Eircode - Why did they bother?

Foggy Jew

At the height of Storm Ophelia, my chimney went on fire. (Nobody told me about downdrafts etc). I was horrified at the thought of calling out the fire brigade, knowing that they would be so busy, but as the flames and sparks coming out of the top of the chimney were getting worse, I had to phone them. I live in a rural area - no house numbers. When I got through to the Fire Service, I gave them my eircode, and they said that it was no use to them, and would I give them directions to my house. If Eircodes are not being used by the emergency services, what the heck use are they at all?

King George VI

I genuinely forgot that Eircode was a thing so I looked it up. Found a great quote:

An Post had previously claimed that a nationwide public postcode system was unnecessary, stating that it was "a 1960s solution to a 21st century problem".

lol

o1s1n

The only benefit I've seen so far is no longer having to put '0000' in the zip code section of online forms.

nelly17

Google Maps works with them - Id say that makes them pretty useful. Its not the fault of the Eircode system that the Emergency Services don't use it.

Edit:I suspect it has something to do with ECAS and Eir having to invest in their software to accommodate it hence it hasn't happened. In other countries when you make the call from a landline the call handlers already know the address.

murpho999

Fire services should be using Eircodes as they work.

They even work on Google Maps so no excuses.

People are against them because they are "random" instead of sequential but why anybody would need sequential postcodes is beyond me.

I would say over time as more services adopt them they will become more used as they are very convenient when used properly.

Aint Eazy Being Cheezy

o1s1n wrote: »

The only benefit I've seen so far is no longer having to put '0000' in the zip code section of online forms.

I used 90210 :cool:

Pat Mustard

o1s1n wrote: »

The only benefit I've seen so far is no longer having to put '0000' in the zip code section of online forms.

At least 0000 was easier to remember.

moonlighting

jobs for the boys.
joking aside why did the put a space in. some websites i order from don't like the space.
e.g. xxx yyyy -> xxxyyyy

EverythingGood

They work for eir and sky and vodafone for providing broadband in rural areas too.

Ted Plain

I live in an area of Dublin that has an existing Dublin postcode number. My Eircode starts with D. I like it and use it.

My folks live in County Dublin and theirs starts with K, which is ridiculous because County Kildare is close by.

They really, really, really should have ensured that the codes start with the initial of the county that the address is in, like it is with car registrations.

No wonder very few have warmed to it.

Macy0161

I'm suprised, because as far as I'm aware the ambulance service use it?

I've had various couriers looking for it (a lot of labels that companies use still don't include the field), and also had a product recall on a tumble dryer and the guy phoned looking for the eircode for directions.

An Post do use it now also - we've had a few envelopes with the lack of eircode highlighted. iirc their main issue is they had just put in sorters that didn't require it. But insert anti-union rant here, as some will no doubt do.

Also, you can use an eircode to get a destination on google maps too. There were obviously issues with the cost of the project, but lack of use is down to implementation by other companies/ bodies imo.

lawred2

moonlighting wrote: »

jobs for the boys.
joking aside why did the put a space in. some websites i order from don't like the space.
e.g. xxx yyyy -> xxxyyyy

take out the space then

nelly17

Ted Plain wrote: »

I live in an area of Dublin that has an existing Dublin postcode number. My Eircode starts with D. I like it and use it.

My folks live in County Dublin and theirs starts with K, which is ridiculous because County Kildare is close by.

They really, really, really should have ensured that the codes start with the initial of the county that the address is in, like it is with car registrations.

No wonder very few have warmed to it.

Just like phone numbers - it'll never catch on

lawred2

Ted Plain wrote: »

I live in an area of Dublin that has an existing Dublin postcode number. My Eircode starts with D. I like it and use it.

My folks live in County Dublin and theirs starts with K, which is ridiculous because County Kildare is close by.

They really, really, really should have ensured that the codes start with the initial of the county that the address is in, like it is with car registrations.

No wonder very few have warmed to it.

Do they live in a townland that starts with K?

colm_mcm

Google maps has eircode, I find it great.

__..__

We had to call the gardai one and I have the Eircom as the house I was living in at the time was in a rural area. I got a phone call about 3 hours later saying they couldn't find the house. I had to spend 20 minutes on the phone with the gardai in the car to help them get to the house.
Put it in google maps and it points right to the house. Sure the crime was a cold case file by then.

