Royal Mail launches info resource for Postal Address File users

Royal Mail has launched a new online Compliance Centre to help address verification and hygiene service providers make the most of the national address database, the Postcode Address File (PAF). The PAF database contains more than 29m addresses in the UK, including mainland areas, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands, with the copyrighted information available for use by businesses via the right license.

Using the information, mailers can create and verify their own address databases and mailing lists, keeping them up-to-date with monthly updates, to improve deliveries and reduce the amount of their mail that is returned or undelivered.

The new PAF Compliance Centre provides a “compliance engine” that Royal Mail said offers a straightforward way for PAF Solutions Providers to find out how to correctly and consistently license their customers.

Steve Rooney, head of Royal Mail’s Address Management Unit, said the website puts into plain English the different end-user licensing options and provides a training resource for users on how the licence can be used.

“We created the PAF Compliance Centre because we wanted to give licensed PAF Solutions Providers the confidence that they are licensing their end-users correctly and consistently, while at the same time communicating how they can maximise value from the PAF licence,” said Rooney.

“The content on the Compliance Centre will continue to evolve and support continuous learning with new licensing scenarios added on a regular basis.”

Last year, Royal Mail’s Address Management Unit launched a PAF Supplier Directory to help connect buyers and sellers of address hygiene service based on the PAF system.