po box number?

[tali122]

ive typed into google a po box number to locate who owns it but the one that comes up is different as the rest of address does not match (and i cant find any postcode matches either) -is there a facility for locating the po box numbers online?

also can 2 or more po box numbers run concurrently from different companies or is each number iunique and exclusive?

thx

[Buenchico]

Me again!

PO Box numbers are specific to each post town. So only one company can have PO Box 1234 in Anytown but another company can have PO Box 1234 in Othertown.

Many firms use PO Box numbers precisely because they don't want their customers to know where they're based. (e.g. it's hard to look like a big, well-established trader with an address like 'Flat 5, 13th Floor, Mandela Towers' or '3rd Shed on the Left, Behind the Gasworks'). For this reason, the Post Office normally keep the real address confidential (although, of course, they will reveal it to the police and others with a genuine need to know). So it's unlikely that any web search will find the real address of a company unless that company has put up a website which contains both addresses.

Incidentally, while PO Box numbers (within a specific post town) are always unique, the same doesn't apply to Freepost addresses. I used to run a business from home which had an address like 'Freepost, Mytown, MT1 7XY'. (The postcode was totally different to the normal postcode for my house). It was only when I returned my electoral registration form that I noticed that the local electoral registration officer, based at the council offices half a mile away, had exactly the same freepost address!

Chris

[dzug]

The PO Box will have a different postcode to the owner's real address

[lady_p_gold]

I was under the impression that they had to reveal the address if requested and would only withhold it if asked by the police or something for say .. an refuge ??

We reserve the right in all cases to give the address of the PO Box holder, should it be requested.
The PO Box address (and title) will be added to our national address database, the Postcode Address File (PAF). Information on PAF is used to produce a number of address management products available to the public. It is also reproduced in free postal address books, which we provide to all organisations listed on the file. Find out more about PAF data and Postal address books

[tali122]

yes i assumed that the PO box could be revealed if requested -otherwise why the need for secrecacy?many years ago i did write to the royal mail asking details of a po box number and strangely they returned my letter with a scribbled "please phone this number"- which i thought rather odd

[StGermain]

Assuming this is in the UK, just ring Royal Mail. You might get bounced through a couple of departments, but within minutes you will have your answer.

It is a myth that the real address behind a PO Box is somehow "secret" and cannot be obtained.