NationStates Jolt Archive


Some questions on US addresses

Heron-Marked Warriors
02-02-2006, 16:32
and on using http://www.whitepages.com, but I figured I'd garner more responses with the alternate thread title.

{In case you don't feel like reading the whole thing, the important questions I have are bolded. All help is gratefully received}

Anyway, I'm trying to get in touch with a friend in the US who I've almost always in the past contacted via the net (email, MSN, and a couple of forums/messageboards we both use). She recently stopped coming online. I have a postal address for her, but no phone number. We'll call this address

123 Something Street R (in case you can't tell, that's fake :p)

the part I'm wondering about is the R. I'm told it means Rear, as in, the mailbox is at the rear of the house, and I can only assume that's true. But would that be a different address to the one I would find in whitepages.com by searching for "123 Something Street, City, State"? (Since without the R it gives me a result, but with the R it tells me there's no such place)

Now, the result it gives me is not the result I was expecting. There's a current listing that doesn't have a date for when it was last confirmed, and an old listing that "was last confirmed in April, 2005." Is it feasible or likely for my friend to have moved into the house after April, moved out in either very late December or at some point in January and for whitepages.com to have been updated already? (whitepages.com's FAQ says
"How fresh is your data and how often is it updated?

Listing information on WhitePages.com is between 90-180 days old. We update our information quarterly. If you have recently changed your directory assistance listing information with your local telephone provider, the corrected information will appear on our website at the time of our next scheduled update. "

if that helps anyone. It makes me think that the scenario where she lived there between the two listed persons is highly unlikely, but I can't say for sure.)

if the person who owns the house (a statement I believe to be synonymous with "the person who pays the mortgage") is not the same person as the current resident/residents, who shows up in the listings under the address? I'm assuming the resident/residents do, but I might be wrong.

The person who shows up under the listing for 123 Something Street, J Bloggs, does not show up when I do a people search for "J Bloggs". Anyone have any idea why that might be? (The address doesn't appear to be unlisted. Unlisted addresses are usually flagged as such on whitepages.com, I believe)

Does anyone know a way I can find a record of who has lived at a certain address, preferably free and using the internet?

Lastly, to give this thread a little more substance than just "HMW needs you!", anyone have any ethical/moral objections to me doing this?

It could well be the case that she no longer wishes to talk to me, ever again. If that is the case, then I'll adhere to her wishes. All I'm really trying to do is make sure she's ok, since I find it hard to believe that she'd simply up sticks and vanish without telling me. It's possible, but I'd like to think it's not very plausible.

Anyway, thanks for your help/input/time, as ever, Generalites.
Mariehamn
02-02-2006, 16:35
That's kinda creepy....
But good luck stalking, as long as you won't be doing any harm. :D
Deep Kimchi
02-02-2006, 16:39
No, stop stalking her. If she wanted you to know where she lived, she would have told you.
JuNii
02-02-2006, 16:41
and on using http://www.whitepages.com, but I figured I'd garner more responses with the alternate thread title.

{In case you don't feel like reading the whole thing, the important questions I have are bolded. All help is gratefully received}

Anyway, I'm trying to get in touch with a friend in the US who I've almost always in the past contacted via the net (email, MSN, and a couple of forums/messageboards we both use). She recently stopped coming online. I have a postal address for her, but no phone number. We'll call this address

123 Something Street R (in case you can't tell, that's fake :p)

the part I'm wondering about is the R. I'm told it means Rear, as in, the mailbox is at the rear of the house, and I can only assume that's true. But would that be a different address to the one I would find in whitepages.com by searching for "123 Something Street, City, State"? (Since without the R it gives me a result, but with the R it tells me there's no such place)

Now, the result it gives me is not the result I was expecting. There's a current listing that doesn't have a date for when it was last confirmed, and an old listing that "was last confirmed in April, 2005." Is it feasible or likely for my friend to have moved into the house after April, moved out in either very late December or at some point in January and for whitepages.com to have been updated already? (whitepages.com's FAQ says
"How fresh is your data and how often is it updated?