Estrellita

I live in a rural area also, and I've often been asked for my post code as a means of finding us. It's quicker than giving directions and unlikely you'd miss any turns using it.

murpho999

moonlighting wrote: »

jobs for the boys.
joking aside why did the put a space in. some websites i order from don't like the space.
e.g. xxx yyyy -> xxxyyyy

Spaces are normal.

It's websites set up problems if they can't handle them.

Look at UK postcodes all with spaces.

crossmolinalad

nelly17 wrote: »

Google Maps works with them - Id say that makes them pretty useful. Its not the fault of the Eircode system that the Emergency Services don't use it.

Edit:I suspect it has something to do with ECAS and Eir having to invest in their software to accommodate it hence it hasn't happened. In other countries when you make the call from a landline the call handlers already know the address.

The 112 app on my windows phone does the same
Was last summer in the middle of nowhere working in the bog when a accident happend
Used the app and the emergency service known exactly where we were

mobby

colm_mcm wrote: »

Google maps has eircode, I find it great.

Agree.. used eircode on google maps to find a house in rural part of wexford. got me straight to the door. Great stuff.

seamus

The emergency services are using it. The OP might have just gotten through to an old schooler who doesn't do all dat Googley Maps schtuff, just give us the directions there.

OldGoat

The codes don't work well because we don't use them.
It's like getting a bus service, then never using that service and then complaining that the service is not fit for purpose because no-one ever uses it.

jamesbere

I think eircode is really good, very useful for finding someone's house in the backend of nowhere.

seamus

moonlighting wrote: »

jobs for the boys.
joking aside why did the put a space in. some websites i order from don't like the space.
e.g. xxx yyyy -> xxxyyyy

That's just to aid readability. The space isn't a part of the code and you don't need it.

Humans are better at reading and remembering codes if you put them in groups of 4 or less. So you're better able to recall "A34" and "64A3" separately than if you try to remember "A3464A3" as one entire block.

Likewise with phone numbers, people will usually call out a mobile phone number in distinct blocks - the area/network code, then 3 or 4 digits, then the remaining digits. If you write the number down as 0875678321, it's much harder to read than 087 567 8321.

Discodog

I would complain at the highest level. It's unacceptable that a fireman is unaware that the eircode will take you straight to the property. You even get driving directions on Google maps.

Works perfectly with Domino's Pizza, what more do you want?

B-D-P--

Building a house, I use it alot.
Well I use my neighbors because I haven't been assigned one yet, but its fierce handy for deliveries.

murpho999

Ted Plain wrote: »

I live in an area of Dublin that has an existing Dublin postcode number. My Eircode starts with D. I like it and use it.

My folks live in County Dublin and theirs starts with K, which is ridiculous because County Kildare is close by.

They really, really, really should have ensured that the codes start with the initial of the county that the address is in, like it is with car registrations.

No wonder very few have warmed to it.

Why does it matter. People only need to memorise their own code. They codes were allocated via whatever post office served them.

I live in Bray, Co Wicklow and my Eircode starts with A. It makes no difference.

The high horse brigade

Mr.S wrote: »

Eircodes are great, pitty few people or sites use them.

It's improving at a huge rate since Google added Eircodes

OldMrBrennan83

This post has been deleted.

The_Valeyard

Never use it, no need, waste of money.

B-D-P--

The_Valeyard wrote: »

Never use it, no need, waste of money.

Ambulances do use them, If they saved 1 person's life, they weren't a waste of money.

The money was spent badly on them, and it should have been done better, but none the less, was not a waste.

My father was recently rushed to hospital by an ambulance. They found our house using Eircodes.

PippaChic

Recently, I had visitors from the States. They were driving from Co.Clare, they phoned me for directions. I gave them my eircode, they were able to tell me what time they would arrive from the Google Maps so I knew how much time I had to clean the house and cook their dinner I think Eircode is great, you only have to remember your own.

Cee-Jay-Cee

Ted Plain wrote: »

I live in an area of Dublin that has an existing Dublin postcode number. My Eircode starts with D. I like it and use it.

My folks live in County Dublin and theirs starts with K, which is ridiculous because County Kildare is close by.

They really, really, really should have ensured that the codes start with the initial of the county that the address is in, like it is with car registrations.

