Private Mail Box / PO Box Numbers

[Nik]

After some advice please.

I provide a service where I send out a kit to customers which is then returned to me - I then make the product they've ordered and return it to them.  A recent incident with a customer has made me more aware of the problems of giving out my home address when I'm regularly home alone.  I felt that the best idea would be to use a PO Box number but on looking into it Royal Mail will happily give out the address behind the PO Box to anyone who asks for it???

Does anyone have any ideas on what I can use instead?  Or whether there are other options that aren't too expensive?

Thanks in advance

[seamus]

the law seems to be slightly odd as far as this is conserned.
It is legal to use a PO box as a business address but it is against distance selling regulations to use only a PO box for a contact address.
If you are selling products online then by law you need to show an actual address, there isnt really any way round that.

[Nik]

Thanks for replying.  I don't sell straight from a web page.  I do have a web page that shows the services I offer then it's arranged via email/phone/letter.

[seamus]

Technically that is still distance selling, so the distance selling regulations still apply.

I would talk to your nearest business advice, or small business gateway people, they sometimes offer PO box addresses (they did when I was talking to the small business gateway people) they should be able to point you in the right direction, but if it is distance selling then there isnt really a way round it, you will need to provide an actual address.

[Nik]

Thank you.