Security of your incoming mail.  Steel or cast aluminium letter boxes are stronger and more robust than the plastic variety.   Letter boxes made of some kind of metal are more durable than other materials and are usually supplied with a key. Having a key is fundamental to keeping your mail secure whatever material it is made of, and having a steel letter box with a built in anti arson facility will ensure that the contents are less likely to be damaged in the case of the letter box being set alight.

The size of your letter box is also a consideration, and most letter boxes come in a standard size to accept A4 envelopes.  There are large capacity letter boxes available as well as ones which will accept newspapers and magazines.  The latter is very useful if you receive a lot of publications as they can be slotted into the letter box.

If you live in an apartment block or your company is located in an office block, there are multi occupancy letter boxes available and you will normally be allocated a mail box and key by the management company under the service agreement.

Many letter boxes are mounted on the wall or gate outside the property and they should always be easily accessible for the postman.  Letter boxes of this type are available in a variety of materials and styles. If you are fixing a letter box to a wall or gate, you should ensure that it is securely fastened and cannot be easily removed, especially in urban areas where the crime rate is high.

Many letter boxes are slots in the front door of the property and these are easily fitted into wooden and PVC doors.  There are also mail cages which can be mounted inside the door which catch the mail as the postman pushes the mail through the letter box.  This prevents the mail falling on the floor and getting damaged by the dog or the kids!

Whether you are choosing a letter box for residential or business purposes, you may wish to consider some of the points above to ensure that you purchase the correct post box to suit your purpose.   There is no substitute for a secure letter box which is conveniently placed both for the postman to deliver the mail and for you to retrieve it.  Even in with the increase in the use of email and internet marketing, the letter box is important.

You should always ensure that you empty the letter box regularly, preferably daily, so that new mail can be delivered.  If you are going on holiday, you can ask the Post Office to hold mail for you until your return.   Travellers can take their letter box with them and get mail delivered to the nearest Post Office for collection.

We all take the postal service for granted, and we expect our mail to be delivered to our letter boxes to be trouble free and that we receive our mail without any problems.  However, if there is a problem and we do not receive mail which is expected, we can refer to the Post Office and try to find a solution.   In some areas, letter boxes are vandalised by being broken into or set fire to.  Instances of this should also be reported to the Post Office, although it is ultimately your responsibility to provide a letter box.  Mail can also be stolen from letter boxes and again this should be reported to the Post Office so that they can build up a picture of the problem.  If your mail is constantly being delivered to the wrong address, you can complain to the Post Office who will make the necessary investigations.

The Post Office provides a vital service, especially in outlying areas and is important to support rural post offices wherever possible so that we can keep our mail being delivered to our letter boxes.  With the recent increases in postal charges, fewer people are likely to use the postal service due to the expense.  The Post Office may be forced to reduce services to remote areas and people living in those areas will be required to collect their mail from the sorting office instead of it being delivered through the letter box.  Some analysts consider that parts of the Royal Mail will be privatised resulting in a reduction in services.  The growth of e-commerce and electronic mail has already reduced the amount of mail being delivered through letter boxes, but it remains an essential service with many people relying on the services of the Royal Mail.

The second design of letter box is a box attached to your property, gate or wall.  There are many styles of letter box of this design.  Some have rear retrieval options with a mail chute which may be more convenient in some situations.  Other letter boxes are large capacity specifically designed for newspapers and large letters.  The box design of a post box can be lockable, anti arson and made of a number of steel, cast aluminium or plastic, depending on your requirements.

Post boxes which are located on the street or at the end of a drive in remote areas are normally mounted on a post or wall.  Some post boxes are built into a wall and have a letter plate and lockable front panel.  There are models of post boxes which have their own mount and are easily installed.  Free standing post boxes of this type are made of steel or cast aluminium, are weatherproof and durable.

