chas49 wrote:AF62 wrote:Lootman wrote:If you think about it there is no valid reason why a bank or credit card issuer should need to know where you live. Only how to reach you.
Knowing were you live is handy if the bank needs to send the bailiffs if you don't pay your overdraft or credit card bill. A post office box is less helpful to them.
And you're unlikely to get credit if you aren't able to show that you live at the address you give.... In fact, might it be seen as fraudulent to give an 'incorrect' address? If the form you fill in says "postal address" you might reasonably argue that you are entitled to give an address at which you can receive mail (whether or not you live there). But if the question is "where do you live", or "how long have you lived at the address given", the PO Box is not going to work so well..
As I mentioned before, most forms just ask for "address" and that term is ambiguous. I elect to regard that as meaning postal address.
The only type of business that I regard as having a legitimate reason to know where I live are insurance companies, since they assess risk based on your postcode. So our property and motor insurance policies do work off our residential address.
I have had no problem getting credit using my POB address. In fact I'd probably have more trouble getting credit if I used an address that is different from the one used for all my other financial dealings.
The government requires your residential address for some purposes, such as passport.
As well as greater privacy there are other benefits to using a POB. You don't have to change address details when you move house. And there is always someone there to receive and sign for parcels and packages.