Post Boxes

[ImLostAgain]

Do our post boxes have identification numbers on them?
We were talking to a newly retired postman last night and he says they have and it is easily seen.
Now he is known as a bit of a wind-up merchant so we are not sure if he's having us on.

[woofgang]

do you mean boxes that the mail is posted in or house letter boxes

[Prudie]

i'm sure street postboxes do have numbers on them yes.

[benhilton]

Yes , each box has its unique barcode ID. It is inside the box and is only seen once the door is open . This barcode is scanned by the postman with his scanner as proof that the collection has been made . The scanner records the barcode ID , the time of the scan and the GPS position of the scanner at the time that the scan was made . This data is then sent in " real time " to RM's central computer by phone signal .

[woofgang]

well they know where they all are
https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/location_of_every_post_box_that

[ImLostAgain]

woofgang, yes he was talking about the mail is posted in.
benhilton, that could be what he meant. He did say it was easily seen, but he didn't necessarily say by the public.

[hc4361]

Is there a number or identifier on the collection times information plate?

[porilo]

Yes, every postbox has a unique number on the collection plate at the bottom with the postcode followed by a 1 or 2 digit number which identifies that particular box. For example the two boxes I usually use are numbered SW17 12 and SW17 54.

[hc4361]

That's what I thought, thanks :)

[Maydup]

Yes the identification numbers are on the collection plate. They are usually at teh bottom and made up of the initial part of the post code followed by a number.

See this one for example, is RG14 770

http://newbury.net/forum/index.php?topic=255.0