Multi occupancy post boxes are designed for buildings which are occupied by different residents such as an apartment block, or a commercial property which is rented by a number of companies. Individual residents will want to make sure that mail is delivered to the correct address within the building, and the easiest way is to have a multi occupancy post box on the ground floor. Each resident has access to his / her post box and are provided with a key by the management company which looks after the communal areas of the building.

Whatever your requirements for a post box you will be able to find a design, style and colour to suit your purpose.  By shopping around, you will be able to find the best price within your budget.  There are many companies offering post boxes on the internet.

With properties in rural areas, security of your mail is a concern as letter boxes located away from the property are vulnerable.  Mail can be stolen or letter boxes vandalised.  If you are concerned about this, you can fit anti arson letter boxes which have in-built systems to put out a fire so that it cannot spread to other areas.  All mail boxes should have a key, and additional protection can be provided by the addition of a CCTV installation. If you are concerned about security, then you may have a CCTV surveillance system in any case, and an additional camera to monitor who comes to the gate and takes an interest in your letter box will cost very little.

Fitting a letter box to your gate or wall is easy. There are several styles available and materials can vary from stainless steel to cast iron in a range of colours.  Large capacity letter box specifically for mounting on gates or railings are available and most are sold with all the fitments you will need.  They are rear retrieval, have fire extinguishers and locks for maximum security.   Cast aluminium letter boxes are very stylish and add a bit of class to your front gate or railings.  Letter boxes built into the wall can have mail shutes to take the contents away from the mail slot.  These are also available with built in fire extinguishers and are available in a variety of colours.

Some householders in remote areas do not use a letter box at all, but the postman just opens the porch door and throws the mail in.  This is fine where there is a further interior door which is locked, but in low crime areas, it is still not unusual to leave doors unlocked. It is much better to have a letter box to receive your mail.  Letter boxes make sure that your letters stay together and prevent them from being damaged.  An internal mail cage on the back of the letter box can catch the mail so it does not fall to the floor.

If you live in a remote area where the letter box is not easily accessible, some thought should be given to installing a letter box on the gate or railings or in the wall.  It will make life easier for the postman delivering your letters.

Despite the growth in electronic mail, there is still a great demand for letter boxes to receive mail which cannot be sent by electronic means such as magazines and secure correspondence.  Private residents find letter boxes useful as they are often at work when the mail is delivered. The growth of on line shopping means that many more parcels are delivered. If the recipient is not at home, a card can be put in the letter box to advise the recipient that there is a parcel waiting at the post office.

With an increase in the number of people who work from home either on a permanent or temporary basis, letter boxes are required by home based workers for the delivery of important documents and parcels from head office.  While the majority of correspondence can be done electronically, some items may be sent by post to the home worker, and a letter box to receive them is required.

Businesses also receive mail at offices, and again letter boxes are required.  In a multi occupancy building where there are many offices, it saves time for the postman to deliver the mail to the individual post boxes in a multi occupancy post box on the ground floor rather than visit every floor in the building.  This would be very time consuming especially in a large building, although items requiring a signature must be delivered by hand.

Post boxes are a valuable addition to any building, saving time and money for the post office, as well as the recipient who need not visit the post office to collect the mail.  The location of the post box should be as convenient as possible for the postman, so that he does not have to spend time walking round the property to find it.

Mail can be delivered through the letter box at any time of the day.  Security of the mail must be considered, and most letter boxes are sold with a key.  There are also anti arson letter boxes in case someone tries to set fire to the mail.   Where confidential correspondence is sent through the post, a secure letter box is essential, and if in any doubt, you can send letters by recorded delivery to be signed for by the recipient.  Large capacity post boxes are particularly useful for receiving newspapers and large envelopes which would not fit in a standard letter box.

Domestic letter boxes are generally a box on the wall or a slot in the door designed for a limited amount of mail.  There are large capacity mail boxes available and letter boxes specifically designed for newspapers.  Residential users are typically at work when mail is being delivered, so a letter box is essential or mail will have to be collected from the post office.   With the increase in on line shopping, parcels are often delivered when the addressee is out and a card is left in the letter box advising that a parcel is waiting at the post office.

