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Original poster

Can you find out what post box was used to send a card to someone

38 replies

Goldenbear · 27/03/2025 12:14

Just that really, does anyone know if from a stamped envelope there is any number code that identifies what post box was used to send it?

OP posts:
wherearemypastnames · 27/03/2025 12:15

I don’t believe so

MemorableTrenchcoat · 27/03/2025 12:21

Goldenbear · 27/03/2025 12:14

Just that really, does anyone know if from a stamped envelope there is any number code that identifies what post box was used to send it?

Letters from postboxes are dumped into sacks and taken to a sorting office for processing. Which box they were dropped into is not important or tracked. Why do you ask?

ZookeeperSE · 27/03/2025 12:21

It if it’s just a normal stamp no, can be put in any box. I send a lot of packages and returns sometimes when buying postage online (depending on the service) you choose the post office where you’re dropping it, however even then, if I have a detour and take to a different post office they still accept it and process it so I do t think there’s any link between the postage label and the location of sending it. Sometimes you can read an ink stamp from the sorting office it was accepted in to, but these are not always present and mostly illegible.

Why do you ask? If you give a general idea of why you need to know someone might have a good idea.

Smallmercies · 27/03/2025 12:22

No, only where it was stamped, and even this doesn't always happen or it is illegible.

Hadalifeonce · 27/03/2025 12:24

I don't know about a particular box, but a few years ago, we had birthday cards not arrived (they had cash in), I spoke to our postie, she came back and asked for details of when and where they were posted.
Eventually she came back and said from the info I had given the thief had been traced.

user6209817643 · 27/03/2025 12:27

Sorting office maybe, but not postbox.
Anyway, If you were going to post anything with nefarious intent, I doubt people would use the one outside their house? You’d make a bit of effort to take your envelope of glitter a few towns away wouldn’t you?

Kpo58 · 27/03/2025 12:41

They definitely cannot tell which postbox a letter has come from. They can tell which sorting centre it went to by the way they stamp the stamps with a postmark. The same postboxes always go to the same sorting centre. I lived In a place that postboxes on one side of the road went to one sorting centre and the ones on the other went to a different local sorting centre.

lactofree · 27/03/2025 12:49

No. Many years ago my DM received some disturbing (pervy) letters and contacted the police. They visited and said a letter can’t be traced

Original poster
Goldenbear · 27/03/2025 13:19

MemorableTrenchcoat · 27/03/2025 12:21

Letters from postboxes are dumped into sacks and taken to a sorting office for processing. Which box they were dropped into is not important or tracked. Why do you ask?

Show quote history

Thanks, I thought as much but I was hoping that wasn't the case.

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Original poster
Goldenbear · 27/03/2025 13:21

ZookeeperSE · 27/03/2025 12:21

It if it’s just a normal stamp no, can be put in any box. I send a lot of packages and returns sometimes when buying postage online (depending on the service) you choose the post office where you’re dropping it, however even then, if I have a detour and take to a different post office they still accept it and process it so I do t think there’s any link between the postage label and the location of sending it. Sometimes you can read an ink stamp from the sorting office it was accepted in to, but these are not always present and mostly illegible.

Why do you ask? If you give a general idea of why you need to know someone might have a good idea.

I had an anonymous Valentine's day card and literally have no clue who it is from. I'm married and have teenage children who were equally perplexed, tbh eldest teenager was shocked.

OP posts:
Original poster
Goldenbear · 27/03/2025 13:22

Hadalifeonce · 27/03/2025 12:24

I don't know about a particular box, but a few years ago, we had birthday cards not arrived (they had cash in), I spoke to our postie, she came back and asked for details of when and where they were posted.
Eventually she came back and said from the info I had given the thief had been traced.

Thanks for information but that is a crime so I suppose very different as it is not a criminal activity.

