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If you couldn’t get rates or purchase postage because an address couldn’t be validated, the fix is almost always in the address details — and the postal code is the best place to start. This guide walks you through confirming and correcting an address so it passes validation.

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Why this happens

Before generating rates, UniUni Platform checks the delivery address against an address-validation provider. If the provider can’t confirm the address, you’ll see a message asking you to check the details and try again. The most common cause is an incorrect or mismatched postal code — for example, in newly built or recently developed areas where map data hasn’t fully caught up to the carrier’s records. Fixing the address details usually resolves it.

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1. Confirm the postal code

Start here — this resolves most validation failures.
  • Make sure the postal code is complete and correctly formatted:
    • 🇨🇦 Canada: A1A 1A1
    • 🇺🇸 United States: a 5-digit ZIP (e.g. 90210)
  • Check that the postal code matches the city and province/state you entered.
  • For a brand-new address, the postal code may have changed recently. Confirm the current one with the recipient or using one of the tools below.
A single wrong character in the postal code is enough to fail validation. Re-type it carefully rather than copying an old value.

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2. Match the address to Google Maps

Whenever possible, submit the address exactly as Google Maps presents it.
1

Search the address on Google Maps

Type the full delivery address into Google Maps.
2

Confirm the pin is correct

The map pin should land on the actual building or unit — not the middle of the street or a nearby block. If the pin (its latitude and longitude) is off, the address details need correcting before you continue.
3

Copy the formatted address

Use the address exactly as Google formats it — including the postal code — when you enter it in UniUni Platform.
If Google can’t place the pin precisely, the unit/suite number or the postal code is the likely culprit. Correct it and try again.

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3. Verify with Smarty (alternative)

If you’d like a second check, Smarty’s Single Address tool validates and standardizes one address at a time for free.
1

Enter the address

Paste the full delivery address into the Smarty Single Address tool.
2

Review the standardized result

Smarty returns a cleaned-up, standardized version of the address.
3

Copy the corrected fields back

Update the address in UniUni Platform with the corrected fields, then retry.

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Still can’t validate?

For multi-unit buildings, add the unit/suite/apartment number in Address line 2. A missing unit number can prevent the address from being confirmed.
Map data can lag behind reality in new developments. Verify the current postal code with the recipient and re-enter it, then confirm the pin on Google Maps.
Make sure the address is a deliverable street address. PO boxes and other non-standard addresses may not pass validation.
Double-check the spelling of the city and the province/state code, and confirm they match the postal code.

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Country-specific address requirements

🇨🇦 Canada destination

Address fields and verification for Canada-bound shipments.

🇺🇸 United States destination

Address fields and verification for US-bound shipments.

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Need help?

Contact Support

Reach out to our retail support team and we’ll help you sort out the address.