People who work from home find letter boxes useful for receiving payment for work carried out and contracts for work which it may not be possible to send electronically.   There is a growth in the number of people working from home, and they all need a communications system either with head office or, if they are self employed, with their clients.

Mail order companies rely on goods and services being delivered to homes and businesses and a letter box is essential Multi occupancy letter boxes are usually installed in commercial premises where there are several organisations.  This type of letter box is also used in apartment blocks.

The Royal Mail is responsible for ensuring that correspondence is delivered to the right addressee, and letter boxes must be available for them to place the mail. Letter boxes make the postman’s job much easier as he does not have to wait around for someone to be at home or in the office before he can hand over the mail.

Where confidential information is sent though the post by banks and other financial organisations, letter boxes are essential.  These types of organisations do not correspond by email, often due to technological difficulties with firewalls. Public bodies such as the tax authorities and passport office do not use email either, often for the same reasons.  If they want to ensure that the customers receive their correspondence, the humble letter box plays a great part in the process of mail delivery.  If the mail has been sent by recorded or registered post and must be signed for, again the postman can leave a note in the letter box asking the recipient to collect from the post office.

Letter boxes are, then, still used by a wide range of people for all kinds of reasons.  From multi national organisations in the corporate sector to the individual domestic user, letter boxes essential and are here to stay. There are reasons to have a letter box if you want to remain in contact with the outside world!

If you are concerned that your mail will be set alight while it is in the letter box, you can purchase anti arson post boxes which are fitted with heat sensitive fire extinguishers.  The extinguishers come into play when the temperature in the box rises.  Anti arson post boxes are available in steel, stainless steel and cast aluminium and are heavy duty.  In addition to protecting your mail from arsonists, the post boxes also protect the surrounding area as they prevent the fire from spreading.

With an increase in identity theft, security of your mail is important.  Personal documents such as passports are often received through the post, although they will usually be signed for.  However, the legal profession and financial institutions do not send letters by this method unless they are requested to, and mail is received through a standard letter box.  You should always have a key for your letter box so that mail cannot be retrieved by anyone other than the person for whom it is intended. Lockable letter boxes are the norm these days, and you should always keep the key in a safe place.   If you live in an apartment block, there is usually a bank of letter boxes and you should have a key to your own post box so that you can collect your own mail.  If you move into a multi occupancy block, or if your office is in one, you should always make sure that you are given a key to the correct post box.

There are a few other ways in which you can protect your mail.  The obvious one is to be available when the postman calls so that he does not have to put your mail in the letter box. If you are very concerned about theft of your mail, you can set up a post office box so that you have collect all of your mail from the post office, though this may not be very convenient.  Instruct banks and other professional services to only send your mail by recorded delivery or registered post so that you have to sign for it.  This may not be convenient either, as the post office may not be local, and you will have to go there to collect your mail and provide identification.

Do  it yourself and outdoor leisure stores often have letter boxes for sale at very reasonable prices.  It will depend on where you live as to whether there are such outlets in your area.  If you live in a remote area with few shops, it may be easier to go on line to select your new letter box.  On line stores often have special offers and discounts available, giving you even more options for purchasing your new letter box.  You can pay on line through a secure payment site. Most internet stores offer a range of ways to pay such as via Paypal or providing your credit card details.   There are often several delivery options, so if you want to receive your new letter box quickly, you can select a fast delivery service.  If you are not in a hurry, you can choose the standard delivery option.

Prices of letter boxes can range from as little as £17 for a letter plate which fits on your door or gate to over £300 for a top of the range large capacity rear retrieval letter box which can be mounted on a free standing post.  It will depend on your requirements, budget you have available and even how easy it is to fit.

