Correct and up-to-date address information is critical for the smooth delivery of mail following the move. The person moving house must submit a change of address notification so that items can be directed to the new address.

Posti and the Digital and Population Data Services Agency have a mutual change of address notification service, which enables you to easily notify both parties of your change of address. By submitting a change of address notification, you submit your address to Posti’s address register as well as the Digital and Population Data Services Agency’s Population Information System. This means your mail will be sent to the correct address. By also notifying the Digital and Population Data Services Agency of your move, you make sure that several authorities, companies and corporations, such as municipalities, Kela, banks, insurance companies and trade unions, will have your current address.

Submitting a notification of change of address to the Digital and Population Data Services Agency is a statutory obligation based on the Municipality of Residence Act. The municipality of residence determines the municipality that provides your social welfare and health care services, where you vote and where you pay tax, for example.

Posti’s and the Digital and Population Data Services Agency’s guidelines for improving data security

More than 80% of customers submit the notification online, but some prefer to use a paper form. For instance, not everyone has the option or necessary skills to use online services. In accordance with the established legislation, it must be possible to submit the notification of change of address by mail, as a result of which it is not currently possible to verify the identity of the person submitting the form. Unfortunately, this may open the door to abusing the paper forms. This risk does not occur when using the online service.

“Safely storing our customers’ information is of the utmost importance to us. The majority of people submit the notification online, in which case changing the information requires strong authentication. We are also cooperating with the Digital and Population Data Services Agency in data security matters,” says Tuija Åkerman, Consumer Services, Posti.

6 easy ways to improve your data security:

• Posti enables you to set up a form block to ensure that change of address notifications cannot be submitted to Posti in paper form (e.g. on your behalf without authorization) in the future. Read more here.
• Posti also enables you to set up moving protection to prevent the disclosure of your address information online or using paper forms in the future. This is a more robust measure to prevent abuse. Consequently, it requires a free-form request from you to Posti. Read more here.
• You can set up a moving block with the Digital and Population Data Services Agency. For this, you will have to visit the agency in person. Follow these instructions.
• Remember to block access to your OmaPosti application by enabling screen lock on your phone. Log in to OmaPosti > Settings > Protect your OmaPosti.
• Annoyingly, there are phishing messages sent in Posti’s name circulating on a regular basis. Please do not respond to them. Read more here.
• It is also a good idea to find out the parties with whom Posti and the Digital and Population Data Services Agency share your address information here and here. If you want, you can prevent the disclosure of your information via Posti’s service here or via the Population Information System here.

Source: Posti Group