Postcode Address File

The Postcode Address File (PAF) is a data file available from the Royal Mail.

It is used to validate postal addresses and look up postcodes. It holds the full and mostly-correct postal details for over 27 million UK addresses and is available in a variety of formats including Digital Audio Tape and compact disk. A charge is made for lookup services or wholesale supply of PAF data.

Structure of the file

ELEMENT        FIELD NAME                           MAX LENGTH

Organisation   Organisation Name                    60
               Department Name                      60

Premise        Sub Building Name                    30
               Building Name                        50
               Building Number                       4

Thoroughfare   Dependent Thoroughfare Name          60
               Dependent Thoroughfare Descriptor    20
               Thoroughfare Name                    60
               Thoroughfare Descriptor              20

Locality       Double Dependent Locality            35
               Dependent Locality                   35
               Post Town                            30

Postcode       Postcode                              7

PO Box         PO Box                                6

Application

The data is used by a wide range of organisations for a variety of activities other than directing mail, such as marketing, government statistics, calculating insurance premiums and credit referencing.

Alias data

The Alias File is a supplementary file containing additional data, including details that have changed over time, or have been slightly amended by the public, and then used. This file is used to identify these elements and cross-reference with the official postal address.

The Alias File holds four types of record: Locality, Thoroughfare, Delivery Point Alias, and County Alias:

The Locality record - holds short forms, local names, and 'postally-not-required' details.
The Thoroughfare record - contains replacement street and road names for a given locality, thoroughfare or dependent thoroughfare combination.
The Delivery Point Alias record - holds additional information at given addresses, such as trading names and building names.
The County record - holds traditional, administrative and postal county information.

Errors

It is important that potential users be aware that the PAF contains errors (sources: personal correspondence between the Royal Mail and someone living at an address affected (that particular error affects postcode CR7 8JH); also http://www.postcomm.gov.uk/policy-and-consultations/consultations/postcode-address-file--changing-postal-addresses/PAFCODERESPONSES.pdf; also the Royal Mail publishes forms for submitting error reports, so obviously knows that errors exist). A very small number of addresses are not listed correctly, and others (especially new developments) may not be listed at all for a period of time.

These errors can irritate people, as they sometimes find that mail order companies and the like who believe the PAF to be error free will refuse to do business with them (sources as above).

External links

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