How to address letters properly

Following a few simple guidelines can ensure your post has the best chance of reaching you - and whoever you may be sending letters to.

A spokesman for La Poste said: "The biggest problem we get is people not addressing letters properly. We use machines to sort the mail and if it is badly addressed the machine will reject it and it has to be resorted manually."

Here are some tips to keep the facteur happy:

Writing addresses:
When hand-writing envelopes, it is preferable to use ones with ready-drawn lines or boxes for the information (pré-casé).

Do not exceed six lines

Never put any punctuation - comma, dot, apostrophe, underlining, or dash - after the street number

Write all five letters of the postcode clearly and if in doubt, check it. You can find codes by putting in the name of the commune at www.laposte.fr - see services en ligne and then trouver un code postal. On the same page to the right, if you click tester vos addresses, there is a section where you can write an address to receive a suggestion on the best way to lay it out.

The last line should be postcode and then commune and it should be in capitals - for example: 06270 VILLENEUVE-LOUBET. Note you do not need to write the department or region - this is included in the postcode.

Put your sender's address on the back

Your letter box:
You can use a simple letterbox slot in your front door as long if it is easily accessible.

Otherwise think about a separate, lockable boîte aux letters which can be cemented into a wall, fixed to railings, or be free-standing on a support etc.

You can find ones made to agreed norms (normes françaises) in DIY shops, for example.

Approved ones (“normalisées”) should be labelled "NF." They are designed with a suitable lock and a wide-enough slot and can also be unlocked by postmen with a special key if they need to put a large item inside.

The box should be at the entrance of your property or at the side of the road. You should write the names of everyone who lives at the address on the box.

The La Poste spokesman said: "Put yourself in the postman's position - especially if there are a lot of different people in one building, make sure he can see you live there.

“That includes, for example, making sure your name is clear on a door buzzer or communal letter boxes in a block of flats.”

If you just have an ordinary letter box, it should be big enough for an A4 envelope.

When you move to a new home, contact your local post office so they know you live at the address, or see pack ma nouvelle addresse at www.laposte.fr under services en ligne.