 or 5 months for our's to be.

RMs system is the 1st to be updated
If they deliver there to it,then its on the system
ts 3rd parties who take time to update

myusernamehasgone_2

Hodge4ever wrote: »

I refunded an item that got lost in transit, completed the compensation form and expected the standard reply (I've done this on average about once a year or less) that RM handle thousands of packages, occasionally they get lost, here's a cheque. However on this occasion they state that the address (which is verified in PayPal) is not valid according to their records. After a bit of Googling I found the address checker on the RM website and yes they are quite right, the address I sent to isn't listed there.

So, has anyone been in a similar situation? It's only a small amount £7ish but I'd rather re-coup it if I can.

Do any of the private sellers on here use Royal Mail's address finder before posting items? The reason I say private sellers is because it's limited to 15 searches a day. If you don't, it may be a good idea to start?!

Linky . . .

I always use the royal mail website to buy and print the postage it checks the address at the same time - and no queuing at the PO

martindow

Is it just the postcode that doesn't exist? If the street and town is correct I think you could argue that there may well be a delay but it is reasonable to expect it to be delivered.

If it had a return address maybe it will still come back. I find this can can be several weeks later.

Hodge4ever

myusernamehasgone wrote: »

I always use the royal mail website to buy and print the postage it checks the address at the same time - and no queuing at the PO

Sounds ideal but unfortunately I have nothing to weigh the items, and as I'm a private seller that lists varying items I have to go to the PO.

martindow wrote: »

Is it just the postcode that doesn't exist? If the street and town is correct I think you could argue that there may well be a delay but it is reasonable to expect it to be delivered.

If it had a return address maybe it will still come back. I find this can can be several weeks later.

The postcode exists, as does the road, however the house number isn't listed. Their address was;
1 Upper House, XxxxX Villas

Whereas RM have;
Dial A Pizza, 1 XxxxX Villas, PLYMOUTH, PL7 XxX
1A XxxxX Villas, PLYMOUTH, PL7 XxX
2 XxxxX Villas, PLYMOUTH, PL7 XxX
Flat 1, 5 XxxxX Villas, PLYMOUTH, PL7 XxX
etc....

It has a return address but no sign yet

Lesson learn't for the future if I use RM again.

custardy

Hodge4ever wrote: »

Sounds ideal but unfortunately I have nothing to weigh the items, and as I'm a private seller that lists varying items I have to go to the PO.


The postcode exists, as does the road, however the house number isn't listed. Their address was;
1 Upper House, XxxxX Villas

Whereas RM have;
Dial A Pizza, 1 XxxxX Villas, PLYMOUTH, PL7 XxX
1A XxxxX Villas, PLYMOUTH, PL7 XxX
2 XxxxX Villas, PLYMOUTH, PL7 XxX
Flat 1, 5 XxxxX Villas, PLYMOUTH, PL7 XxX
etc....

It has a return address but no sign yet

Lesson learn't for the future if I use RM again.

well if the house number doesn't exist,then its a valid argument that it was sent to a non existent address
your big issue is it may have been delivered to one of the other variables of the address