Address validation checks each ship-to address against postal reference data. A confirmed address is standardized and completed. An address that can not be confirmed keeps what was sent and is flagged for review, so no one prints a label for an address that won't deliver.
This page shows what several different types of corrections look like. For how validation works, the validation methods and the cost of a bad address, see Introduction to Address Validation.
Validation Outcomes
Each validated shipment is tagged with the outcome.
Tag |
Meaning |
|---|---|
AV-Verified |
The address is confirmed. The suggested corrections are available to apply to the shipment. |
AV-Failure |
The address could not be confirmed. The shipment keeps the address that was sent and needs review. |
Note: The Address Correction Default Method setting controls when a correction is written to the shipment. With Auto Correct, the corrected address replaces the Ship To address automatically. With Manual, the corrected address displays as the suggested address until a user clicks Accept Changes. For both settings, see Address Validation - Setup.
Typo and Postal Code Corrections
Validation corrects a misspelled city, a wrong ZIP code and a nonstandard street suffix, and adds the full ZIP+4.
Address as entered
2030 Powers Ferry Road SE, Suite 350
Atlanata, GA 30328
Corrected address
2030 Powers Ferry Rd SE Ste 350
Atlanta, GA 30339-5066
The city is misspelled. 30328 is a valid Atlanta ZIP code, but not the one for this street. Validation corrects the city, replaces the ZIP code, adds the ZIP+4 and standardizes the suffix. The shipment is tagged AV-Verified.
Carriers charge an address correction fee when they fix an address in transit. A correction at order entry avoids the fee and the delay.
Standardized Formatting
Addresses that arrive in mixed case, with the state spelled out or without a ZIP+4 are converted to postal format. Validation corrects the casing, converts the state to its two-character code, abbreviates the suffix and adds the ZIP+4. The shipment is tagged AV-Verified.
Address as entered
9000 e nichols avenue, suite 201
centennial, Colorado 80112
Corrected address
9000 E Nichols Ave Ste 201
Centennial, CO 80112-3406
Addresses typed by hand or captured from a web form rarely arrive in postal format.
Carriers expect a two-character state code, and some reject anything else.
Residential and Commercial Detection
Validation returns the delivery type for the address: residential or business. When the Residential Flag setting is Set and the correction method is Auto Correct, Pacejet updates the residential flag on the shipment to match the result before rating.
Most parcel carriers add a residential delivery surcharge. When the flag is wrong, the quoted rate won't match the carrier invoice. A correct flag at order entry means the rate you quote is the rate you pay.
Note: The delivery type depends on the postal data available for the address. Some addresses, including many outside the United States, return an unknown delivery type. The residential flag is left as it was sent in that case.
PO Box Recognition
Validation recognizes a PO Box address and confirms it against postal data for that box, including the ZIP+4 assigned to the box.
Several carrier services can't deliver to a PO Box. Identifying one at order entry prevents a rejected label later in the process.
International Addresses
Validation also applies to international addresses. Validation converts the province to its two-character code and standardizes the street suffix. The shipment is tagged AV-Verified.
Address as entered
3200 Deziel Drive
Windsor, Ontario N8W 5K8
Canada
Corrected address
3200 Deziel Dr
Windsor, ON N8W 5K8
Canada
Notes:
Postal reference data varies by country.
Standardization and confirmation are available broadly.
The depth of correction depends on the postal data for that country.
Cross-border shipments cost the most to get wrong. The same validation step applies, with no separate setup.
Addresses That Can't Be Confirmed
When an address cannot be confirmed, Pacejet does not replace it with a partial or best-guess match. The shipment keeps the address that was sent and is tagged AV-Failure for review. There are two most common causes: an address that does not exist, and an address that is incomplete.
Address That Doesn't Exist
Address as entered
99999 Nonexistent Street
Atlanta, GA 30339
The city and ZIP code are real, but the street does not exist. Validation confirms the city and nothing further. The shipment is tagged AV-Failure.
Incomplete Address
Address as entered
9000 E Nichols Avenue
Centennial, CO 80112
The street and building are real, but the building has multiple suites, and the suite number is missing. Validation confirms the building and reports the missing suite. The shipment is tagged AV-Failure.
Pacejet does not fill in a suite or apply a building-level ZIP+4 in place of the suite-level one. A guessed suite can send a package to the wrong office, so the shipment is flagged for someone to complete.
A flagged shipment costs little to fix. A shipped one costs a correction fee and a delay.
Flagged Shipment Review
Flagged shipments are reviewed and corrected on the Rate & Ship screen. For the steps, see Using Address Validation.