3 ms·

One oddity not mentioned here that I came across recently, (which probably would go into one of those "things programmers don't know about postcodes" blog posts

One oddity not mentioned here that I came across recently, (which probably would go into one of those "things programmers don't know about postcodes" blog posts). A system that used Postcodes for geocoding (not a great idea) was choking on PO Box codes that belong to districts (such as W1A in the London W district), but don't really correspond to actual street addresses. This also catches some people out who will unintentionally use the PO Box postcode alongside the full street address of a business for example. I've also worked on the TV Licensing systems (yes, the one that sends you scary letters every year). That has its own database of postcodes and addresses and I got to spend lots of time on the funny rules there.

garblegarble 3y ago
>That has its own database of postcodes and addresses and I got to spend lots of time on the funny rules there. How come the separate database vs the Postcode Address File? Sounds like you could write an interesting "Things programmers mistakenly believe about UK addresses" post very easily :-)
- f4c39012 3y ago
  In a word, licensing.
- TazeTSchnitzel 3y ago
  The postcode address file is for places you can deliver mail, whereas TV licensing is interested in places that might have a TV. There must be some cases where there's no overlap.
  - garblegarble 3y ago
    I started writing a reply saying I couldn't imagine such a place (and that I assumed it was about dodging the Post Office's license fee), but it looks like you're right - in researching the reply I found an article[1] from back in 2006 stating that at that time in England only 60% of buildings had entries in the postcode file! They cite the example of churches that don't receive post, I guess if somebody had a TV there & used it to watch live broadcast TV then the building would need a TV license. I do wonder when the TV Licensing door knockers would show up trying to gain entry... during a church service seems a little inappropriate! 1: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2006/jul/13/epublic.guardianweeklytechnologysection https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2006/jul/13/epublic.g...
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garblegarble 3y ago

>That has its own database of postcodes and addresses and I got to spend lots of time on the funny rules there. How come the separate database vs the Postcode Address File? Sounds like you could write an interesting "Things programmers mistakenly believe about UK addresses" post very easily :-)

f4c39012 3y ago
In a word, licensing.
TazeTSchnitzel 3y ago
The postcode address file is for places you can deliver mail, whereas TV licensing is interested in places that might have a TV. There must be some cases where there's no overlap.
- garblegarble 3y ago
  I started writing a reply saying I couldn't imagine such a place (and that I assumed it was about dodging the Post Office's license fee), but it looks like you're right - in researching the reply I found an article[1] from back in 2006 stating that at that time in England only 60% of buildings had entries in the postcode file! They cite the example of churches that don't receive post, I guess if somebody had a TV there & used it to watch live broadcast TV then the building would need a TV license. I do wonder when the TV Licensing door knockers would show up trying to gain entry... during a church service seems a little inappropriate! 1: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2006/jul/13/epublic.guardianweeklytechnologysection https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2006/jul/13/epublic.g...
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