Your mail box is important as it provides one of method of communicating with the outside world.    If you live in a multi occupancy building, you may not have a choice as to the type or colour of letter box you have.  It will already be in situ. However, for individual residences, as with any purchase, you will have certain criteria which your letter box must meet. You may want a certain colour, a style which complements the design of your property, or a large capacity letter box if you receive large quantities of mail or packages. You will certainly want the letter box to be weatherproof so that your letters are not spoiled. There is a wide variety of letter boxes available and it will depend on whether local retailers sell what you need. Alternatively, you may choose to purchase your new letter box on line in any case. Finding a local supplier might prove time consuming if you live in a remote area, and it may be more cost effective to buy over the internet.

Stainless steel letter boxes are better suited to more modern buildings and some styles have newspaper holders which are very useful.  If you have a lot of newspapers delivered, they will often not fit in the standard letter box.

Letter boxes designed for multi occupancy buildings can also complement the style of the building. Large capacity boxes with individual lockable sections and fitted with fire extinguishers are suitable for putting outside apartment or office blocks.  More traditional multi occupancy post boxes for use outside or inside the building can be mounted on a post.  The most common style of letter box used in a multi occupancy premises is a bank of horizontal stainless steel letter boxes inside the foyer of the building.  There are other styles of post boxes designed for use in multi occupancy buildings which look like stackable box files and are vertical with openings at the top or in the front of the box.

The traditional style of letter box in the UK is either a slot in the front door of domestic premises or square boxes located to the side of the door.  If the building is in a remote area, letter boxes may be mounted on a post, but again are generally square.  Letter boxes in the United States are very distinctive in their curved design and often have a lever which is raised when the mail has been delivered.

Whatever the style of letter boxes, whether they are for modern individual buildings, cottages, or for multi occupancy premises, they must be secure.  Security of mail is very important, and some letter boxes have built in fire extinguishers in case someone tries to set fire to the contents.  Most letter boxes are lockable and with the person to whom the mail is addressed being the only key holder.

A letter box which complements the style of your property is a nice finishing touch, and can be unobtrusive to its surroundings, while being obvious to the postman about where to deliver your mail.   Selecting your new letter box from all the styles available can be a lengthy business.   You are spoilt for choice!

Security of your mail is very important, especially when documents containing your personal information are sent through the post and delivered through your letter box. There is a growing number of cases of identity theft when mail has been fished out of letter boxes and information used to access bank accounts, apply for credit cards and even apply for passports. There are anti arson letter boxes available which are designed to extinguish any fire started in the letter box and also prevent the documents from reigniting. Lockable letter boxes may deter all but the most determined criminal, and there are guards available can be installed on the letter box so that the perpetrator cannot see much when they look inside. With a traditional letter box which is a slot in the door, the mail will fall on the floor, so a would-be thief will not be able to retrieve your mail by hand. Use only good quality letter boxes which are not easily removable from their fixings,

There are various other ways to protect your mail, such as ensuring that the incoming mail does not stay in the letter box for very long. This is easy to monitor if you are at home all day, but the postman will inevitably call when you are at work, so the documents will remain in the letter box all day, giving a potential thief an opportunity to steal them.

If you are expecting important documents from the bank, for example, you can arrange to have it delivered by registered post to your place of work. If this is not possible, then you can ask the post office to hold any registered mail so that you can collect it. Having a lockable letter box or an anti arson letter box will go some way to protect mail delivered to your letter box and give you peace of mind that your mail is less likely to be tampered with.

You should report any instances of suspected mail theft, tampering with your letter box, destruction of your mail or attempts at arson to the Royal Mail. If you are going on holiday, you can ask the Royal Mail to hold your letters for a specific period. If you are expecting a bank statement or cheque book and it does not arrive, contact your bank.

The growing trend of identify theft is very worrying and you should take as many precautions as possible to prevent your mail from being stolen from your letter box. In remote areas letter boxes may be situated at the end of long drives and cannot be seen from the house giving a potential thief a further opportunity to steal your mail. Familiarise yourself with the postman’s routine and delivery times and retrieve the mail as soon as possible after delivery so that your mail does not remain in the letter box for long. Make it as difficult as possible for a potential thief to retrieve the mail from your letter box by having a lockable mail box and from being destroyed by fire by having an anti arson letter box.