Listing information on WhitePages.com is between 90-180 days old. We update our information quarterly. If you have recently changed your directory assistance listing information with your local telephone provider, the corrected information will appear on our website at the time of our next scheduled update. "

if that helps anyone. It makes me think that the scenario where she lived there between the two listed persons is highly unlikely, but I can't say for sure.)

if the person who owns the house (a statement I believe to be synonymous with "the person who pays the mortgage") is not the same person as the current resident/residents, who shows up in the listings under the address? I'm assuming the resident/residents do, but I might be wrong.

The person who shows up under the listing for 123 Something Street, J Bloggs, does not show up when I do a people search for "J Bloggs". Anyone have any idea why that might be? (The address doesn't appear to be unlisted. Unlisted addresses are usually flagged as such on whitepages.com, I believe)

Does anyone know a way I can find a record of who has lived at a certain address, preferably free and using the internet?

Lastly, to give this thread a little more substance than just "HMW needs you!", anyone have any ethical/moral objections to me doing this?

It could well be the case that she no longer wishes to talk to me, ever again. If that is the case, then I'll adhere to her wishes. All I'm really trying to do is make sure she's ok, since I find it hard to believe that she'd simply up sticks and vanish without telling me. It's possible, but I'd like to think it's not very plausible.

Anyway, thanks for your help/input/time, as ever, Generalites.Weird... I tried my name, and it doesn't come up. have you tried Google or yahoo?

I know it's unusual, but for a breif time, one could put their name in and get addresses and phone numbers. one had to request to be taken off the list.
The Sutured Psyche
02-02-2006, 16:48
Ok, the way you address US mail is

John Smith
123 Whatever Street
City, State, Zipcode

There are all sorts of little differences that could happen in the actual address (123 Whatever Street) like an R to indicate a rear address or some kind of notation to indicate where the address is on an axis (such as 123 E Whatever Street or 123 Whatever Street West). Chances are, if you have the rest of the information correct (the zip code is EXTREMELY important) it'll get there. A five digit zipcode will do (which would be written 12345) but if you can find a nine digit (which would be written 12345-6789) you'll greatly increase the chance that your mail will reach it's destination if you have a slightly incomplete address.

In most cases, white pages lists the person who pays the phone bill.

Other current residents will not be listed.
Heron-Marked Warriors
02-02-2006, 16:50
No, stop stalking her. If she wanted you to know where she lived, she would have told you.

She did tell me her address, just not her phone number. Which is the part I was trying to find, and then I got lost in a mass of conflicting information.

That's kinda creepy....
But good luck stalking, as long as you won't be doing any harm.

**ignores quasi-insults** Thanks

I tried my name, and it doesn't come up. have you tried Google or yahoo?

I have now tried google. It doesn't give me anything useful (some stuff in the wrong state, and some posts from a forum) although I still have a few more pages to comb through.

~~snip~~

In most cases, white pages lists the person who pays the phone bill.

Other current residents will not be listed.

Thanks to you too

:)
Deep Kimchi
02-02-2006, 16:55
The pay sites actually work, like PeopleFinder - but you'll pay 20 dollars for an answer.
Mariehamn
02-02-2006, 17:00
**ignores quasi-insults** Thanks
Well, you did say, "...anyone have any ethical/moral objections to me doing this?"
Your welcome!

