ROYAL MAIL

A postcode is made up of a combination of letters and numbers. The same code is usually used for a small group of addresses so is not unique to every address but helps to pin-point exactly where the item of mail needs to go to. Each part of the postcode provides step-by-step information about where the item of mail is heading. From left to right the postcode narrows down its destination. The first one or two letters is the postcode area and it identifies the main Royal Mail sorting office which will process the mail. The second part is usually just one or two numbers but for some parts of London it can be a number and a letter. This is the postcode district and tells the sorting office which delivery office the mail should go to. This third part is the sector and is usually just one number. This tells the delivery office which local area or neighbourhood the mail should go to. The final part of the postcode is the unit code which is always two letters.

Some organisations who receive large volumes of mail can have unique postcodes to ensure that mail to an individual address is correctly segregated. If you receive at least 500 items of mail a day you may be eligible for a unique large user Postcode. This can occur if the previous occupant had a unique large-user postcode. A new business moving to this address will either use the standard postcode for that address or have their own unique large-user postcode. We are committed to a policy of not changing addresses or postcodes wherever possible. We will only make changes to benefit the service we give to you, or when it is absolutely necessary, for example: a new Royal Mail delivery office is opened, we have run out of postcodes for new homes and businesses in a developing area, the local council has prompted a change by re-numbering buildings or re-naming roads. We will always write to you to tell you about any changes we plan to make. For about 12 months from the time that we notify you of any changes, our sorting machines will recognise both your old and new postcodes. This should give you ample time to use up stocks of stationery and notify your customers, friends and relations of the change, although we recommend that you switch to your new postcode as soon as possible.