No wonder very few have warmed to it.

Hang on a second there bucko...if that's the case, the D is for Donegal as alphabetically we come before you. So put that in your pipe and schmoke it!!

Rumpy Pumpy

I’d imagine they always expected usage to be slow at the start. That will change over time as people realise how convenient it is.

The high horse brigade

Rumpy Pumpy wrote: »

I’d imagine they always expected usage to be slow at the start. That will change over time as people realise how convenient it is.

Exactly this. Courier dispatch don't use them yet, but once the first tracking software add them they'll all add them. The courier drivers themseves do use them, I've been talking to a few DPD drivers

murpho999

The_Valeyard wrote: »

Never use it, no need, waste of money.

How is it a waste of money, it works and will eventually make money.

Maybe you should try using it?

The Princess Bride

I know my own and use it when giving directions.
And I use it with work too and it's made a huge difference to me as unfortunately some people are just crap at giving directions.
Well worth the money spent on it, more people should use it.

murpho999

B-D-P-- wrote: »

Ambulances do use them, If they saved 1 person's life, they weren't a waste of money.

The money was spent badly on them, and it should have been done better, but none the less, was not a waste.

How was the money spent badly or how could it have been done better.

They work, each house has a code.

What did go wrong was the promotion of it and getting An Post, couriers, utility services etc to embrace it and encourage its use.

If they did this then everybody would use it.

I see now that envelopes are now being franked with "Don't forget to use your Eircode" so if An Post are now doing this it may start to pick up.

grogi

When I was driving to look at cars, I have asked people for their eircodes every time and every time it was a time saver.
Seven characters and I have a direct directions how to get there, without the hassle of turns close to pubs and churches...

I love Eircode really. Would love Loc8 even more, but we have to live with what we have

whisky_galore

Never used it.
I guess the letter notifying me of it had been thrown into the fire ages ago.

grogi

whisky_galore wrote: »

Never used it.
I guess the letter notifying me of it had been thrown into the fire ages ago.

Go to https://finder.eircode.ie/, type your address or find the house on the map and write the eircode down. It becomes really useful - obviously not for you, as you know exactly where you live

PandaPoo

murpho999 wrote: »

Why does it matter. People only need to memorise their own code. They codes were allocated via whatever post office served them.

I live in Bray, Co Wicklow and my Eircode starts with A. It makes no difference.

Ditto. Bray and mine starts with A .

What I find weird is that you were given the code, and they said if you request it again they will charge you? Am I remembering that right? Sure I just found it on Google maps and dominos

_Dara_

I’ve actually had to use mine a few times recently. But can’t remember what for, annoyingly.

I’m surprised at the resistance to them, I think they have their uses. Easier to find rural homes this way.

whisky_galore

grogi wrote: »

Go to https://finder.eircode.ie/, type your address or find the house on the map and write the eircode down. It becomes really useful - obviously not for you, as you know exactly where you live

Meh.

Ambulance service use them. They asked me for it when my dad took ill but stupid me didn’t know it!

Had blinds fitted last week in the back end of nowhere. The company asked for the eircode. Must be due to google maps.

I need to start memorising it.

Wildcard7

When I heard about eircodes, I thought they were a stupid concept. Give every street a name, and every house a number (as it already is in many places) instead of inventing another system on top.

But now it's here, and as stupid as it is, it works. And google maps supports it. I leave my eircode in every time I'm asked for an address, and most of the time it is being used (at least courier services copped on).

If you start using it yourself ("I don't need directions, just give me your eircode") and you also add it everytime you have to leave your address, it will become more and more widespread.

Complaining that it's not being used, and then not using it yourself, is a bit silly.

J.pilkington

I’ve seen a few cases recently where it was requested / very useful including renewing insurance and directions for a large delivery company so seems to be taking off finally.

I seem to remember a poster on here who had a serious axe to grind with Eircode(I think they had a rival offering [snipped].

irishgeo

He was releated to the rival company owner.

murpho999

PandaPoo wrote: »

Ditto. Bray and mine starts with A .

What I find weird is that you were given the code, and they said if you request it again they will charge you? Am I remembering that right? Sure I just found it on Google maps and dominos

I don't think you've got that right. You can find your code on the EIRCODE system for free.

People have to pay if they do more than a certain amount of searches.