# Updating addresses is a pain in the ass. Why don't we have a single, universal physical address **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 3, 2015, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/updating-addresses-is-a-pain-in-the-ass-why-dont-we-have-a-single-universal-physical-address/719175 "2015-05-03T20:34:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Red\_Barchetta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/da6949/32.png) [@Red\_Barchetta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Barchetta)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2015, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/updating-addresses-is-a-pain-in-the-ass-why-dont-we-have-a-single-universal-physical-address/719175/1 "2015-05-03T20:34:15Z")
So I moved a few months ago and still haven’t updated my address at the various places I should because 1) I’m busy and 2) I’m lazy. And it got me thinking–why the hell are we still acting as if its the dark ages, painstakingly writing out long-form addresses on every letter, and updating every individual business/utility/government agency with our address every time we move? Why isn’t there a single central database that you can update, to which all other companies refer? Or why isn’t there a company that can do this? Like a PO Box I give to everyone, but one that then forwards the mail to my current address? Edit: And yes, I realize I could have spent this time updating my address… ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2015, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/updating-addresses-is-a-pain-in-the-ass-why-dont-we-have-a-single-universal-physical-address/719175/2 "2015-05-03T21:51:25Z")
There are : > **[Virtual Mailbox for Travelers & RVers | Traveling Mailbox](https://travelingmailbox.com/)** > > Virtual Mailbox with Postal Mail Scanning & Mail Forwarding Services. We scan your postal mail, forward your mail & mail your checks to the bank. > **[Best US Mail Forwarding Service for RVers/Travelers | Physical Street...](https://myrvmail.com/)** > > MyRVmail is the premier digital mailbox service provider. We offer premium USPS mail forwarding, mail scanning, virtual postal mail, physical street address in Florida & other related services. > **[Virtual Mail for Businesses and Individuals | Earth Class Mail](https://www.earthclassmail.com/)** > > Join thousands of remote individuals and businesses who use Earth Class Mail to access their postal mail online. 16 million pieces of mail processed to date. Although it will only work for mailing addresses- you’ll still have to update individually for any entities that need to know where you actually live ( driver’s license, employers for tax withholding) or where to provide services (utilities) or where insured items are located. And I’m not sure how many people would be willing to pay that monthly fee to avoid updating a fixed address when they move - it seems more useful for those who really don’t _have_ a fixed address. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2015, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/updating-addresses-is-a-pain-in-the-ass-why-dont-we-have-a-single-universal-physical-address/719175/3 "2015-05-03T22:05:46Z")
Well the good news is that mechanisms are already in place at the Post Office to handle this automatically for that most important type of mail: > [@](#): > > Have you ever wondered how junk mail follows you so easily when you move to a new address? How do credit card companies, catalogs, charities seeking money and everyone else all know when you have moved across town or across the country entirely? > > Whenever you fill out a change of address form with the United States Postal Service, the USPS adds your new details into a database of 160 million previous address changes over the past four years. The USPS has deals with data brokers to sell this data to anyone who pays, provided they have your old address. > **[How The Post Office Sells Your Address Update To Anyone Who Pays (And The...](https://www.forbes.com/sites/adamtanner/2013/07/08/how-the-post-office-sells-your-new-address-with-anyone-who-pays-and-the-little-known-loophole-to-opt-out/)** > > (AP Photo/Murray Ledger & Times, John Wright) Have you ever wondered how junk mail follows you so easily when you move to a new address? How do credit card companies, catalogs, charities seeking money and everyone else all know when you have... ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2015, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/updating-addresses-is-a-pain-in-the-ass-why-dont-we-have-a-single-universal-physical-address/719175/4 "2015-05-04T03:02:13Z")
> [@PastTense](#): > > Well the good news is that mechanisms are already in place at the Post Office to handle this automatically for that most important type of mail: And yet, I can cite three instances where I’ve moved and has one kind of problem or another with the Post Office dealing with my forwarding address. So I made up my mind: Fuck the Post Office and their forwarding addresses. I know exactly who I need to tell every time I move. I have a check-list. When I move, I report my new mailing address to every one of them on my own. Yes, it’s a hassle, but it’s not like I move every month. I don’t even bother telling the Post Office at all. It helps that I’ve used P. O. boxes as my mailing address for the last umpty-ump years, and that most of my moves have been within reasonable driving distance of my prior address. So for a period of six months or so, I keep the old address active, until all my correspondents have begun sending stuff to my new address.