Postcode erased in mail error

Post by **TrueBlueTerrier** » 13 Aug 2009, 07:05

http://www.islingtongazette.co.uk/conte ... 3A40%3A190" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

AROUND 400 Islington homes were stripped of their postcode for up to two months after it was deleted by Royal Mail - leaving confused residents unable to book train tickets or holidays.

So far no one has accepted responsibility for the error, which affected homes on the Packington Estate, in Packington Square, N1, between June and July.

The estate is currently undergoing a massive seven-year demolition and rebuilding programme carried out by Hyde Housing on behalf of Islington Council.

Mum-of-two Joanna Haigh, 40, a betting shop worker, said: "I tried to book a train ticket but they told me my address didn't exist. I phoned up Royal Mail and they said they'd received an e-mail saying our estate had been demolished so they deleted the postcode in June.

"I went to the Hyde Housing office and they said it was a mistake. There are 600 properties on the estate, some have been vacated and some have been knocked down already so there are about 400 which have been affected."

Although it is unclear who is to blame for the mystery disappearance, Hyde wrote to residents on July 28 to explain that the problem had been resolved.

Ms Haigh said: "I've been told my postcode was back but I'm still having trouble booking a holiday with Thomson. I'm worried about when they scan my passport at the airport now. Different companies use different databases."

She added: "It isn't funny. I didn't realise how important your postcode really was until it was taken away from me."

Hyde Housing declined to comment, saying it believed it to be a matter between Royal Mail and Islington Council's address management department.

A Royal Mail spokesman said: "We cannot comment because it is a matter between Islington Council, which is a private customer, and the Royal Mail. They would say to us 'we are building a huge development - we need some new postcodes'. We would take that information and process it.