So far, Thanks to this make-work project, so far I've
1) Had my address changed from Kilkenny to Tipperary
i.e. The Man, 101 An Estate, A Village, County Kilkenny
to The Man, 101 An Estate, A Village, A Tipperary Town, County Tipperary
I informed my motor and house insurers of the changes (they can't cater for post-codes for Irish addresses!) and asked about changes in premiums as a consequence. Motor insurers assured my no extra cost on renewal, however the house insurers were rather more circumspect, saying they'd check with the underwriters on renewal.
2) Tried to change my bank account and credit card and debit card addresses. Needless to say none of the organisations concerned can cater for post-codes on Irish addresses and the bank went so far as to state that no-one had informed them (implied asked their permission) I managed to get the addresses altered but no post-code included.
3) Logged onto a few sites where I buy stuff from time to time and made the changes myself online including adding the post-code (amazon, book depository, etc.)
4) Logged onto Apple and changed the address but again, no facility to enter or store post-code. I zipped off an email and got the standard "no one told me" guff from them. I wrote to the head-chef and bottle-washer so I await developments (Tim Cook, head-chef??) They have an online shop I've bought lots so sort it IF the post-code makes deliveries easier.
5) emailed Shannon about the now incorrect address on my car-registration document and had to send them the document to change my address despite not having moved - see what I mean, a PS project generating more work for the PS boys and girls? I could wait until motor tax renewal time and try to do it online but it may not work. I want to see if the PS asked the PS's permission to change my address and if PS Shannon can store and retrieve post-codes generated and issued by PS Somewhere else
6) Phoned the doc's office to change my address on their systems for scripts etc. The secretary, a pal of mine for a while did the necessary but had no field to store a post-code on any of her systems. I asked about informing the HSE and she was like "Hhhmm, not unless you've taken tranquillisers today and you really MUST make the change." A nod being as good as a wink, I moved on.
7) Logged on to the parcel motel and changed my credit-card details and my address and lo and behold, the accommodated EIRcodes BUT in the wrong format. An EIRcode is formatted "XXX XXXX", three characters space four characters. They only allow seven non blank characters. Good, lads, but not quite Carling.
8) phoned my mobile & broadband provider, Tesco. Two accounts two (different) addresses. "We're an e-billing company and don't issue paper bills so we don't need your address" Well missus you demanded ESB bills, bank statements, driver's licence and other stuff from me when I switched from PAYG to bill-pay, so fix it up now so I can use your utility bills with the correct address issued to me if requested by another corporate. Done eventually but life is too short for this nonsense on the phone.
There are a few places left but that's what I got done yesterday and today.
A few questions.
If as I have discovered the majority of organisation I contacted cannot store my post-code in order to reproduce it on documents or parcels, how can any of the supposed benefits accrue to me or to organisations "serving" me? I've heard reps from courier and haulage companies interviewed during the life of this project and each and every one I've listened to has slated EIRcodes as it doesn't address their key issue - Where is XXX XXXX and how can I get their quickest.
Did the Troika specifically approve the expenditure for this useless nonsense? Who benefits, apart for the excessively highly paid PS's? What were the alternatives and who evaluated them? Answers please, in a plain brown wrapper, to the Denis O'Brien fan-boy club, Leinster House.