2009-05-28

Postcode Address File Consultation proposed

28 May 2009

Today Postcomm launched a two month Consultation on changes to the PAF Code of Practice which have been proposed by Royal Mail and Consumer Focus in line with Condition 22 of Royal Mail’s Licence and which are subject to agreement by Postcomm.

  • The proposed revisions include:
       - improved information about how to get help with the Code, how customers can raise queries or make complaints and the work of the PAF Advisory Board
       - providing  a more detailed explanation of why, for operational purposes, it is not  possible to make changes to post towns
       - requiring the instigator of a locality or postcode change to obtain clear
         boundary information on the change to be considered
       -  removing references to Postwatch
       -  clarifying that Royal Mail may make changes for efficiency as well as operational reasons
       -  further criteria for customer-driven change requests
       -  requiring Royal Mail to advise, rather than consult on, changes by local authorities (as it has no discretion on implementing such changes)
       -  new procedures to inform Postcomm of the feedback from ballots
       -  encouraging PAF users to use accurate, up to date versions of PAF
       -  setting the proposed date for the next review of the Code of Practice as September 2014.

Views of stakeholders are also sought on the use of county information in PAF.

Stakeholders are invited to comment on the proposed changes and/or to suggest other changes during the Consultation.

The Consultation is open for two months and will close on 28 July 2009.

Related documents:

27 May 2009

For a full list of related documents.