Claiming for lost international item - question...

[davthepunk]

Hi again, guys.

I sent off a claim form for for a lost international item last week. It was for something I sold on eBay to a buyer in the USA and it's the first one I've ever had to do.

Anyhow, today I received a letter from Royal Mail stating that they are currently unable to process my claim, as more information regarding my address details is required - and instructing me to contact Address Management by phone. They also have returned my claim form and all that supporting evidence I supplied with it and said that I should resubmit it afterwards.

I rang the number supplied, but it seems that Address Management is closed at the weekend.

Anyhow, there's a covering slip stapled to the front of the form with various things on it such my name/address, 'query date' and the name of the operator dealing with my claim. In the 'comments' field at the bottom, it says "NO FLATS ON SIEBEL/PAF". So, I suppose that the problem here could be related to me living in a flat (in a house that's divided into four).

Anyone know for sure if this is what's caused the hold-up? Is it a major issue?

Thanks.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

PAF - thats the PostCode address Finder - which is the database of all recognised addresses in the UK. I guess thy need your address to be entered officially before they can process your claim.

Do you get charged Council Tax if so I would dig that out for when you speak to them on Monday.

I doesn't sound like a major issue to be honest.

[davthepunk]

PAF - thats the PostCode address Finder - which is the database of all recognised addresses in the UK. I guess thy need your address to be entered officially before they can process your claim.

Do you get charged Council Tax if so I would dig that out for when you speak to them on Monday.

I doesn't sound like a major issue to be honest.

Right.

I've been living here for about 10 years (and receiving mail addressed to a flat no. as a matter of course) and AFAIK, the place has been flats for a long time before that too. Registered to vote at this flat no./address too.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Just to check enter your post code at http://www.royalmail.com/postcode-finder" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; and if your address is registered it should come up on the list of matching postcodes.

If it appears on there, then I am afraid I don't have any idea why you need to ring address management.

Each flat on you post code should be listed as a separate address.

[davthepunk]

Just to check enter your post code at http://www.royalmail.com/postcode-finder" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; and if your address is registered it should come up on the list of matching postcodes.

If it appears on there, then I am afraid I don't have any idea why you need to ring address management.

Each flat on you post code should be listed as a separate address.

So I just looked. Only the house number comes up.

Yeah, I guess that's it then. Cheers mate.

[IcanthelpthewayIam]

Just to check enter your post code at http://www.royalmail.com/postcode-finder" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; and if your address is registered it should come up on the list of matching postcodes.

If it appears on there, then I am afraid I don't have any idea why you need to ring address management.

Each flat on you post code should be listed as a separate address.

So I just looked. Only the house number comes up.

Yeah, I guess that's it then. Cheers mate.

ok just so you know, your shortly going to have another issue after you fix this one, as soon as the address management unit list your address in the postcode address thingamy the nice people at TV licensing are gonna start sending you nice friendly letters about wanting to come visit, even though you already have a tv licence (probably) reason being their computer system cant handle the fact that we have updated ours and added a new address which is already listed on theirs and has a seperate listing, so they start sending letters, to stop this you got to call tv licensing and ask them to ammend your existing address to the "new one" that the AMU has created and to delete the old address from their records as it doesnt exist, Oh and they probably wont get it correct first time aroung :)

[davthepunk]

ok just so you know, your shortly going to have another issue after you fix this one, as soon as the address management unit list your address in the postcode address thingamy the nice people at TV licensing are gonna start sending you nice friendly letters about wanting to come visit, even though you already have a tv licence (probably) reason being their computer system cant handle the fact that we have updated ours and added a new address which is already listed on theirs and has a seperate listing, so they start sending letters, to stop this you got to call tv licensing and ask them to ammend your existing address to the "new one" that the AMU has created and to delete the old address from their records as it doesnt exist, Oh and they probably wont get it correct first time aroung :)

Lovely. I've just had a look at my current TV license - and the address on it is in the correct flat/house no/town/post code format (though my surname is spelled differently in two different places on there!). AFAIK, the other flats also get stuff from TV Licensing addressed to the correct numbers...

Computer says no time, huh?

Will this affect things like my gas/phone/internet too?