Anyhow, stalking does require some serious info. You might have to pay for it. Go with Deep Kimchi.
Ashmoria
02-02-2006, 17:04
the post office makes a big effort to deliver the mail. if the rest of the address is correct but the R is missing or the wrong letter, they will probably still find her. assuming its not a huge city.

i have never seen an R address. it may mean Rear or it may be some kind of complex with her unit designated as R (with A,B,C etc existing also) in any case, all of the mailboxes are almost certainly grouped together somewhere.

take a look at a map of the city. i have never heard of a R street designation. but there are NE, and SE designations that make the location utterly different. if you dont find multiple <whatever> streets in the city, its a unit designation.

she may have an unlisted phone number or she may have only a cell phone which tend to not be listed in phone books. dont try to find her number since she didnt give it to you. send her a nice friendly UNSTALKISH letter and see if she responds. its OK to give her YOUR phone number, address, instantmessenger name, or whatever else you want. just take it easy so she feels free to do so if she is so inclined.

there is nothing wrong with what youre doing. just be prepared to accept NO for an answer (or to get no answer at all)
Frangland
02-02-2006, 17:07
and on using http://www.whitepages.com, but I figured I'd garner more responses with the alternate thread title.

{In case you don't feel like reading the whole thing, the important questions I have are bolded. All help is gratefully received}

Anyway, I'm trying to get in touch with a friend in the US who I've almost always in the past contacted via the net (email, MSN, and a couple of forums/messageboards we both use). She recently stopped coming online. I have a postal address for her, but no phone number. We'll call this address

123 Something Street R (in case you can't tell, that's fake :p)

the part I'm wondering about is the R. I'm told it means Rear, as in, the mailbox is at the rear of the house, and I can only assume that's true. But would that be a different address to the one I would find in whitepages.com by searching for "123 Something Street, City, State"? (Since without the R it gives me a result, but with the R it tells me there's no such place)

Now, the result it gives me is not the result I was expecting. There's a current listing that doesn't have a date for when it was last confirmed, and an old listing that "was last confirmed in April, 2005." Is it feasible or likely for my friend to have moved into the house after April, moved out in either very late December or at some point in January and for whitepages.com to have been updated already? (whitepages.com's FAQ says
"How fresh is your data and how often is it updated?

Listing information on WhitePages.com is between 90-180 days old. We update our information quarterly. If you have recently changed your directory assistance listing information with your local telephone provider, the corrected information will appear on our website at the time of our next scheduled update. "

if that helps anyone. It makes me think that the scenario where she lived there between the two listed persons is highly unlikely, but I can't say for sure.)

if the person who owns the house (a statement I believe to be synonymous with "the person who pays the mortgage") is not the same person as the current resident/residents, who shows up in the listings under the address? I'm assuming the resident/residents do, but I might be wrong.

The person who shows up under the listing for 123 Something Street, J Bloggs, does not show up when I do a people search for "J Bloggs". Anyone have any idea why that might be? (The address doesn't appear to be unlisted. Unlisted addresses are usually flagged as such on whitepages.com, I believe)

Does anyone know a way I can find a record of who has lived at a certain address, preferably free and using the internet?

Lastly, to give this thread a little more substance than just "HMW needs you!", anyone have any ethical/moral objections to me doing this?

It could well be the case that she no longer wishes to talk to me, ever again. If that is the case, then I'll adhere to her wishes. All I'm really trying to do is make sure she's ok, since I find it hard to believe that she'd simply up sticks and vanish without telling me. It's possible, but I'd like to think it's not very plausible.

Anyway, thanks for your help/input/time, as ever, Generalites.

the R probably identifies an apartment

my street address ends in C3... C3 happens to be my apartment (flat, Brits). I can only figure that the R is an apartment unit (IE, there's probably a P and a Q...)
Good Lifes
02-02-2006, 17:38
I work for the post office part time.

There are all sorts of weird addresses. Here in MO the county gives roads letters so you get something like: Road N

Write a letter with nothing real personal, in case it gets to the wrong person. The post office will forward for at least a year. If she gave them a forwarding address. Otherwise if you get close and she's still there and it's a first class letter (which of course it would be) the carrier will do everything possible to deliver to the correct person.

Probably 1% of the letters have a wrong address. People notice when a letter is delivered wron, but don't notice if a wrong addressed letter gets to them.