Even simpler would be to have just one field for "Postal address" and another for "Post Code".
Thus postal purposes could be satisfied *and* those where data is assessed on a postcode basis.
Of course that's probably far too simple a solution for the average database designer (and most of them are *very* average in my experience).
Hers is an typical example of a situation where companies systems fall over: C.S - what is your house number? client - 32/9 (meaning 32nd floor flat 9 of high rise block)
C.S - what is your post code? client - dont know
C.S - OK, what street do you stay in? client - Dumbiedykes Road
C.S - OK we will send your new credit card (or whatever) out to you. Thank you for calling.
This customer does not stay at the address customer advisor has recorded, 32/9 Dumbiedykes Road EH8 XXX (having entered the post code from their database) -he/she stays at 32/9 Lochview Court, Dumbiedykes Road EH8 YYY a completely different property. If customer services had just ask what the persons address was, they would have got the correct information.
Douglas
[snip]
What not just 3 fields:
Axel
Because it's a suggestion to reduce the cost of providing a service imposed by the person providing it rather than the people who use the service.
Jim.
I was suggesting an improved service, and from that you've incorrectly deduced that I would be in favour of a reduced service. Remember that it's the sender who pays the Post Office, and sensible addresses would benefit senders hugely.
Isn't it because they want to do some kind of error checking and for online purchases, matching with credit card info.?
Jim
Because in theory they can reach you with {house number, postcode[, country]}. Unfortunately this is only approximate in Edinburgh because there are multiple addresses at each house number. Lots of people don't know that or aren't assertive about specifying flat numbers, or ar at the mercy of ignorant customer services operatives, especially, it seems, students. The person who lives at 1F1 in our stair is deluged at this time of year with misdelivered mail addressed to Mr/Ms New Resident, Flat 1 [etc]. I'm guessing the new resident has given their address as N Thingy Street, the database has said "ah, that's flats" and in the absence of other information has defaulted to adding "Flat 1". If it just left that out then the postie could deliver it to the right name.
Sam
Not to mention situations where the final delivery is not in the hands of the PO. I imagine a complex of student flats, each block with its own name and then numbered rooms. All might well have the same postcode as that of the 'hall of residence'.
Axel
The US (but not Canada - they use a UK based system) don't manage as well as we do. They have a five digit code - followed by a further extension which is seldom used. Targeting specific groups of properties is more difficult.
Following your logic we should use entirely numerical email addresses.
I think you might be referring to Mailsort - if so there is plenty of information about the service on the website. It doesn't replace the postcode though.
I bet you know what 0131 stands for in the phone no, possibly even the more local area bit.
TTH
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Too true, they also can't cope with the concept that an address may not have a road or a street associated with it. Most of the properties in the village where I live do not have a number, nor do they have a street address. The place is so small that the address is usually of written as "The Limes, Hantsville, Hantstown, HANTS PO51 0CD"
According to most banks, this simply cannot be so they have "munged" adresses and anyone in a particular postcode gets a street name appointed for them by th ebank. These streets only exist in the imagination of someone at the bank and post gets diverted to other villages which actually have streets with these names.
You could supply the name "A Street" or "The Street" depending on the village?
Jim
Well the 3 is "E" for Edinburgh, but the rest is just padding.
-- Richard
...and the "H" is the last letter in EdinburgH.
Well yes, but that falls foul of the problem of another village actually having the valid address of "XX The Street."
How about the banks just getting their s**te software fixed?
Yes, and it would penalise the people who don't even have any commercial relationship with the post office... That's the problem, there's nothing in it for the people who have to change their address.
Jim.
How is the rest just padding? By that logic is the rest in 01382 padding? If so how would you differentiate between an Edinburgh number starting 82 and a Dundee number?
When I moved from the semi detatched cottage to a semi detatched house ie 3 Anyold Road I tried a certain insurance co (can't remember which one) who could not give me a quote because I was phoning from the cottage and they didn't insure flats!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Some other fault in their database I presume, but hey, can't argue with the computer.
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