[IcanthelpthewayIam]

ok just so you know, your shortly going to have another issue after you fix this one, as soon as the address management unit list your address in the postcode address thingamy the nice people at TV licensing are gonna start sending you nice friendly letters about wanting to come visit, even though you already have a tv licence (probably) reason being their computer system cant handle the fact that we have updated ours and added a new address which is already listed on theirs and has a seperate listing, so they start sending letters, to stop this you got to call tv licensing and ask them to ammend your existing address to the "new one" that the AMU has created and to delete the old address from their records as it doesnt exist, Oh and they probably wont get it correct first time aroung :)

Lovely. I've just had a look at my current TV license - and the address on it is in the correct flat/house no/town/post code format (though my surname is spelled differently in two different places on there!). AFAIK, the other flats also get stuff from TV Licensing addressed to the correct numbers...

Computer says no time, huh?

Will this affect things like my gas/phone/internet too?

no shouldnt affect anything else(though probably should have in past as your address technically does not exist on some of their computer systems), just them even if the address is an exact duplicate unfortuantely its a fault with their system which just adds a new address when its added by the amu instead of checking if it matches an existing record

[davthepunk]

Bleh. All this hassle for an £8.99 item that in all probability was received by the little scrote at the other end anyway.

(if you look at his feedback left on eBay, it would seem that he's been *very* unlucky over the past 4 years with regards to things he's ordered going missing and having to be refunded - yes, I've blocked him from buying any more of my stuff)

Still, putting in an claim ensures that these things get flagged up for attention if enough sellers do it - either here, or by the USPS, doesn't it?

[davthepunk]

Hmmmm. I just rang them up and the man said that he couldn't just change it on the computer.

Apparently, I'd need to talk to the local council and get them to update their records, before RM can change theirs. Does that sound right?

Probably best talk to my landlord about all that first, huh?


In the meantime, will it make any difference if I just resubmit the lost item claim form without my flat number on - just the house number? Everything just comes through one letterbox at the flats here anyway...

[avenger]

Hmmmm. I just rang them up and the man said that he couldn't just change it on the computer.

Apparently, I'd need to talk to the local council and get them to update their records, before RM can change theirs. Does that sound right?

Probably best talk to my landlord about all that first, huh?


In the meantime, will it make any difference if I just resubmit the lost item claim form without my flat number on - just the house number? Everything just comes through one letterbox at the flats here anyway...

It needs to go on the council records first
Then RM create the PAF data
same for all new builds/address creation

[IcanthelpthewayIam]

Hmmmm. I just rang them up and the man said that he couldn't just change it on the computer.

Apparently, I'd need to talk to the local council and get them to update their records, before RM can change theirs. Does that sound right?

Probably best talk to my landlord about all that first, huh?


In the meantime, will it make any difference if I just resubmit the lost item claim form without my flat number on - just the house number? Everything just comes through one letterbox at the flats here anyway...

yeah if you submit it without the flat number it should be fine, as for speaking to the council first, what address is on your council tax bill as thats the one that should be on the council records already......

[davthepunk]

Hi zx135...

The council tax is inclusive in the rent here, so I dunno.

The council (or some departments thereof, at least) *do* know that this place is flats, in case anyone is wondering. They have the inspectors coming round, some people get housing benefit letters addressed to flat numbers, people are registered to vote at flat numbers here...

[TeeferTiger]

When I worked at the local DO and was in charge of PAF/Address Management, I could update the files myself but I needed to check with the council that they were aware that address existed. Got someone into trouble once because they hadn't told the council they'd converted a garage or something into a flat for their daughter, but hey ho...

The point I'm making is, someone at your local DO *should* be able to do the change. Whether they will or not and just refer you to HQ is another matter. Failing that, it's speaking to the licensing and registration department at your local council, explaining to them that you need them to update the system to show the 4 flats as separate delivery points (providing they do all have their own letterbox) and then in about a month to six weeks time it gets forwarded on to RM.

Simple, eh?

[davthepunk]

When I worked at the local DO and was in charge of PAF/Address Management, I could update the files myself but I needed to check with the council that they were aware that address existed. Got someone into trouble once because they hadn't told the council they'd converted a garage or something into a flat for their daughter, but hey ho...

The point I'm making is, someone at your local DO *should* be able to do the change. Whether they will or not and just refer you to HQ is another matter. Failing that, it's speaking to the licensing and registration department at your local council, explaining to them that you need them to update the system to show the 4 flats as separate delivery points (providing they do all have their own letterbox) and then in about a month to six weeks time it gets forwarded on to RM.

Simple, eh?

It's one letterbox, 4 doorbells. If that makes it any more complicated.