ABOUT 300 people live in my flat. Or, at least, 300 people have lived there and have moved out without redirecting their mail. Miss Roby, I have your Visa bill; Mr Gibbs, Kate wishes you were in Portugal; and Mr Simmons, you may already be a winner.
Before you move house, visit the Royal Mail website. Under the Moving Home section of the site, you can find all the necessary information about terms and conditions, and download the redirection forms. Once you’ve signed up (you have to take some proof of identity to the post office) you’ll be given a special password so that you can log on and renew the service for up to two years. www.royalmail.com
To let everyone else know you’re moving, log on to Really Moving. This comprehensive website covers every possible aspect of moving home and has a free e-mail service that will let all the utility companies and various government agencies know that you’ve moved. The service is free and, mercifully, registration is speedy. www.reallymoving.com
If you’re moving overseas but still want a postal address in the UK, make haste to the website of Formations UK Data. For £180, you can hand their London or Surrey address to anyone you fancy and, when mail arrives, they’ll forward it to you for 50p per envelope, once a week or once a month. You can register online and pay by credit card. www.formations365.co.uk