A few years ago we had some very fancy (expensive?) panels erected giving the name of the road and a picture of a local landmark. They are still there today. Shortly after that, the name of the road was apparently changed (from a Chemin to a Rue) and all the house numbers changed. I say “apparently” because we have never been informed. We only found out when a neighbour applied for a grant and was refused on the grounds that she does not live at the address given.
I checked with our factice who confirmed the change of our address but said don’t worry because I know where you live.
I noticed that when I went to fill in my online impots form this year, the NEW address was given for my account but on the form itself that I filled in, the old address was still shown. (I added a note in the comments section to explain this in case of any repercussions)
Recently, quite unusually, an Amazon parcel went AWOL. I wanted to add a helpful note to our Amazon default address to say “Blue shutters”. Amazon software would not allow me to use the old address because it says it is unrecognised (despite having a zillion packages already delivered safely to that address).
My question is, where is my address held officially? And where do I stand legally. For instance, say I get a speeding fine. The address I gave for my driving licence was the old address. Have they automatically updated the address to the new one? Where will they send the demand for a fine? What will happen if I do not get the demand due to this confusion. Ditto utilities bills etc etc.
My house was always known by it’s registered name in Breton and then one day, out of the blue about 25 years ago, we received an official letter from the local trésor public stating we had a new address afiliated to the country road that ran about 25m in front of the property out of the centre of the village and that we had been designated a number like the other three houses in our chemin. Next, a commune worker arrived and rivetted a fancy blue china number to the letter box which obviously one day would rust away and leave the number behind and from that time, we either got the new full address with just the number and road or the actual original house name plus the new bit. The mairie never informed us either, it all came via the impôts.
The Law about addresses (for Towns/Cities/Larger communes) has been extended in recent years to include smaller communes (under 1,000 if I recall correctly) which is why our small commune got involved.
It had to be completed nationwide by last year/this year? something like that.
Obviously departments/communes/whatever will have done things according to their own local agreements/plans…
We were given several copies a standard letter, advising of the “new” address and a list of those to whom the letter should be sent.
The Carte Grise was one of the “important, don’t forget to do this” and so we followed the instructions, posting a copy letter and receiving a sticker to replace the old address.
For one very much older car, we had to get a new carte grise/immatriculation number as it was the old style… dratted nuisance but never mind.
We were told we did Not have to advise re our Carte de Sejour…
We did not have to tell our Driving Licence folk…
EDIT: having just re-read the Information sheet which came with the Copy Letters… It is NOT essential that one alerts the DL folk, you can wait until these come up for Renewal.
The name of our road was changed in the 1980’s (completely different name). Google maps still show the old name, UPS are getting better, but it’s still hit and miss as to whether they can find me…it’s not difficult…
Funny how Google Maps can change the Gulf of Mexico to GoA in a week but it takes them 45 years, with yearly reminders, and counting to update ‘La Pilonne’ to ‘La Rue de l’Oeuf’
It just got more confusing for me. i have always carried the latest EDF bill as proof of residence. I just checked it with EDF. They now have me listed at the NEW street name but with the OLD house number. Another fine mess …
A word of warning too, according to our local agency post office lady, it is now the rule in La Poste that if something does not have the correct address, street name number etc, it must be sent back to sender. Even if the post person knows very well the recipient.
This came to light a month or so ago when an expenses cheque from my dog rescue association did not arrive. Eventually it made its way back to the sender. From now on they will pay me by virements.
Thanks Badger, that is brilliant. The question now is - do ALL delivery companies use this information now?
Even so, the people who produced this map have not been thorough. When I click on my address the newly assigned number and street name are shown (some detail removed for privacy) but on the underlying map the street name is still shown incorrectly.
Edit: I notice that the houses on the other side of our street (which technically fall in an adjacent commune because the boundary runs down the middle of the street), when you click on them still show the OLD street name.
In my days of mapmaking, we had to get it right first time. I do not like the current software attitude of keep changing it until people stop complaining.
Finally, everything has been made clear by gouv.fr
Published on Tuesday, March 18, 2025
Following the transfer of the BAN from DINUM to the National Institute of Geographic and Forest Information (IGN), the “Address” API supported by the BAN since 2019 has launched its transition from DINUM to IGN.
Much as I hate to defend bureaucracy, I can I think discern a certain fonctionnaire logic to this if the commune border runs down the middle of the street.
Having “Rue” for one side and “Chemin” for the other does (sort of) distinguish which commune a house is in.
Much as I hate to agree with you, I do see the logic but the other commune should have put their new fancy expensive road signs on their side of the road.
… and by the way, the factrice says it makes perfect sense to her.
