Junk Mail Magic

Save several codes printed above an address

Codes above the name and address block can include postal routing codes, list source codes, and account identifiers. Do not try to interpret them yourself. Record every one as printed.

By Junk Mail Magic. Updated .

How to document multiple codes

  1. Photograph the whole label in good light so every code above the address block is sharp and readable. Do not crop the top.
  2. In your note, list each code as it appears from top to bottom, such as Line 1 and Line 2, without guessing what it means.
  3. Type a barcode's digits only if they are also printed in readable form. The bars themselves are not something to transcribe.
  4. Submit the photo and the list through Junk Mail Magic and ask the sender which code, if any, identifies your mailing record.

Codes that look like account numbers but may not be

Postal barcodes and sort codes help route mail for delivery, so they are not account numbers. Listing them as if they were may confuse the sender's team. Codes that identify your record are often shorter strings printed in plain text near your name, but that varies by sender. When unsure, list everything visible and let the sender decide.

Keep the sender's answer

If the sender tells you which code it used to find your record, save that answer. It can help the next time you write to the same mailer.

Instructions for the next step

Tell a catalog customer number from an offer codeFind the sender when the return address is a mail houseReading the labelAll practical mail guides

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