OP posts:
Original poster
Goldenbear · 27/03/2025 13:23

user6209817643 · 27/03/2025 12:27

Sorting office maybe, but not postbox.
Anyway, If you were going to post anything with nefarious intent, I doubt people would use the one outside their house? You’d make a bit of effort to take your envelope of glitter a few towns away wouldn’t you?

Yes I can see the sorting office is in the county I live in so it must be a local person.

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ClearHoldBuild · 27/03/2025 13:24

Goldenbear · 27/03/2025 13:21

I had an anonymous Valentine's day card and literally have no clue who it is from. I'm married and have teenage children who were equally perplexed, tbh eldest teenager was shocked.

Show quote history

Unless the post is particularly bad where you are that was 6 weeks ago, forget about it..

Original poster
Goldenbear · 27/03/2025 13:25

Kpo58 · 27/03/2025 12:41

They definitely cannot tell which postbox a letter has come from. They can tell which sorting centre it went to by the way they stamp the stamps with a postmark. The same postboxes always go to the same sorting centre. I lived In a place that postboxes on one side of the road went to one sorting centre and the ones on the other went to a different local sorting centre.

That's interesting so slightly identifiable then?

OP posts:
Ilovemyshed · 27/03/2025 13:26

I suspect your teenagers are playing a trick.

Original poster
Goldenbear · 27/03/2025 13:26

ClearHoldBuild · 27/03/2025 13:24

Unless the post is particularly bad where you are that was 6 weeks ago, forget about it..

Show quote history

Yes, I no and I did but I feel like it is a bit creepy, like I'm being watched.

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Original poster
Goldenbear · 27/03/2025 13:27

Know not "no".

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Original poster
Goldenbear · 27/03/2025 13:30

Ilovemyshed · 27/03/2025 13:26

I suspect your teenagers are playing a trick.

No, they are absolutely not as I asked them and my eldest is too busy with A levels and I heard him tell his mates online that it was really weird. My youngest, well I know what she spends her money on, where she goes and as young teen. Neither of them would bother buying stamps, youngest probably doesn't know how!

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Original poster
Goldenbear · 27/03/2025 13:31

DH wasn't particularly pleased about it either and I had one off him so it wasn't him.

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Original poster
Goldenbear · 27/03/2025 13:32

Anyway, it seems that it is not possible to do that so I will just have to leave it.

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Chersfrozenface · 27/03/2025 13:32

How full and accurate was the address? Accurate enough to reach you, obviously, but a house number and postcode is sufficient for that.

If it was full, accurately spelled and so on, who do you know who has those details?

Original poster
Goldenbear · 27/03/2025 13:32

Thanks for replies, it was useful as I couldn't find anything on the internet about it.

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Amberlynnswashcloth · 27/03/2025 13:33

If you were from the courts with a warrant, I'm sure they would be able to at least narrow it down to a few neighbourhood post boxes. However, I doubt anyone would put the time and recourses into investigating this for the reasons you describe.

Original poster
Goldenbear · 27/03/2025 13:36

Chersfrozenface · 27/03/2025 13:32

How full and accurate was the address? Accurate enough to reach you, obviously, but a house number and postcode is sufficient for that.

If it was full, accurately spelled and so on, who do you know who has those details?

Yes, it was all accurate, interestingly used my maiden name and not my married name which I use at work but I really don't interact with many people at work due to the nature of my job.

My husband pointed out that I use my maiden name for the electoral register so it could be via that. He said it could be an ex boyfriend but I loved away 20 years ago and I live 4 hours away from that area. Then DH said the last one I lived with could have been on a conference down here as I said it was posted in our county as has the sorting office address.

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Original poster
Goldenbear · 27/03/2025 13:37

Amberlynnswashcloth · 27/03/2025 13:33

If you were from the courts with a warrant, I'm sure they would be able to at least narrow it down to a few neighbourhood post boxes. However, I doubt anyone would put the time and recourses into investigating this for the reasons you describe.

Edited

Yes, absolutely, I appreciate it is not exactly a crime, I'm just curious really.

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