Dates, Postcodes & Telephone Numbers

Dates 

Dates are usually entered into three separate fields or dropdowns on the same line: Day (1 to 31) then Month (JAN to DEC or 1 to 12) and a four digit Year, for example 2008.

If a date is not required on the page, but an error message is displayed demanding it be completed, you may have entered a space into one of these fields.

On our newer forms, this will be the year field.

You need to clear this before you can proceed - put the cursor in the field and use the 'backspace' and 'Delete' keys.

Postcodes

UK postcodes are usually written in two blocks separated by a space, for example WV14 9QL or DY1 1HF, so when completing a form enter the first 3 or 4 characters, a space, and then the final 3.

Postcodes are required in most of our forms. 

However, some (including the job application forms) will accept zip codes and other international addressing systems.

Note that any leading or trailing spaces will cause an error message and should be removed.

Telephone Numbers

• Some of our forms have two fields for telephone numbers:

  • In the first enter your dialling code or the area code if you have one.  For Dudley the dialling code is 01384 and for Birmingham the area code is 0121.

  • Put the rest of the number in the second field as one continuous number without spaces.

• This also applies to mobile numbers - put the 5 digits beginning 07 in the first field and the remainder in the second.

About Spaces

If a space is entered into an otherwise empty telephone field by mistake, the form will not let you continue until it is removed.  Use the 'Backspace' or 'Delete' key to remove unwanted spaces.