New rules for UK postcode database

Tougher guidelines are to be imposed on Royal Mail’s postcode service for businesses after concerns that some customers were being favoured over others.

Postcomm, the regulator, believes that some businesses were concerned that the Royal Mail’s postcode database, including updates, were not available to all users. The database of 27 million addresses helps businesses to quickly find much of a customer’s full address by using their postcode details only.

The regulator is thought to be concerned that all businesses did not have access to regular updates of the database. Postcodes are updated for new housing and business developments, as well as when postcodes specific to a particular company fall out of use.

Postcomm was anxious that Royal Mail acted with impartiality in dealing with the postcode list because it was the sole owner of the information.

Royal Mail charges businesses a minimum of Pounds 750 a year for the service, with charges increased according to the number of registered users within each business.